Trick-or-treating in Los Angeles is a major social event for the 14-and-under set. Savvy kids hoping to maximize their candy haul -- and parents willing to brave L.A.'s terrifying Halloween traffic -- will sometimes travel for miles to reach those mythical neighborhoods where you can score full-size candy bars and every home is decked out with professional props.
Are the legends real? Now, you can find out. Here are the most festive and candy-rich locales to take your kiddos trick-or-treating on Halloween. If you have suggestions for neighborhoods we should add, email us at tips@laist.com.
NOTE: Thousands of L.A. residents are dealing with actual terror this year due to the Getty Fire. Please be sensitive to the needs of people who have been displaced from their homes during your Halloween revelry. Avoid neighborhoods in the mandatory evacuation zone. Be careful and thoughtful if you go to a neighborhood in the evacuation warning zone. Additionally, air quality could be dangerous in many areas due to fire and weather conditions. We've put an asterisk by the neighborhoods most likely to be affected by smoke or evacuations. You can get info on the current evacuations here and you can check the air quality across the region on this air quality indicator map.
Carroll Ave. and Douglas St.
Next to Echo Park Lake you'll find a swath of stunning Victorian homes, many maintained in period perfection. That makes Angelino Heights an ideal backdrop for a night of spooky trick-or-treating. No wonder Michael Jackson choose this area as the setting for "Thriller." You'll spot the 3,532-square-foot manor featured in the video at 1345 Carroll Ave. Many residents also decorate their homes, inside and out, so when you come to the door, pillowcase in hand, you can peak at a haunted tableau, complete with costumed characters. Beware the crowds. Angelino Heights on Halloween is no secret.
Baldwin Ave. and W. Alegria Ave.
This town at the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains is a natural pick for trick-or-treating with its a spooky cinematic history. It doubles as the fictional town of Santa Mira in the 1956 film Invasion of the Body Snatchers. These days, the festive decorations, tree-lined streets, jack-o'-lanterns and small-town-possibly-hiding-a-dark-secret vibe makes for a scary and successful holiday.
Hill Dr.
On Halloween, the neighborhood surrounding Eagle Rock's Hill Dr. is packed with costumed children and the cute Craftsman homes are dutifully decorated. You may have to fight past hordes of trick-or-treaters to collect your candy, but it's a spooky slice of hometown fun in the big city.
Brentwood Glen, between Church Lane and Beloit Ave.
Head west of the 405 to this small, walkable neighborhood for great decorations and not too much traffic. If you want to get a head start on goodies, the shops at the Brentwood Country Mart offer treats a few days before Halloween (this year the Halloween festival was on the 27th).
Montana Ave., Gillette's Regents Square, North of Montana Ave.
Beach-bound? Take your little ones to Montana Ave. and hit the shops and restaurants between 6th and 17th streets. The neighborhood's annual Halloween Hop happens early, from 3 to 6 p.m., so it's perfect for young ones. The expansive, elaborately decorated yards of Gillette's Regents Square, bounded by 17th St. on the west and 21st Pl. on the east, provide a great trick-or-treating area for bigger kids. Located north of Montana Ave. (is anyone really calling it NoMa?) the area around 16th St. and Georgina Blvd. is scary fun thanks to intense decorations.
Monterey Rd. between Windsor Pl.; Diamond Ave; Marengo Ave. and Fair Oaks Ave; Madison Heights
With leafy suburban streets, affluent Pasadena is full of great trick-or-treating options. The shops in Old Pasadena host events and hand out candy while neighborhoods are rife with decor and revelry. It's a family-friendly affair on streets like Monterey Rd. and Marengo Ave. as lots of young families flocking to the area for treats. The Madison Heights neighborhood (bordered by California Blvd. to the north and South Pasadena to the south) boasts a delicious treat for all ages: homemade hot dogs grilled outdoors.
Sunset Blvd. and Coronado St.; Berkeley Circle off Silver Lake Blvd.
The hipster hub of Silver Lake offers creative costume sightings galore. Armstrong Ave. is the center of the festivities thanks to the Silver Lake Halloween Block Party. Participating streets are closed to cars for the night, which is fantastic for trick-or-treating but also means you'll face lots of people. If you want to take things down a notch and avoid major crowds, North Coronado St. between Sunset Blvd. and Scott Ave. is a good place to start. You'll get all the spooky decorations, festive neighbors and, of course, candy. Hot Tip: Park on Sunset Blvd. and walk up to avoid a parking nightmare. Another more low-key option is "Bookeley Circle," aka Berkeley Circle, off Silver Lake Blvd.
