The Best Places to Trick-or-Treat on the Westside in 2026

The Best Places to Trick-or-Treat on the Westside of Los Angeles in 2026

The Westside offers some of the best trick-or-treating in Los Angeles. The top neighborhoods include Westchester (especially the Kentwood area), the Silver Strand in Marina del Rey, the Venice Walk Streets and Canals, Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue Halloween Hop, and the Alphabet Streets in Pacific Palisades. Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, with sunset around 6:00 pm, the traditional start time, making for an ideal evening of community celebration across the Westside.

One of the quiet joys of living on the Westside is how seriously its neighborhoods take Halloween. The tree-lined streets, the walkable blocks, and the genuine community spirit come together on October 31 to create some of the best trick-or-treating in the entire city. And this year, Halloween lands on a Saturday, which means no school-night constraints and a full evening for families to enjoy.

We are the Stephanie Younger Group, based in Westchester, and these neighborhoods are the ones we live in and love. Here is our guide to the best places to trick-or-treat on the Westside this Halloween, starting right in our own backyard.

Timing note: there is no official start time in Los Angeles, but most Westside neighborhoods begin around sunset, roughly 6:00 pm on Halloween 2026. And it is always up to individual homeowners whether they participate, so the exact blocks can vary year to year.

Westchester (Especially Kentwood)

We start at home, and not just out of loyalty, Westchester is consistently named among the best trick-or-treating neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles, and for good reason. The flat, walkable, tree-lined streets, the larger lots, and the genuine family-oriented community make it close to ideal for a Halloween evening.

The Kentwood area in particular comes alive on Halloween. Families decorate enthusiastically, the sidewalks fill with costumed kids and neighbors, and the whole community embodies the small-town-within-a-big-city feeling that defines Westchester. For families who live here, it is a highlight of the year. For those visiting, it is a welcoming, genuine, safe trick-or-treat experience. This is the neighborhood spirit we write about all year, on full, candy-filled display.

The Silver Strand, Marina del Rey

The Silver Strand neighborhood in Marina del Rey, the peninsula pocket of single-family and walk-street homes, hosts what has become one of the Westside’s signature Halloween traditions. What started in the 1980s has grown into a genuine family-friendly extravaganza, drawing trick-or-treaters from across the area to its festively decorated streets.

The walkable, contained layout and the strong community participation make it an excellent choice, especially for families who want a lively, social Halloween atmosphere near the water. It is a short drive from Westchester and well worth the trip.

Venice Walk Streets and the Venice Canals

Venice offers two of the most unique trick-or-treat settings in all of Los Angeles.

The Venice Walk Streets, the pedestrian-only residential walkways, are a hidden gem: safe, car-free, community-driven, and genuinely charming. Without any street traffic to worry about, they are especially great for younger kids.

The Venice Canals take it a step further into magical territory. The picturesque canal-side homes go all out with decorations, and trick-or-treating along the footbridges and waterways is a one-of-a-kind experience. Some years, the celebration even includes gondola rides. For a Halloween night that feels like nowhere else, the Canals are a must.

Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue Halloween Hop

For families who prefer an organized, daytime, business-district event, Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue Halloween Hop is a Westside favorite. The shops along Montana Avenue hand out candy in a lively, festive, walkable atmosphere, a safe and easy way for little ones to trick-or-treat without a long residential trek.

Santa Monica’s residential neighborhoods are excellent too. Gillette’s Regents Square, just west of the 405, is a classic pocket neighborhood ideal for toddlers enjoying their first Halloween, with a short, manageable loop and plenty of candy.

Culver City and Cheviot Hills

Culver City is a Westside Halloween favorite, with its pedestrian-friendly streets, strong community feel, and enthusiastic participation. The walkable downtown-adjacent neighborhoods are welcoming and well-decorated.

Nearby Cheviot Hills is filled with single-family homes and real Halloween enthusiasm. Keep an eye out for the especially decorated homes along Motor Avenue, which draw trick-or-treaters looking for the most memorable Halloween houses in the area.

Mar Vista (and the Famous Holiday House)

Mar Vista is regularly cited among the best trick-or-treat neighborhoods on the Westside, with welcoming streets and great community participation. It is also home to one of LA’s most legendary Halloween attractions: the Holiday House, a mind-blowing walk-through display run by computers and control panels, featuring animatronics, atmosphere effects, and theater-grade lighting. On Halloween, the house hands out candy, making it both a spectacle and a trick-or-treat stop.

