Hollywood Carnival, USA
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Content of this article
What is Hollywood Carnival?
The Hollywood Carnival is an annual celebration held in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, United States. The Hollywood Carnival is a major event that celebrates multiculturalism and expresses it through the different cultural manifestations of the carnival. Although the Hollywood Carnival has typical elements of Caribbean carnivals such as the Mas Bands, it is actually an event that expresses the diverse cultures of all continents.
Hollywood Carnivals are held with the main purpose of bringing cultures together through entertainment and different cultural activities. In addition, it aims todevelop and celebrate local communities, through entertainment, music and quality experiences. The event expresses multiculturality, colors and freedom in one place.
The neighborhood is transformed into a magical place featuring big parties from start to finish, filled with extravagant costumes, bold colors, masks and good music. The neighborhood shakes with dozens of musical performances, artists, musicians and DJs that will turn the festivities into a world of fairy tales.
Likewise, the carnival offers you the best quality entertainment that comes along with great themed parties, cultural presentations, dances, music, food, crafts and a pleasant atmosphere surrounded by hundreds of great people. The Hollywood Carnival is definitely a great celebration that you can’t miss.
Hollywood Carnival is a vehicle to promote neighborhood multiculturalism
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When is Hollywood Carnival
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Despite being a carnival celebration, Hollywood Carnival is actually a summer party, so the celebrationtakes place during the month of June, specifically from the middle to the end of the month.
History of Hollywood Carnivals
Carnivals are originally a celebration marking specific events within the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church that began primarily in the central region of Europe. Showever, it managed to spread to a large part of Europe in a very short time. With the process of colonization of some regions of the world, the festivities managed to extend in several regions, particularly in America and the Caribbean.
When the colonizers arrived, they imposed their religious practices in the regions where they already existed in this area. To all this is added a new cultural element, which came from the slaves who mostly came from Africa, thus achieving a perfect syncretism to start what would later be known as the modern carnivals..
Generally, carnivals are celebrated during the months of February and March; however, in various countries the festivities can be moved to celebrate them in warmer seasons, to general better results in high tourism seasons or simply to generate a unique and innovative tourist attraction by adding totally new elements to it.
Hollywood Carnival is approximately 9 years old since it was first held and was the result of two organizations coming together to carry out an innovative project in the neighborhood: Los Angeles Culture Festival a non-profit organization and Hollywood Carnival LLC. The purpose of this union was tounite cultures through entertainment, for this reason we can see a lot of carnival elements from different parts of the world.
Where is the Hollywood Carnival
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Carnivals are held in Hollywood, a neighborhood located in the central Los Angeles region in California, the United States..
Hollywood is one of the best known neighborhoods in the country and in the world, related to the world of glamour, money and power of the American entertainment industry. The neighborhood covers a total area of 79 square kilometers where about 60,000 people live.
The Hollywood Carnival is a multicultural expression in the Hollywood neighborhood
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How Hollywood Carnival is celebrated
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Hollywood Carnivals are characterized by their varied cultural elements, especially found in Carnival celebrations around the world. Carnivals are truly a great agglomeration of costumes from all over the world that come together in one place to party with good music and world-class entertainment.
Hollywood Carnival stands out mainly for two indispensable elements: The Theme Parties and the Carnival Culture Village or Carnival Culture Village.
Themed Parties
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One of the particularities of the Hollywood Carnival is that it holds theme parties every day of the carnival, even a couple per night, so the fun, entertainment and partying is from start to finish. The parties are held by someinternationally renowned artist, accompanied also by ambience with music and DJs..
Opening Party
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The opening party is a particular celebration, as it takes place a few months before the official celebration. In addition, it serves as a sort of warm-up for the official carnivals. The Mas Bandas or Bandas Mas, characteristic groupings of the Caribbean carnivals, have the opportunity to unveil their star outfits for theofficial carnivals..
The event takes place in a total hubbub of rhythmic sounds that lasts all night long, preparing people for the higher caliber festivities.
Carnival Culture Village
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This is the official venue that will give way to the Carnival Parades. It also has a large stage where the various groups can perform during the event and showcase all the rich culture that each country has to offer through the carnival festivities.
It is a full day of celebration, partying and parade. People will be able to partake in the world-class entertainment that the Hollywood neighborhood has to offer. Carnival Culture Village does justice to the renowned neighborhood, which is famous for macro entertainment productions in the film and entertainment industry.
In addition, the venue offers a space adapted for purchase of drinks, food, crafts, arts and various additional stalls that you can visit during the festivities.
Parades
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The parades are the perfect excuse to see a large number of groups from various countries around the world, particularly from Latin America and the Caribbean. At the event you will have the opportunity to see flags from different countries accompanied by groups from: Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Belize, Nicaragua, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, among many others.
In the parade you will see the Chinelos from Mexico, the Diablos Cojuelos from the Dominican Republic, bailarinas de samba, bailarines de caporales, among many other folklore dance and music groups.
