Living in Los Angeles has its perks, and that’s rarely more obvious than during Halloween! It’s a sprawling city, with tons of neighborhoods that embrace the season and go all out with decorations, events, and the most important thing: candy. If you live in one of the neighborhoods that take Halloween to the next level every year, consider yourself lucky. If you don’t, not to worry! L.A. is a city of commuters, and that holds true during Halloween, too. With a little planning, you can map out all the best spots for trick-or-treating, and your kids can have a great time bringing in their biggest candy haul ever.
The neighborhoods we’ve included on our list below have it all: amazing homes decorated to the nines, lots of sidewalk space, safe streets for walking, and plenty of candy to go around. These neighborhoods have been welcoming trick-or-treaters from all over for years, and every Halloween is like one big block party.
We all know trick-or-treating is a family affair, but some of the decorations in these areas need to be seen in daylight so you don’t miss a thing. An advance scouting trip for your kids and their babysitter or nanny after school is a great way to plan your route and take it all in. So grab that extra-large pillowcase, make sure the flashlights have fresh batteries, and trick-or-treat like a pro this year!
Venice
Where: Dell Avenue & South Venice Boulevard
The canal community in Venice does Halloween right. Homeowners get dressed up to dole out treats, houses go all out on the decorations, and the canals are decorated with lights and pumpkins. The best part is this four-block area is free from traffic, so you don’t have to worry about cars and crossing streets. Because parking can be tricky, we suggest arriving early to snag a spot and use the extra time to walk around, taking in the spooky and fun atmosphere.
Silver Lake
Where: Armstrong Avenue
On Halloween, Armstrong Avenue in the Silver Lake neighborhood in Los Angeles turns into a big block party. The area is blocked off from traffic, and families and revelers fill the streets. Residents of pretty much every house participate in the festivities, and decorations range from whimsical to downright spooky. Be prepared: This area gets A LOT of trick-or-treaters, so arrive early to be sure you can make the rounds before the candy runs out! Crowns in front of houses indicate a show or performance, so if you see one, hang around and wait for the fun.
Toluca Lake
Where: Toluca Estates Drive & Valley Spring Lane
Toluca Lake is known for being where the movie execs live, so the homes are big and the candy is plentiful. Bob Hope used to reside here, and legend has it he would personally hand out full-size candy bars and kazoos to every trick-or-treater who came to his door. These days, Toluca Lake strives to keep the legend alive and remains one of L.A.’s premier trick-or-treating spots. Traffic is blocked off, making it a safe area for kids and families. And every house you visit is decked out, so there is plenty to see. Don’t worry about arriving late and missing out on the candy. Residents here are prepared, and there is more than enough to go around.
Beverly Hills
Where: Walden Drive
One of the crown jewels of this Beverly Hills neighborhood is the Spadena House, located at 516 Walden Drive. This witchy abode is a Beverly Hills landmark, and people flock to the neighborhood every year around Halloween to check it out. If you come for the spooky vibes of Spadena House, make sure you hang around for the amazing trick-or-treating in the surrounding neighborhood. The flat streets make for easy walking for little feet, and the big homes usually mean big treats. Arrive early to beat the crowds, as this is definitely a Halloween hot spot.
Studio City
Where: Laurel Terrace Drive & Mound View Avenue
If you’re a Valley-dweller, this is the spot to hit up for trick-or-treating at Halloween. During the rest of the year, it looks just like any other neighborhood, but come October, everyone who lives here gets into the spirit. The area turns into a block party of sorts, with tons of decorations, people in costume, and even refreshments at some homes. The houses are close together, meaning you can ring more bells in a short amount of time. Be prepared, however, as it does get pretty busy on Halloween.
Hancock Park
Where: North of Wilshire Boulevard, Ardmore Street, Rossmore Avenue, Larchmont shopping area
There’s a lot of ground to cover in Hancock Park, so you can start and end your night trick-or-treating here. This area is so popular, people are known to drive in from all over. Homes go above and beyond in the decorating department, with some creating full-on haunted houses on their lawns to delight trick-or-treaters. The area around Larchmont sees hundreds and hundreds of kids, and it can get crowded as the night wears on, so plan to arrive early. Start on Larchmont, head over to Arden, and end your night with treats up and down Rossmore. Your kids’ bags will be too heavy to carry back to the car!
Redondo Beach
Where: Riviera Village, 1799 S. Catalina Ave., Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Riviera Village in Redondo Beach hosts an annual Halloween event that is quickly gaining traction as a must-visit destination for trick-or-treating. The village covers about six blocks, and transforms into a Halloween block party that locals have been going to for years. All the shops come together to create a fun and safe trick-or-treating destination. They also get the party started early at 4 p.m., so it’s perfect for little ones. After you’ve cleaned up candy-wise, you can stop into one of the restaurants for dinner!
Burbank
Where: Mariposa Street & Valleyheart Drive
If you’ve spent any time in Burbank, you know that it is home to many production studios, including Walt Disney Studios. The neighborhood that covers the area around Mariposa Street and Valleyheart Drive is where a lot of Disney folks live, so you know they take their Halloween fun seriously! You’ll think you’re walking around a movie set when you catch a glimpse of the elaborate decorations. Some of the homes even put on haunted houses for the kids. The best part is they cater to the little crowd, so even the haunted houses aren’t too scary for smaller children. If you want a truly magical Halloween experience, go where the magic makers live!
Sierra Madre
Where: Baldwin Avenue & Alegria Avenue
This neighborhood is just as much for parents’ enjoyment as it is for the kids. Full of gorgeous Craftsman homes, the area boasts plenty of eye candy to scope out while filling your bags with real candy. It’s a sleepy little neighborhood with a small-town New England vibe, surrounded by tall trees and lush greenery. Trick-or-treating here will feel like fall, even if it’s 90 degrees out! The streets are lined with amazingly decorated houses, complete with professionally carved pumpkins. And they don’t skimp on the candy, either!
Pacific Palisades
Where: Huntington Palisades
Street after street of beautiful homes decked out for Halloween sounds like every trick-or-treater’s dream. This area is a fave among Angelenos during the holiday for the safe and fun atmosphere and endless candy. Some houses even take “spirits” to the next level by providing adult libations to parents accompanying their kiddos. For an easy route, try the Alphabet Streets neighborhood west of Sunset Boulevard. Here, all the streets go in alphabetical order, making it easy to keep track of where you’ve already been on your hunt for treats.