A Few Westside Halloween Events Worth Knowing

Beyond residential trick-or-treating, a couple of organized Westside events are worth putting on the calendar:

• Runway Playa Vista Halloween Bash (Sunday, October 25, 10am to 2pm): Runway’s annual family event with crafts, a petting zoo, games, and more.
• Sun & Sea Halloween Pop-Up at The Point, El Segundo (Saturday, October 24, 10am to 3pm): a family-friendly daytime Halloween event at the popular El Segundo shopping and dining destination.

(Confirm current dates with each venue as Halloween approaches.)

Tips for a Great Westside Halloween

A few practical notes to make the most of the evening:

• Start around sunset (about 6:00 pm this year), when most neighborhoods get going.
• Go early for little ones, who tire quickly, and save the longer, more ambitious routes for older kids.
• Bring a flashlight or glow sticks for visibility after dark.
  Respect the homes that participate and skip the dark porches, those homeowners have opted out this year.
• Consider parking and walking in the most popular neighborhoods, which get busy, and be patient with traffic near the hotspots.

Why Halloween Captures What Makes the Westside Special

We write a lot about the Westside’s market fundamentals and its practical advantages, but Halloween is one of those nights that shows you what the neighborhoods actually feel like. Costumed kids on walkable, tree-lined streets. Neighbors who know each other handing out candy. Whole communities, from Kentwood to the Silver Strand to the Venice Canals, coming out together.

That genuine, family-oriented community character is exactly what draws people to the Westside and keeps them here for decades. For one evening, it is all on display, and it is a wonderful reminder of why this is such a special place to call home.

Happy Halloween from all of us. We hope to see you out on the streets.

The Stephanie Younger Group is based in Westchester at 7296 W. Manchester Avenue. Whether you want to talk real estate or just chat about the best block to hit on Halloween, reach out at 310.499.2020 or online. Have a safe and happy Halloween.

Neighborhood participation varies year to year and is always up to individual homeowners. Confirm event dates with each venue before attending.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the best neighborhoods to trick-or-treat on the Westside of Los Angeles?
The top Westside trick-or-treat neighborhoods include Westchester (especially the Kentwood area), the Silver Strand in Marina del Rey, the Venice Walk Streets and Venice Canals, Santa Monica (Montana Avenue’s Halloween Hop and Gillette’s Regents Square), Culver City, Cheviot Hills, and Mar Vista. Each offers walkable streets, strong community participation, and a safe, festive atmosphere. Westchester is consistently named among the best trick-or-treat neighborhoods in all of Los Angeles.

Q: What time does trick-or-treating start in Los Angeles?
There is no official start time in Los Angeles, but most neighborhoods begin around sunset. On Halloween 2026, sunset is around 6:00 pm, which is the traditional start time. Families with young children often start a bit earlier while there is still light, while older kids may trick-or-treat later into the evening. Halloween 2026 falls on a Saturday, so there are no school-night constraints.

Q: Where is the best trick-or-treating in Westchester?
The Kentwood area of Westchester is the standout, with flat, walkable, tree-lined streets, larger lots, enthusiastic decorations, and strong community participation. Westchester overall is consistently ranked among the best trick-or-treat neighborhoods in Los Angeles, thanks to its genuine family-oriented, small-town-within-a-big-city character. It is a welcoming and safe choice for families.

Q: What is the Silver Strand Halloween in Marina del Rey?
The Silver Strand is the peninsula neighborhood of single-family and walk-street homes in Marina del Rey, and it hosts one of the Westside’s signature Halloween traditions. What started in the 1980s has grown into a family-friendly extravaganza, drawing trick-or-treaters from across the area to its festively decorated, walkable streets. It is an excellent choice for families wanting a lively, social Halloween atmosphere near the water.

Q: Are there organized Halloween events on the Westside besides trick-or-treating?
Yes. Runway Playa Vista typically hosts a Halloween Bash (around Saturday, October 25 in 2026) with crafts, a petting zoo, and games, and The Point in El Segundo hosts a Sun & Sea Halloween Pop-Up (around Saturday, October 24). Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue Halloween Hop is a business-district trick-or-treat event, and Mar Vista’s famous Holiday House offers a theater-grade walk-through Halloween display that also hands out candy on Halloween. Confirm current dates with each venue as the holiday approaches.

Q: What is the best Westside neighborhood for trick-or-treating with toddlers?
For very young children, the safest and easiest options are the car-free Venice Walk Streets, Gillette’s Regents Square in Santa Monica (a compact pocket neighborhood just west of the 405), and organized daytime events like Santa Monica’s Montana Avenue Halloween Hop. These offer short, manageable routes with plenty of candy and minimal walking, ideal for little legs that tire quickly. Westchester’s flat, walkable Kentwood streets are also excellent for families with small children.