Grand Hope Park at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
DTLA with its abundance of bars, high rises and modern lofts isn't the most kid-friendly locale for trick-or-treating but the Annual Halloween Party for Downtown L.A. Kids at Grand Hope Park is a fun October 31 event. It runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and includes bounce houses, puppet shows, face paint, hot dogs and trick-or-treat-doors (the doors are fake but the candy is real).
Dell Ave. and S. Venice Blvd.
Venice Beach's canal neighborhood offers Halloween theatrics aplenty. Stroll the bridges and collect candy from enthusiastic neighbors as you gawk at boats decorated to ghoulish effect. Parking is difficult (naturally) and the narrow walkways get crowded, but if you can deal with that, the twinkling lights are magical.
Ledge Ave. and Moorpark St.; Toluca Estates Dr. and Valley Spring Ln.
Locals have long known the ranch houses in "the flats" of Toluca Lake are ideal for candy-hunting. Bob Hope's former abode (at Ledge Ave. and Moorpark St.) is a great central point to take in the ghoulish displays and generous candy offerings. The cul-de-sac at Toluca Estates Dr. and Valley Spring Ln. is another prime trick-or-treat spot. You'll find a lively scene at the Toluca Lake Estates with industry folks flexing their prop and set design skills to create amazing haunted houses and yards. Last year, there were actors dressed as zombie Disney princesses. Head up Forman Ave. from Riverside Dr. and you'll see crazy decorations, scary movies projected on homes and neighbors doling out wine (to adults).
Walden Dr. and Carmelita Ave.
Where do little ghouls and goblins head for full-size candy bars? The 90210. Arrive early at Halloween hot spot Walden Dr. because this tony enclave with big houses and bigger candy hauls can get crazy. The Witch's House at Walden Dr. and Carmelita Ave. (a.k.a. the Spadena House) is a perfect spot to start. Designed by a Hollywood art director in the 1920s, the enchanting storybook structure with its asymmetrical gables, gnarled trees and wooden bridge looks like the home of the cannibalistic witch in "Hansel and Gretel."
Mariposa St. and Valleyheart Dr.; Magnolia Park
If anyone knows how to do it up for Halloween, it's the plethora of Disney employees who reside in Burbank. The safe and friendly neighborhood around the studio features pro decor including animatronics and fog machines. Neighbors get into the Halloween spirit and help create an optimal trick-or-treat experience. Magnolia Park, with its flat streets, plentiful lights and friendly faces, is also perfect trick-or-treating terrain for little ones.
Laurel Terrace Dr. and Mound View Ave.
Head west of Laurel Canyon for Studio City's informal block party, which is packed with pumpkins, celebrities and Halloween atmosphere. Hoards of trick-or-treaters (including plenty of actors and recording artists who live in the area) enjoy the decked out lawns and candy offerings around Laurel Terrace Dr. and Mound View Ave. The Silver Triangle neighborhood (south of Ventura Blvd. and north of Fryman Canyon) is also a solid bet. Everyone gets into the spooky spirit.
Windsor Square; North of Wilshire Blvd.; Arden St., Rossmore Ave.
This posh neighborhood of Windsor Square, which is home to the official mayoral residence of Los Angeles, is so well known for its trick-or-treating, kids arrive by the busload to enjoy its spirited streets. Haunted houses, amazing decorations and plenty of candy can be found on Arden St. and Rossmore Ave., just off Larchmont Blvd. If you've got little ones, stay south of 3rd St. to avoid the creepier decorations. If it's a scare you're after, there's an amazing home on the 400 block of South Rimpau Blvd., which turns into a spooky graveyard on Halloween. Arrive early and expect a hellish parking situation.
Glendale Blvd. between Glenhurst and Revere Aves.
Trick or Treat on the Boolevard is a fantastic Atwater Village event for kiddos that happens the Friday before Halloween. There's also great trick-or-treating on October 31 as the majority of homes in Atwater Village participate. It's easy pickin' for candy and the homes are close together so you can hit a lot of houses in a short amount of time.
North Village
You'll find prime trick-or-treating in the tony Palisades neighborhood of North Village, spanning the alphabet streets north of Sunset Blvd. They're easy to navigate and you'll get to take in some lovely homes while you hunt for candy. It's been rumored that some residents even hand out adult beverages to thirsty parents. That's the spirit!
