Thousands came out to party in the Rainbow District on Saturday night, giving WeHo a preview of what its first post-pandemic Halloween night will look like.
Breathing room was in short supply for the throngs of people crowding the sidewalks, constricted even more so by the city’s OutZones, which cede sidewalk space to restaurants for outdoor seating. Partygoers waded shoulder to shoulder back and forth in front of Micky’s as dozens stood in line for the club.
The city decided not to hold its annual Carnaval festivities this year, and thus Santa Monica Blvd. will not be closed to traffic the night of Oct. 31, nor will any restroom facilities be provided. The city’s business community banded together to promote their individual parties and events in order to capitalize on the crowds.
“I’ve never seen it this packed,” said Audrey Rodriguez, a 21-year-old from Compton who comes to the Santa Monica Blvd. bars frequently but has never been to a previous WeHo Halloween.
By midnight, a line of cars heading westbound stretched from San Vicente Blvd. all the way to La Cienega. Pedestrians wove their way through the cars as drivers sounded their horns in frustration.
Randy Dittmer was growing agitated as he sat in traffic on his way home to Santa Monica.
“What the hell were they thinking not closing the street?” Dittmer said. “Somebody’s going to get run over.”
Sirens blared as authorities tried to calm the chaos.
But some chaos is to be expected around Halloween — and for club kids like Audrey Rodriguez, it’s what they came for.
“I f***ing love it,” Rodriguez said.
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