West Hollywood Carnaval Halloween Block Party Canceled For 2022

By The Kevbeaux, PubClub.com Nightlife Blogger

One of the world’s largest Halloween parties, West Hollywood Carnaval in Los Angeles, has been canceled for 2022.

This is the third year in a row that they blocks-long block party along famous Sunset Blvd,, won’t be held. The reasons: Covid, Monkeypox, safety fears due to all the recent public shootings across the country and the cost. With all the security needed these days, along with street closers, the event costs the city of West Hollywood $1 million.

Here is the statement from West Hollywood:

“The City of West Hollywood is reminding the community and the region that the City’s Halloween Carnaval will not take place in 2022.

“As background, the City of West Hollywood’s Halloween Carnaval was launched in 1987 and is rooted in the foundation of the City’s diverse culture and community. The event grew year-by-year into an annual gathering of phenomenal costumes, entertainment, culture, and self-expression with a myriad of observers, revelers, exhibitionists, and performers.

“The City encourages the community to creatively and safely celebrate Halloween this year. As in 2021, the City encourages businesses to celebrate with patrons by producing small-scale events at stores, restaurants, and more, such as costume events or contests; Halloween-themed meals or drinks at restaurants and bars; Halloween-themed trivia or bingo nights; dressing-up locations with Halloween-themed decorations, and the like.”

This does not mean that people cannot – or will not – go to West Hollywood in costumes and have their own kind of mini-Carnaval.

Council member John D’Amico told KCBS that “the city is open for Halloween and the people will come here on Halloween night.” He added that “public safety became a critical component of putting on that event.”

The event traditionally takes place on Halloween night and involved as many as 300,000 people walking up and down the blocked-off streets in often over-the-top costumes. Bands play in beer gardens (Slash was performing one year) and the scene makes it one of the best Halloween events in the world.

But not again in 2022.