HOW TO PARTICIPATE
We are honored that you are interested in joining Winery Mas for the Hollywood Carnival! We are a carnival mas band that prides ourselves in top of the line service while delivering a wondrous presentation that contributes to pushing our beautiful culture forward. Our masqueraders come from all over the world to celebrate the beauty of carnival in Hollywood, California.
Participation contains 3 simple steps:
STEP 1. CHOOSE A COSTUME
To officially participate, choose a costume that you love from our 2025 Costume Collection and purchase it to join Winery Mas as we represent for our culture in the Hollywood Carnival. All participants are required to have a costume in the parade. By purchasing a costume from Winery Mas, you are also eligible to enter the Carnival Village for free, which is located at the end of the parade route.
STEP 2. RECEIVE YOUR COSTUME
When the deadline for purchasing costumes has arrived, Winery Mas will announce details regarding how you can pick up your costume at our Band Camp (located in the Los Angeles area).
When you receive your costume package you’ll receive your free Carnival Village wristband, which also grants you access to the Hollywood Carnival as a participant. You will also receive your Winery Mas wristband, which will give you access to refreshments during the carnival.
STEP 3. COME TO THE CARNIVAL
On Saturday, June 21, 2025 we will assemble in Hollywood (location will be provided) for the Hollywood Carnival! Details regarding meeting place and requirements will be emailed to all participants. We look forward to celebrating with you!!!
ADDITIONAL DETAILS ABOUT CARNIVAL & THE PROCESS
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 in Winery t-shirts 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. Before the carnival starts we will also offer professional photoshoots for a small fee to individuals & groups. 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!
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 do not have a wristband and 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.
PAYMENT PLANS
Winery Mas believes that everyone should be able to play mas and that price should not be a factor in your decision to have fun and celebrate with us, therefore, we offer a 3 tier payment plan option as a courtesy to help our masqueraders to be financially comfortable.
YOUR COSTUME CAN BE USED FOR OTHER CARNIVALS
Your Winery Mas costume is not just for the Hollywood Carnival! It can also be used for other carnivals that we may participate in besides the Hollywood Carnival.
RULES & REQUIREMENTS
There are a variety of things you need to know about purchasing, such as refunds, switching, cancellation, etc. Also your safety is very important to us. Please read the Masquerader Agreement to become familiar with the rules and requirements involved. We want you to have an amazing experience with us!
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.
AGE REQUIREMENTS
All Ages are welcome. Individuals under the age of 18 will be required to have a Waiver signed and approved by a parent or guardian. The Waiver will be provided to you after you purchase your costume. If you are purchasing a costume for a minor, please let us know in the notes during your checkout process so that we can provide you with a Waiver agreement.
COSTUMES FOR CHILDREN
We will make adjustments to the existing costumes to be “child appropriate” such as monokinis and high waist shorts. Costume designs for children can be created by our designers. The style and theme of the costume must be the same as the costumes we have for sale. For special requests, please email us at contact@winerymas.com
PARADE ROUTE
The official parade route for the Hollywood Carnival 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.
