Every year for Halloween over half a million people congregate to West Hollywood for the annual West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval. The event which is in its 32nd year as of 2019, has been drawing larger and larger crowds and gaining a reputation as the only place to be on Hallow’s Eve.
Halloween would have to be my favorite holiday and probably many others too. But it is extra special for me because it’s my birthday month (on the 20th actually) and it’s something I have made a tradition to celebrate all month long!
Yes, for the entire month of October I try to plan something special to do for every day of the month whether it’s something small like baking fall flavored treats (think pumpkin spice brioche french toast with cream cheese and apple cider syrup or poached pears in red wine sauce), or trying to attend as many concerts of my favorite bands on the weekend.
The highlight of this ‘birthday month’ is the trip I plan for every October which tends to revolve around fun destinations for Halloween. But ever since attending our first West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval in 2014, it has become somewhat of a tradition for us to go (although last year we did break this trend and tried out Halloween in New Orleans).
Why is it so incredible you ask? Imagine over half a million people packed onto a few short blocks of West Hollywood with the majority of them dressed in elaborate costumes that they’ve no doubt prepared all year long for.
It almost feels like you’ve literally stepped onto a horror movie set with how professional everyone’s make up looks. Trust me, you will never find a Halloween event like this any where else in the world. Of course you don’t have to dress up, but it is a lot more fun when you do.
