There’s a ton of stuff going down in Los Angeles on Halloween, but none of them are quite like WeHo’s annual Halloween Carnaval!
The city-wide event has been going on since 1987, bringing around 500,000 people dressed in spectacular costumes to roam the mile-long stretch of bars, restaurants, and stages. Even if you’re not a first-timer, all the hustle and bustle can be a bit overwhelming – that’s why we’ve gathered all of the information you need to know about this year’s carnival to ensure a smooth sailing Halloween.
When & where?
Thursday, October 31 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. but expect the bars to remain open until 2 a.m. The Carnaval takes place on Santa Monica Boulevard, between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard, every year.
How much is it?
Free! But the surrounding food trucks, restaurants, and bars accept cash and card.
What is it?
It’s not a parade, but when you’re marching alongside thousands of creative, spooky, and darn-right-outrageous costumes, it sure does feel like it! The official one-mile stretch will be lined with multiple stages with various DJs, musical performances, shows, and contests – take a look for yourself with this handy map…
Will there be parties?
They don’t call it a Carnaval for no reason! Most of the clubs and establishments in the area will be in the loop, offering special Halloween prices on drinks and admission. From screenings of Hocus Pocus at the Melrose Rooftop Theatre to a spooky Witches Ball at the Standard Hotel, there will be plenty of after-parties and festivities to partake in throughout the evening. Take a look at a full list of events, here!
Will there be food?
- 1. The Abbey, 692 N Robertson Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- 2. Kitchen 24, 8575 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- 3. Saint Felix, 8945 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- 4. Barney’s Beanery, 8447 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- 5. Hamburger Mary’s, 8288 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- 6. Shake Shack, 8520 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
How to get there?
Traffic is literally going to be crazy (500,000 bodies people…), so the easiest thing to do would be to catch a ride on the metro or to use a ridesharing app.
You can figure out the best route according to where you live here using Metro’s Trip Planner.
If you live in West Hollywood, you can use The Pickup, which will run from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. this Halloween.
Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft will have trouble dropping you off directly on the street since there will be a ton of road closures. Your best bet would be to get dropped off in a nearby neighboorhood and walking down to Santa Monica – wear comfy shoes!
Is there parking?
If you decide to drive (and plan to be sober, of course) there are a few options available. From October 31 to noon on November 1, street parking is free but only in West Hollywood. There are also a ton of parking garages that you can pay for including:
- $20, 8383 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- $20, 1044 N. La Jolla Drive. See it on Google maps.
- $20, 1114 N. Orange Grove Avenue. See it on Google maps.
- $20, 8687 Melrose Avenue. See it on Google maps.
- $20, 8459 Sunset Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- $20, 7718 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
- $20, 901 Hancock Avenue. See it on Google maps.
- $12, 7100 Santa Monica Boulevard. See it on Google maps.
Remember, it’s never okay to drink and drive so be sure to plan accordingly.
Not to mention, there will be dozens of check-points… save yourself the trouble!
