Best places to trick-or-treat in Los Angeles

Vintage craftsman bungalows, towering Victorians and dark mysterious mansions are the ideal backdrop to a spooky Halloween night in Angelino Heights. Streets bend and fold around the leafy hillsides of one of L.A.’s oldest neighborhoods, making for a great destination for the older and ambitious trick or treater who will get a side of L.A. history with their stash of Nerds and Kit Kats. Residents of the popular Carroll Avenue—sometimes known as the Haunted District—have Halloween fun and don’t skimp on the candy either.

Where: Carroll Avenue and Douglas Street 

The Westside little gem of Brentwood Glen is a slice of Americana in the bustle of city living. The walkable nabe, south of Sunset Boulevard and west of the 405, is an ideal spot for little trick-or-treaters who are new to the tradition. Residents are generous with their candy as well as their Halloween spirit, evident in their decorated homes and glowing carved pumpkins. Bonus: If you’re looking to grab dinner and maybe score more candy, you can head to the festively decked-out Brentwood Country Mart.

Where: Brentwood Glen, between Church and Beloit streets

Venice Beach’s canal community is known for going all out on Halloween. Grab your ghouls and come early to stroll around the bridges, take in the spooky decorations and twinkly lights and, most importantly, meet costume-clad homeowners who happily hand out treats. Prepare for parking difficulties but do plan on spending a few hours to enjoy the scenery and take in the decorations.

Where: Dell and Venice Boulevard

For years, Alegria Street in charming Sierra Madre, a foothill community east of Pasadena, has become known for its Halloween-decorated craftsman homes and bungalows. Hundreds of families head to this community nestled in the San Gabriel Mountains to see the ghoulish decorations and the dozens of professionally carved pumpkins made by locals and, of course, scout out candy. It’s always about the candy.

Where: Alegria Street, between Baldwin and Mountain Trail

Toluca Lake is known for its TV studios and movie executives that call this Valley jewel home. Come Halloween, it’s also a highly sought-after neighborhood known as “the flats” by locals who head from their hillside homes to trick or treat amongst the sprawling ranch houses. Bob Hope’s former house on Ledge Avenue and Moorpark Street is a great place to start your trek. Although he and Dolores Hope are no longer with us and passing out full-size candy bars and kazoos, neighbors continue the tradition of a lively Halloween spirit.

Where: Ledge Ave and Moorpark St; Toluca Estates Drives and Valley Spring Lane

Every year, trick-or-treaters from all over L.A. hit the streets of 90210 in search of the Halloween holy grail: full-size candy bars and envelopes of cash, natch. And while that’s mostly the stuff of legends, people then discover trick-or-treating hot spot Walden Drive. Get there early (before local teens show up with shaving cream in hand for a little grown-up fun) and enjoy the manicured lawns and epic homes decorated to the nines in Halloween garb and ghoulish mischief. Meet up at the beloved “Beverly Hills Witches House” on Walden Drive, which looks like a haunted fairytale cottage with gnarled trees and a creaky fence.

Where: Walden Drive and Carmelita Avenue 

Halloween at Redondo Beach’s Riviera Village has become an annual city tradition for locals who come for the candy and stay for dinner and shopping. The six blocks and hundreds of shops that make up the village host a safe and organized early night of trick or treating from 3 to 6 pm. The spot offers a not-so-spooky view of the Pacific Ocean for costume-clad kids that will have fun bopping along the lively village streets.

Where: Around 1799 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach