KCRW’s Masquerade Halloween Costume Ball and Dance Party

Jenny Lester

Halloween is that special time of year where you can dress up like one of your favorite characters for a day and not be questioned of having multiple personalities. To Celebrate, one of L.A.’s favorite radio stations will be hosting its annual KCRW Masquerade Benefit Ball at the legendary Park Plaza Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, Saturday October 25. KCRW, the self-proclaimed “Spirit of Los Angeles,” is a time-honored Southern California staple, acclaimed for providing new music, NPR news and daily cultural commentary to its Angelenos.

Monetary contributions from listeners in tandem with KCRW member subscriptions make up the largest source of funding for the indie pioneers, so an event like this is imperative for padding the station’s modest budget. The evening promises five or six open ballrooms decorated to the nines and packed with rookie performers and indie vets alike. Also included along with the evening of entertainment at the Plaza for your value of the $100 ticket is a one-year KCRW membership! It’s no wonder that the event has been sold out since its freshman debut six years ago. Don’t expect to know too many of the acts by name, however, unless you’re ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic‘ regularly.

This year, the line-up counts musical guests (Hollie Cook, Tokimonsta, ‘Fool’s Gold Noah and the Megafauna), various burlesque revues (Harlow Gold), and even a vaudevillian circus troupe (Lucent Dossier) among the exemplary thematic entertainers. The neo-gothic venue is no stranger to blowout celebrations, either. The Park Plaza Hotel has been hosting hoards of Hollywood’s elite since it was built in 1925. In the summer of 1932, the indoor pool played host to the Olympics and the rest of the grounds have served as a location for many motion pictures since. Most recently, of course, the doors to the multiple expansive ballrooms have been thrown open to welcome “the best Halloween party of the year” to their hallowed halls.

As one-upmanship is basically a requirement for the forward thinking millennials who will attend the event. KCRW plans to outdo last year’s revelry. Expect food trucks, a costume contest, professional photography and 12 KCRW DJs who have been instructed to play what they like. And don’t think you can get away without at least a little bit of effort on your part. Halloween costumes are mandatory. Sartorial off-color political statements, an esoteric reference to art no one has ever seen and scarily accurate too-soon pop culture nods await you.

KCRW’s Masquerade Halloween Costume Ball and Dance Party will be held on Saturday Oct. 25t at the Park Plaza Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are available via KCRW.