West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval Draws 100,000 Despite Rain

The West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval proceeded on Saturday despite persistent rainfall.

Approximately 100,000 people attended the event, which transforms Santa Monica Boulevard into a street party. The gathering is considered one of the largest Halloween celebrations globally. The large crowd provided a financial boost to local establishments along the route.

Zach Boycem, regional manager for 33 Taps, noted that the venue prepares for high volume every year. He described the area as inclusive and pointed to the closure of nearly a full mile of the boulevard as a unique feature. Peter Wowkowych, an attendee, said he enjoys dressing up and viewing other costumes. He described the day as great fun with everyone having a good time. Eva Metz, another participant, cited the happy atmosphere as the primary reason for her attendance.

The event marks nearly four decades of tradition in the city. It operates on a rain or shine basis. The official end time was 11 p.m. on Saturday.

Rain was forecast to continue into overnight hours, with pockets of heavy precipitation possible. Conditions were expected to become isolated and scattered by 6 a.m. Sunday. Drier and warmer weather is projected to return next week.