In addition, the Bandas Mas can not miss in a carnival as varied and unique as these. People cross the streets in costumes full of colors, glitter and feathers, dancing to distinctive rhythms of Caribbean music such as calypso and soca.
Just as in the Caribbean carnivals, the Hollywood Carnival also have their ownMas Bands that are part of the festivities:
- Bamboo Mas
- Utopia Mas Band
- Mirage Mas
- Winery Mas
- Sistas Wit Style
- Inde Junction Mas
Tips for going to Hollywood Carnivals
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If you want to attend the Hollywood Carnivals, we recommend planning your trip in advance, making a travel itinerary and booking your accommodations in advance. Also, be sure to pack comfortable clothes and shoes so you can fully enjoy your carnivals.
Remember that physical activity, alcoholic beverages and high temperatures can cause your body to dehydrate quickly, so we recommend that you stay hydrated at all times and apply sunscreen as often as necessary.
If you want to be part of all the carnival festivities, be sure to purchase the Hollywood Carnival Festival Pass. This pass will give you global access to 6 events that take place during the carnivals.
Finally, remember that all events have an entrance fee, so we recommend you keep an eye out for updates from the organizers through their media. The only thing left to do is to get ready for a great party from start to finish.
If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:
Events at the Hollywood Carnival
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In previous editions, the carnival has featured a plethora of themed parties made up of great entertainment. Some of the parties that have been held can serve you as an example of the type of parties we are dealing with:
Opening Party
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It is the first party of the carnival held a few months before. The party serves as a sort of warm-up for the carnivals and feature top-quality entertainment. In addition, the Mas Bands perform to unveil their designs for the official carnivals.
Time: from 21h to 03h.
Price: The price ranges from 10 to 80 US dollars depending on the services you purchase.
HC Silent Party
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This is a new silent party or concert theme. Each person has a pair of headphones in which they can change the station of the different environments that are presented. For theHollywood Carnival, the tracks are: Reggae/Dancehall, Soca or Latin music..
Time: from 21h to 02h.
Price: 30 US dollars.
Welcome to Hollywood
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This is the official party of the beginning of the carnival. Within the event you can enjoy various international artists, DJs and celebrities who also come to be part of the festivities.
Time: from 21h to 02h.
Price: from 30 to 60 US dollars, depending on the services you want to get.
Hollywood Carnival DUCK WORK
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In this opportunity, the organization partners with Scorch magazine to offer you the best quality entertainment. It’s a daytime event, so when you leave here, you can go to the next party.
Time: from 11am to 5pm.
Price: from 30 to 40 US dollars depending on the type of service you wish to purchase.
HC Main Event
This is the biggest party of the entire carnival. The event features several internationally recognized artists performing at the same venue. In addition, the organization offers you the best entertainment during the party.
Time: from 22h until 02h.
Price: from 20 to 80 US dollars depending on the type of service you want to purchase.
Soca Universe HC After Party
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It is held after theGrand Carnival Parade and functions as an After Party. Various groups, mainly soca music participate in the event.
Time: from 21h to 02h.
Price: from 35 to 45 US dollars, depending on the services you want to purchase.
HC Shine
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It is atraditional daytime party that features entertainment by several DJs from all over the country and the world.
Time: from 1 pm to 5 pm.
Price: from 45 to 180 US dollars, depending on the type of services you want to purchase.
HC Shine Relapse
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This is the Last Lap, a party that brings carnivals to a close, where people have one last chance before the carnival festivities end.
Price: US$25.
Carnival Culture Village
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It is the main event of the festivities with the parades of the various groups. It also features live entertainment and fairs and stores selling food, drinks, arts, crafts and much more.
Time: from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Price: from 20 to 80 US dollars, depending on the type of service you want to purchase.
Place: Hollywood Boulevard.
Various groups from around the world perform at the Hollywood Carnival
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Hollywood Carnival Parades
TheHollywood Carnival parade is quite unique, featuring a variety of carnival elements from various parts of the world. The parade has a wide variety of cultures involved, creating an incredibleamalgamation of cultural elements. Anyone would think that bringing so many different cultures together is impossible; however, in the neighborhood of the film industry, anything is possible.
During the event you can see Caribbean groups that reside in California, groups from Central America and diverse South American communities that come to the event to represent and celebrate the carnivals. In addition, the event featurestraditional folkloric costumes, colorful costumes full of feathers and brillies, drum sets, dance choreographies, contest queens and live music from various groups. Not to be missed are the Bandas Mas who, with their uncovered costumes, covered in glitter and feathers, parade through the streets accompanied by traditional Caribbean music.
The entire parade route extends for almost 5 kilometers, where the groups perform different cultural manifestations, dance and sing.
The Hollywood Carnival has a venue where cultural performances are held
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Parade route
At the Hollywood Carnival there is a parade with the collaboration of international and national groups
The carnival grounds or Carnival Culture Village is located between Highland Avenue, Hollywood Boulevard and Hawthorn Avenue, while the parade runs along Hollywood Boulevard for almost 5 kilometers.
