Hollywood’s we’ll known Halloween carnival is being taken away again this year, with authorities quietly voting to do without the wildly popular event that was canceled for the past two years due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
According to Los Angeles Magazine, authorities agreed in late June to cancel the event, but no proper public announcement was ever made. However, a notice was shared on the city’s website announcing the cancellation.
“The city encourages the community to creatively and safely celebrate Halloween this year,” according to the notice. “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.”
West Hollywood Councilman John D’Amico told Los Angeles Magazine that the Carnaval — billed as one of the largest Halloween celebrations in the world — may never return, citing issues with public safety, difficulties planning the event and the security costs for the city.
“We canceled it two years in a row. So it sort of doesn’t exist anymore, in some way,” D’Amico shared. “Many of us experienced, in some way, a kind of a sense of relief. As much fun as it was, it was incredibly nerve-wracking to make it happen.”
He also suggested that the event — while still attracting thousands of revelers — had been scaled back in recent years, losing its large stages and celebrity participants.
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In June, however, the city hosted a return of the WeHo Pride event, which had three days of activities and a parade with big celebrities such as Janelle Monae, JoJo Siwa and Cardi B. West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister told LA Magazine that the Pride event, while popular, is small in comparison to the Carnaval.
“The crowd on Halloween in much, much larger and packed shoulder to shoulder on that one night than it is on any given night of Pride,” Meister said.