The Best Costume Events In Los Angeles California

Do you love theme parties? Is Halloween your favorite holiday? Is there space in your closet dedicated to your collection of wigs and masquerade masks? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes,’ you may be in love with the art of dress up. And if so, this is just the list for you. We’ve compiled a list of Los Angeles area events that are costume-friendly. Enjoy.

1. Anime Expo

Anime Expo

Anime Expo is North America’s largest anime and manga convention. Fans of Anime get to dress up in their best cosplay and participate in a main masquerade, masquerade ball, and several other costume contests throughout the event.

July 1-4, 2016

Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, USA +1 213 741 1151

Anime Expo 2013 | © Michael Ocampo/Flickr

2. Big Bear Renaissance Faire

Big Bear Renaissance Faire

Attendees to the Big Bear Renaissance Faire should break out their best corsets, stockings, and heeled suede boots for a month-long celebration that involves a lot of folly filled role play. Fair maidens and knights can look forward to jousting, belly dancers, an archery tournament, musicians and singers, live history encampments and much more.

August 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 2016

Big Bear Renaissance Faire, 39115 Rim of the World Drive, Fawnskin, CA, USA

3. Dapper Day

Park

Dapper Day

Dapper Day is a two-day event that occurs twice a year at Disneyland in Anaheim. The free event celebrates ‘stylish living from yesterday and today.’ Guests dress up in fashionable vintage duds and have the opportunity to expand their retro wardrobes by shopping at the different vintage vendor selections attending the expo. Not just for shopping, Dapper Day attendees can enjoy the live music and dancing that’s planned for each event.

November 5-6, 2016

Disneyland, 1313 Disney Land Drive, Anaheim, CA, USA +1 714 781 4636

Dapper Day 2010 | © Kevin Gaudin/Flickr

5. LA Cosplay Con

LA Cosplay Con

LA Cosplay Con is a one-day, annual, family-friendly event that involves consummate vendors, panels and video game competitions. But perhaps it’s crowning glory is a huge costume competition where the focus is craftsmanship and stage presence. Note: there’s a big afterparty for all guests.

June 11, 2016

Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, 300 East Ocean Boulevard, Long Beach, CA, USA +1 562 436 3636

6. Labyrinth of Jareth Fantasy Masquerade Ball

Hotel

Labyrinth of Jareth Fantasy Masquerade Ball

Labyrinth of Jareth Fantasy Masquerade Ball celebrates fantasy cosplay. The two-night event see attendees in imaginative fairy-like attire engaging in drink and dance. There’s also live entertainment from fantasy artists. Note: wearing costumes fitting the year’s theme is encouraged.

August 5-6, 2016

Millennium Biltmore Hotel, 506 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, USA +1 213 624 1011

Labyrinth of Jareth Masquerade – 2010 | © Ryan Summers/Flickr

7. Monsterpolooza

Hotel

Monsterpalooza 2015 | © Gilad Rom/FLickr

Monsterpolooza

‘The art of monsters and movie magic’ is celebrated twice a year at Monsterpalooza. In addition to meet and greets with monster movie stars, vendor booths, and monster memorabilia on display, there’s the opportunity to be turned into a real live monster by a professional special effect makeup artist. Attendees come dressed up in everything from classic movie monsters like Wolfman to more modern scary dudes like Twisty the Clown from American Horror Story: Freak Show.

September 16-18, 2016

Marriot Burbank Hotel and Convention Center, 2500 North Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA, USA +1 818 843 6000

Monsterpalooza 2015 | © Gilad Rom/Flickr

8. Rupaul’s DragCon

Theater

RuPaul’s DragCon offers meet and greet and Q&A sessions with drag stars, make-up and styling workshops for men and women, drag discussion groups, and lip sync contests. It’s also a platform for fans of all ages to strut their stuff in their best drag.

April 29-30, 2017

9. Wasteland Weekend

Wasteland Weekend

Wasteland Weekend is a four-day post-apocalyptic party in the Mojave desert that has been going strong since 2010. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in dystopian threads. And just this year they added a Wasteland car show so you can check out rides outfitted to look like they belong in the Thunderdome. If you’ve got a passion for all things Mad Max, then this is the event for you.

September 22-25, 2016

California City, CA, USA

Wasteland Weekend | © Warvan/Flickr

10. Wondercon

Wondercon

Wondercon is the sister show to the epic Comic-Con International. In addition to the various panels, merchandise booths, giveaways, and the like, participants can look forward to dressing up in their best cosplay. They can compete in costume contests or attend the popular masquerade.

March 31-April 2, 2017

Anaheim Convention Center, 800 West Katella Avenue, Anaheim, CA, USA +1 714 765 8950

Wondercon 2011 | © Tom Hilton/Flickr

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