Here Are the Latest Details on City of West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval 2023

The City of West Hollywood’s iconic Halloween Carnaval, one of the most unique Halloween gatherings in the world, returns in 2023. Halloween in West Hollywood is anticipated to draw thousands of costumed revelers to the City’s Rainbow District along Santa Monica Boulevard on October 31, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. In addition, there will be Halloween celebrations at West Hollywood’s one-of-a-kind bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, entertainment venues, and more on Halloween and during the preceding weekend.

The City of West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval is free to attend and open to the public. It will be a one-mile stretch of Historic Route 66 along Santa Monica Boulevard between N. Doheny Drive and N. La Cienega Boulevard. The event will feature a stage at the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and N. San Vicente Boulevard with a live DJ set, food trucks, and thousands of wildly dressed people in Halloween costumes for a one-of-a-kind experience.

First launched in 1987, West Hollywood’s celebration of Halloween is rooted in the City’s diverse culture and community. Year by year, what became known as the City’s Halloween Carnaval grew into an annual gathering of phenomenal costumes, entertainment, culture, and self-expression with a myriad of observers, revelers, exhibitionists, and performers with many thousands of people in attendance each year. People come from all over the region – and, in fact, the world – to take part in the Halloween fun!

The City invites Halloween Carnaval-goers to get into the spirit and show-off costumes by uploading photos to social media sites with the hashtag #wehohalloween and don’t forget to tag @wehocity.

To ensure a safe Halloween Carnaval for everyone, the City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station remind attendees about important safety guidelines:

• No alcohol or public drinking will be allowed;
• No backpacks, camera cases, tote bags, etc. will be permitted (clear plastic bags will be allowed);
• No weapons, fireworks, or drones will be tolerated;
• Children and pets are strongly discouraged; and
• Halloween Carnaval-goers remember: If You See Something, Say Something.

To support the City of West Hollywood’s bars, restaurants, clubs, hotels, entertainment venues, and more in hosting small-scale Halloween celebrations with patrons, the City has approved a process for review and waiver of special event permit and encroachment permit fees, as well as waiver of basic Los Angeles County Fire Department site plan review fees, for businesses in West Hollywood that aim to host events from Friday, October 27, 2023 through Tuesday, October 31, 2023 in celebration of Halloween. Interested business may submit a Special Event Permit application by the deadline of  Monday, October 16, 2023. For details, please contact the City’s Neighborhood and Business Safety Division at [email protected] or by calling (323) 848-6437.

Halloween revelers are reminded not to drive under the influence; even one drink can impair safe driving. The City recommends ride-sharing services and transit options. The PickUp, the City of West Hollywood’s free weekend ride, runs on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. and on Sundays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. In addition to its regular service, The PickUp will also run Special Service on Halloween (Tuesday, October 31, 2023) from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Details are available by visiting www.wehopickup.com. Details about modifications to Cityline Local and Cityline Commuter service will be posted at www.weho.org/halloween as soon as information is available. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) bus lines that connect to the City of West Hollywood include 4, 10, 30/330, 105, 212/312, 217, and 218. More information regarding lines and route changes is available at www.metro.net.

To ensure a safe Halloween weekend for everyone, the City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station are reminding residents, businesses, and visitors that public safety is the City’s number-one priority. If You See Something, Say Something: members of the public are encouraged to reach out to the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station 24/7 at (310) 855-8850 with any safety or security concerns. In an emergency, please call 911.

Additionally, the City’s Block by Block Security Ambassadors program leverages the effectiveness of local law enforcement and works in collaboration with the Sheriff’s Station to address nonviolent calls for service. The Block by Block Security Ambassador Hotline provides access to free 24/7 support by calling (833) WEHO-BBB or (833) 934-6222, or by calling/texting (323) 821-8604.

The City will lift residential permit parking Citywide between 11 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 and 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

West Hollywood Park facilities impacts/closures will occur as follows:

• West Hollywood Park will be closed from 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, October 31, 2023 through 7 a.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
• West Hollywood Park small and large dog parks and basketball courts will be closed from 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, October  31, 2023 through 7 a.m. Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
• West Hollywood Park Five-Story Parking Structure will be closed all day on Tuesday, October 31, 2023; the structure will reopen on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 7 a.m.

Street closures associated with Halloween Carnaval are, as follows:

• N. San Vicente Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 12:01 a.m. on October 31, 2023 to no later than 7 a.m. on November 1, 2023.  All alleyways between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 12:01 a.m. on October 31, 2023 to no later than 7 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• Santa Monica Boulevard between N. Croft Avenue/ Holloway Drive and N. Doheny Drive from 10 a.m. on October 31, 2023 through 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• La Cienega Boulevard between Holloway Drive and Willoughby Avenue from 10 a.m. October 31, 2023 to 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• N. San Vicente Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Cynthia Street from 10 a.m. on October 31, 2023 through 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• N. Robertson Boulevard between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 10 a.m. on October 31, 2023 through 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• N. La Peer Drive between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 10 a.m. on October 31, 2023 through 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• N. Almont Drive between Santa Monica Boulevard and Melrose Avenue from 10 a.m. on October 31, 2023 through 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.
• Sunset Boulevard eastbound and westbound turn lanes onto southbound La Cienega Boulevard from 10 a.m. on October 31, 2023 through 6 a.m. on November 1, 2023.

Up-to-date details about Halloween 2023 will continue to be available at www.weho.org/halloween. To receive SMS/text updates about Halloween details, send a text message with the word halloween (or text a jack-o’-lantern emoji) to (323) 848-5000. For inquiries to the City of West Hollywood’s Event Services Division, please email [email protected].