PARTICIPATION DETAILS

Get ready for an incredible experience! We are so excited that you are jumping with us in the Hollywood Carnival and cannot wait to share the amazing experience with you! Here are some details regarding the carnival, the process and the experience:

MEETING POINT ON THE DAY OF CARNIVAL

Winery Mas will be meeting on Hollywood Blvd at 9:30am on Saturday, June 22, 2024 to prepare for the Hollywood Carnival. The specific location will be provided to all masqueraders when we find out from the Hollywood Carnival exactly where our designated area will be for the Winery Mas truck.

ARRIVAL & PARKING FOR CARNIVAL

On the morning of the Hollywood Carnival the city of Los Angeles blocks off multiple streets in Hollywood to cater to the carnival, which takes place on Hollywood Blvd. As a result there is a lot of traffic in the Hollywood area that morning, therefore, please prepare your arrival timing for those delays

Parking at the end, option: We suggest parking at the Carnival Village located at the end of the carnival route so that you can get to your car easily after the carnival. The Carnival Village is traditionally located at the corner of Hollywood Blvd. and N Highland Ave. If the location changes this year, we will let our masqueraders know. PLEASE NOTE: After you park by the Carnival Village, getting an Uber to our truck location at the beginning of the carnival route may be time consuming, therefore, please add in some extra time for that delay. Do not try to walk… the route is 3 miles!

Parking at the start point, option: Many of our Winery Mas Family members decide to park at the start point of the carnival route to be on time and to make the arrival convenient. After the carnival they simply grab an Uber back to their car. 

DURING THE PARADE

During the Hollywood Carnival Winery Mas will have refreshments and snacks available for our masqueraders to stay hydrated and have a good time.  Refreshments such as water, gatorade and juice will be served along with snacks that will help to keep your energy up as you have fun!

We will have Winery Mas team leaders located around the truck. The Winery team leaders will be there to assist and guide the masqueraders with directions. There will be videographers capturing all the amazing moments during carnival. Our goal is to ensure that you have an amazing and memorable time with us!

DJs & ENTERTAINMENT

Winery Mas will feature amazing DJs that will be playing the latest soca music! Our truck will feature a state of the art sound system that will blast incredible vibes for us!

WRISTBANDS

You will receive the following wristbands when you get your costume: A Winery Mas Wristband and a Hollywood Carnival wristband.   Remember that your costume is NOT complete without your wristbands and they grant you access to the privileges that Winery Mas and the Hollywood Carnival offers.  The Hollywood Carnival wristband will automatically grant you free access to the Carnival Village at the end of the parade. The Carnival Village will feature a concert with multiple musical artists, performers and a variety of food vendors featuring cuisine from the Caribbean and other cultures.

SECURITY

We will have a security team during the parade to control the crowd and ensure your safety. The security team will be responsible for ensuring that Winery Mas masqueraders have a safe experience.  They will be directed to remove any individuals who interrupt the flow and positive experience of the group.  We will remove participants at our discretion if there is any disruption of our mission to present a great experience to all our masqueraders and to provide a great show for the spectators.

MEALS & ALCOHOL

MEALS: We will be partnering with a vendor at the Carnival Village to supply our masqueraders with Caribbean food (Vegan options will be available). The food will be distributed immediately after the carnival is finished at a dedicated location in the carnival village.

The food option is NOT part of your costume purchase. We do this to ensure that we provide the cheapest prices possible for our costumes, especially for people who prefer to choose from the variety of food options at the Carnival Village. There will be a link on our website where you can order your meal. Ordering with us is most convenient because our vendor will have your name on a list at the Carnival Village and will simply give you your meal, which will be already ready and packaged for you.  Many of the other food vendors will have very long lines, which will require long wait times.

ALCOHOL: The Hollywood Carnival prohibits any Mas band from providing alcoholic beverages to masqueraders and participants because it is illegal.  The city of Los Angeles will have police officers on the look out for open cups, therefore, mas bands will not be providing any type of alcoholic beverages.

Before the carnival, there will be private groups of people who will be getting together at private locations to have a few drinks and prepare for the day. If you are interested in joining these private groups please look out for emails regarding opportunities to meet friends that you can start the day with.  It is very important that you DO NOT drink and drive. Ubers are highly suggested during carnival.

TIPS FOR SAFETY & COMFORT

• Stay away from the wheels of the truck. You should be 3 feet away from the truck wheels at all times.
• If you climb on the truck, you climb at your own risk.
• Wear sunblock. Don’t underestimate the California sun. Sunblock saves lives.
• DO NOT drink and drive, lose your belongings, or text your ex… drink responsibly, please!
• Remember, drinks are not permitted in the streets during Hollywood Carnival. Police officers will be on the lookout for open containers.
• Leave all of your valuables at home (jewelry etc.), with all the jumping and bacchanal, it’s easy to lose things. But walk with minimal, necessary cash incase of an emergency and to purchase cool items, food, snacks and goodies at the Carnival Village.
• Bring a pouch or fanny pack. Its much easier to carry your belongings with.
• Drink lots of water during the carnival to stay hydrated.
• Wear comfortable shoes!! Otherwise it will feel as though you are running a marathon in heels.
• Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes during wild dance moments like Palance!

RESTROOMS & PORTA POTTIES

We suggest using the restroom before you hit the road.There will be porta potty restrooms at the Carnival Village at the end of the parade. We do not have porta potties during the parade since the carnival is only 3-4 hours long.

PARADE ROUTE

The official parade route for the Hollywood Carnival route is delegated by the Los Angeles Culture Festival™ (LACF). The parade of the Bands begins around Normandie Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard. The parade will start by heading west on Hollywood Boulevard for approximately 3 miles, and end at Highland Avenue. The parade will end in our Carnival Culture Village located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue.

THE CARNIVAL VILLAGE

The Carnival Village features a concert with a variety of performers from around the world, food and drink vendors and much more. There will also be a dance area, liquor garden, Arts & Crafts, Facilities etc.

Carnival Village Location: 6800 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, LA 90028

EVENTS SURROUNDING HOLLYWOOD CARNIVAL

There are various events leading up to the week of Hollywood Carnival. For more information regarding the events, check out: www.hollywoodcarnival.com

THANK YOU

We are excited to share the amazing cultural gift of carnival and we aspire to ensure that the experience is an incredible one for everyone involved. Together, we can expose the world to the variety, beauty and love that makes the Caribbean one of a kind! Join us in the celebration.