Apartment living can sometimes make it difficult for trick-or-treaters to stop by. Instead of staying home and hoping those little goblins will be able to find you, why not throw on a costume, pack up your snack-sized candy for the road, and set out on an adventure to attend one of these legendary Halloween parties?
West Hollywood Halloween Carnival
West Hollywood hosts one of the largest Halloween street parties in the world. Free to all, this event famously showcases elaborate costumes, six stages of live entertainment and celebrity sightings. There is no age limit for the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival, so there is also no booze. Non-alcoholic drinks are available at participating bars lining Santa Monica Boulevard. The carnival runs from 6 p.m. until 11 p.m., but most of the nearby bars and restaurants continue with the festivities until closing time.
Village Halloween Parade
The Village Halloween Parade has been a staple of New York City for 42 years. Anyone can participate so long as you follow two rules: wear a creative costume and line up on Sixth Avenue at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Don’t have a costume? No worries; you can volunteer to animate one of the parade’s puppets. The parade begins at 7 p.m. and usually wraps up around 11 p.m., ending with a party at Webster Hall. With support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, this event is not only a party but a spectacle of incredible creativity and artistry.
Emma Crawford Coffin Races and Parade
Every year, Manitou Springs, Colorado, hosts thousands of participants and spectators from all over the country for coffin races down Manitou Avenue. The race is a salute to Emma Crawford, a beloved member of the Manitou community whose body was buried on top of Red Mountain in the late 1800s but managed to wash back down the mountain in the early 1900s after years of stormy weather. After the race, there is a fun Halloween party rumored to be attended by the ghost of Emma herself.
Halloween New Orleans
Few cities honor Halloween better than New Orleans; there are Halloween-themed events throughout the month of October. One of the best parties is thrown by the LGBT community. This four-day event raises funds for Project Lazarus and has something for everyone. It includes a ball, parade and carnival. Every year has a theme, and each year somehow tops the last.
Don’t have a costume? No problem; check out ForRent’s Halloween costume ideas!