Tacos are a Mexican dish that is typical of street food in Los Angeles
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What to eat at the Hollywood Carnival
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The city of Los Angeles offers a varied gastronomy in the streets of the city that are reflected in the tents and stalls of the Hollywood Carnival. Typically, you can find diverse dishes from Latin America, Middle Eastern food, Guatemalan food and even Takoyaki from Japan.
One of the quintessential street foods in Los Angeles is the taco, an originally Mexican dish that consists of a flour or corn tortilla to which various meats, chicken or even fish are placed and other ingredients such as salsa, guacamole, vegetables, herbs and sour cream are added on top.
Another of the classic meals of Los Angeles, is a classic of the United States: Cheese Burger or Cheese Burger. The burger is composed of a round bun chopped in half, to which is added a nice juicy piece of meat, sauces, vegetables and of course, cheese. It is usually accompanied with french fries. The hamburger started to become completely popular at the beginning of the 20th century.
The city also offers a large number of restaurants, bars and cafes that you can visit to broaden your gastronomic experience of the city. Some of the most famous places are: The Bazaar by José Andrés, Musso & Frank Grill, The Front Yard, Water Grill and Getty Center Restaurant. Also, don’t forget to wander the streets to find a lot of street stalls, where you can find a lot of international and local food.
The Cheese Burger is an important dish in the city of Los Angeles
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Travel Insurance
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From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurance. Read more information about all insurance offers here:
What to see and do inside the Hollywood Carnival
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Once inside Hollywood Carnival, you can only do two things: Attend the various theme parties and attend the Carnival Culture Village to enjoy live performances and the Grand Parade.
At the parties you will have a great deal of live entertainment, international artists, varied themes at each of the parties and a unique and exclusive celebratory atmosphere that only the Hollywood neighborhood has to offer you.
In the Carnival Culture Village you will be able to see a large number of cultural presentations of the various bands that also attend the parade. In addition, you also have differentfood, drink, art and craft environments that you can visit and buy something of your liking. Finally, you can attend the Grand Parade, where you will find a large number of local and international groups performing dance and music repertoires or simply showing off their costumes and masks.
What to see and do outside of Hollywood Carnivals
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Walk of Fame
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This is a great walk along Hollywood Boulevard Avenue where you can find a lot of stars on the sidewalk along the street. The stars are pink with gold borders and letters and have the names of various famous artists. You can take pictures and find some personality of your liking and hang out.
Griffith Observatory
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It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city and has a wide range of exhibits on science and space. The observatory was inaugurated in 1935 and has free and free admission since its opening. Inside you can find a large number of artifacts that will allow you to understand how space, physics and chemistry work.
Getty Center
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This is a free facility that has a large amount of artwork, beautiful gardens and several spaces for recreational activities. You can spend a quiet afternoon and watch the sunset with your friends or family.
The entire parade route extends for almost 5 kilometers, where the groups perform different cultural manifestations, dance and sing.
Safety at Hollywood Carnivals
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The Hollywood neighborhood is extremely safe due to the large number of celebrities or famous personalities who usually pass through the streets or live in the area. Thus, you can feel completely safe to walk the streets both day and night and visit its various attractions.
Also, we recommend the following products to store your items safely:
Weather at the Hollywood Carnival
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During the carnival dates, Hollywood has quite pleasant weather, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 31 degrees Celsius. We recommend using sunscreen and staying hydrated at all times.
Different groups are part of the Hollywood Carnival parade
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How to get to the Hollywood Carnival
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How to get there by plane
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The closest airport to the neighborhood and with the greatest number of connections is Los Angeles International Airport, which receives a large number of domestic and international flights. From there, you can take the means of transportation of choice until you reach Hollywood.
How to get there by subway
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From the airport take a bus to Union Station in Los Angeles. Once there, transfer and take a subway train on the Red or Purple subway lines to Vine station in Hollywood. The entire ride is 1 hour and the fare ranges from US$11-12.
How to get there by bus
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From Los Angeles International Airport, you can take a LAX FlyAway bus to Hollywood. The trip takes about an hour and the price ranges between 8 and 10 US dollars.
How to get there by car
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From the airport take L-105 and I-110 N to the Hollywood neighborhood. The drive is 30 minutes.
If you decide to take a cab, the taxi fare ranges from US$65 to US$80.
Where to stay at Hollywood Carnival
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Silver Lake Pool & Inn
4-star hotel 3 miles from downtown Hollywood. Rooms feature air conditioning, TV, refrigerator, kettle and private bathroom with basic toiletries and hairdryer. In addition, the hotel has a swimming pool, bar, parking and wifi.
Hollywood Hotel – The Hotel of Hollywood
3-star hotel 6 km from downtown Hollywood. Rooms feature refrigerator, microwave and coffee set. Facilities include pool, bar, wifi and parking.
Hollywood Historic Hotel
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3-star hotel 7 km from downtown Hollywood. Rooms feature original elements. They also include a refrigerator, TV, coffee set and desk. The hotel has a bar, parking and free Wi-Fi.
We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.
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