Nightlife: West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval

It’s Halloween. yay. Yah so I’m not a big Halloween person, never have been. But I haven’t been able to fight it in LA, being Halloween in LA is like the official holiday of the city (hah) (besides the fact that I am lame and don’t have a costume) I’m the type of person that has to go all out or nothing and I just didn’t have the time or the energy to be creative this year. Besides, I’ve already been to about 5 parties and with just one to go, I’m over it. But then again, the one that’s left is the biggest.

Photo by SudsyFist.

The 19th annual West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnival is tonight, 6PM til Midnight. If you don’t know what that is, go to that link above and watch the video.

Just imagine 450,000 people on Santa Monica Blvd in costumes with multiple stages with DJs spinning, laser lights, nudity, drag queens, and probably just about everything else in between. It’s one of the biggest Halloween parties in the world. I imagine it something like Key West’s Fantasy Fest but with a lot more people.

I’ve never been, seeing that this is my first year in LA, so I can’t say or even imagine what it’s going to be like. But from what I’ve been reading in papers and from bloggers it’s going to be insane.

And don’t forget about the costume contest…

From about.com:

The world-famous costume party on Santa Monica Boulevard Halloween night is the largest adult outdoor Halloween event in the world. The WeHo Carnaval is second only to the Rose Parade in attracting visitors to attend a Southern California event. An estimated half a million people will participate or come to watch the ghouls and goblins party. Some of the wildest costumes and funniest antics can be seen on Halloween night while strolling along Santa Monica Boulevard which will be closed to traffic during this special celebration.
Finals for the annual Halloween carnaval costume contest will be held on the main stage at the Carnaval 10PM on Hallowen night.

There will be 20 finalist bracelets given out throughout the evening. The finalists will then compete in the grand prize competition on the main stage 10PM. To get one of the bracelets you must be in costume and be on the blvd between 6:00 pm and 10:00 pm, and of course able to participate in the contest beginning at 10 pm. Finalist bracelets will be given out by select Halloween Crew Members based on originality, creativity, and fabulousness. Cash prizes will be awarded to top winners.

It’s horrible that it’s on a Tuesday this year. Sucks for all us 9-5ers that have to get up the next morning. Oh, and what is with LA and the whole 2AM call? And midnight? Party ending at midnight? I’m from south Florida, and in Miami Beach, they have 24 hour liquor licenses which means parties start at midnight! Non of this kick everybody out at 2AM while they are still drunk so they can get into their huge SUVs and drive home crap.

That’s my bitch of the day. I’ll write a follow up blog about how Weho was.

And for anyone not brave enough to face the crowds, you can enjoy it live via webcam with your host Gaygod at Stickam.com.

Check out all the Flickr photos from last year.

ciao !