A spooky good time: Halloween Events Calendar

Events for this year’s Halloween weekend run abound with opportunities to engage in gothic fun. There are a plethora of events for adults and children throughout the weekend, from costume-themed electronic dance parties, to zombie pub crawls to seasonal traditions.

Here are some of the Halloween events happening on the Westside this weekend:

October 31 Events:

Halloween Carnival in West Hollywood:

This annual carnival is the largest Halloween street party in the L.A. area, gathering almost 500,000 people on a five-block stretch. Complete with a costume contest, this colorful street festival on Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny Drive and La Cienega Boulevard names a “Queen of the Carnival” amongst the live music food vendors.

2nd Annual Santa Monica Zombie Pub Crawl:

Join in the fun as crowds of zombies take over Santa Monica with food and drink specials at participating bars, including Wokcano, Cabo Cantina, Ye Old King’s Head, 41 Ocean, and more. Participants will have to dress like a zombie (or otherwise be chased by one), must walk like a zombie with arms extended, have to walk with a limp of some kind and have to moan and growl (no talking allowed). The event goes on from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m., ages 21 and older only.
Tickets can be bought online for $12, and will be $15 on the day. Get your zombie on!

Mission Improvable Spooky Edition:

The Mission Improvable Westside Comedy Theater will be putting on their high energy improv show in the theme of Halloween with lots of audience interaction and engaging fun. The theater promises shouting spooktastic comedy with a hint of ghosts and ghoul extravagance. The doors open at 9:45 p.m., show starts at 10 p.m., and admission is $10 per person. Ages 21 and older only.

Montana Halloween Hop:

People of all ages can trick or treat up and down Montana Avenue starting at 3 p.m., between 6th and 17th streets. Various merchants will be offering treats and juice, as well as professional photography of kids and families in their costumes. Be sure to take a walk in your best costumes and visit the fortune teller at Texture, the sweater store.

Superheroes versus Supervillans at the State Social House:

Come to the State Social House in West Hollywood and sport your best supervillan or superhero costumes, complete with your scepters, tritons, bow and arrows, power rings, and katanas. While dancing to live entertainment and feasting on the venue's finest food and cocktails, winners of the best costume have the opportunity to win up to $500 in cash and prizes. Villains and superheroes alike will walk away feeling as though they saved the world, one cocktail at a time. Tickets for the event are $30 or under at the door.

November 1 Events:

Dia de los Muertos:

The Woodlawn Cemetery on Pico Blvd. is celebrating the traditional Mexican celebration of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where family and friends gather to honor and celebrate loved ones that have passed. The event will resurrect years old traditions that explain the philosophy and history of the day including an opening procession led by Ketzaliztli dancers, a workshop to create offerings of marigold coronitas (crowns) and papel picado (perforated paper) for loved ones who have passed. Those who go can also take self -guided tours of the cemetery that explore the history of local famous people or watch a documentary on how small towns in Mexico prepare for the celebration. There will be free admission, bike valet and parking.
For another colorful and festive Dia de los Muertos, L.A. residents can visit the event at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery from noon until midnight.

Rachel GianuarioComment