WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood is set to host its annual Halloween Carnaval on Monday, October 31 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard. This is the world’s largest Halloween Carnaval and has operated since 1987. Officials anticipate attendance of several hundred thousand people.
Lauren Meister, Mayor of West Hollywood stated: “West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval is always so much fun. Every year I’m amazed at the creativity that people put in to their costumes for the festivities. Halloween on Santa Monica Boulevard brings together people from all over the region and it’s an incredible affirmation of our community’s inventiveness and originality – it’s part of what makes West Hollywood extraordinary!”
The city is anticipating dense crowds and is advising visitors not to bring pets or children to the event. The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the city. No alcohol, backpacks, camera cases or tote bags, will be allowed at the event.
Information about street closures can be found on the city’s website. West Hollywood will also suspend permit parking restrictions, but has advised visitors to ensure they have parked their vehicles in West Hollywood and not in the city of Los Angeles or Beverely Hills to avoid citations.
The city of West Hollywood stated:
West Hollywood will offer Carnaval-goers three free transit options to help get to and from the Halloween Carnaval:
- CityLineX (Modified Service) — will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. from Santa Monica Boulevard/Sweetzer Avenue to Hollywood and Highland;
- Hollywood Link — will run from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Hollywood and Highland to Santa Monica Boulevard/La Brea Avenue. (Connect to The PickUp’s Special Service from the stop at La Brea to reach the Halloween Carnaval); and
- The PickUp (Special Service) — will run from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. along Santa Monica Boulevard and will stop at all regular eastbound stops between Sweetzer Avenue and La Brea Avenue. Once The PickUp reaches its La Brea Avenue stop, it will take an express route west toward the Halloween Carnaval via Melrose Avenue to its special Halloween stop on Kings Road/Santa Monica Boulevard. From 11 p.m. to 3 a.m., The PickUp will only run eastbound from Kings Road/Santa Monica Boulevard to La Brea Avenue/Santa Monica Boulevard.
“The event has grown year-by-year into an annual gathering of phenomenal costumes, entertainment, culture, and self-expression with a myriad of observers, revelers, exhibitionists, and performers. People come from all over the region and even travel from domestic and international spots to take part in the fun. The City invites Carnaval-goers to get into the spirit and show-off costumes by uploading photos to social media sites with the hashtag #wehohalloween,” states a press release from the city of West Hollywood.
