Halloween in Tarzana: Neighborhood Traditions We Love
Published on October 29, 2026 by Leegie Parker
Leegie Parker | Real Estate Advisor | DRE 01020534 | Compass | Leegie.com
Quick Answer Halloween in Tarzana is a true neighborhood celebration. The block of Santa Rita Street between Shirley and Tampa Avenues turns into a walking street festival from about 6 to 9 p.m., the local schools hold their own costume traditions, and neighbors open their front yards to each other. It's one of the best nights of the year to see why Tarzana feels like a small town inside Los Angeles. |
Halloween in Tarzana is the night our neighborhood shows exactly who it is. Kids in costumes, parents with flashlights and a cup of something warm, front yards full of skeletons, and neighbors who know each other by name. I've called Tarzana home for over 30 years, and October 31 is still one of my favorite nights here.
Here are the traditions that make Halloween in Tarzana feel like a small-town block party in the middle of the San Fernando Valley.
Where Is the Best Halloween Street in Tarzana?
The block of Santa Rita Street between Shirley Avenue and Tampa Avenue is Tarzana's Halloween headliner. Nearly every home on the block is decorated to the hilt, and from about 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween night, the street turns into a festival.
Kids and grown-ups fill the street, walking house to house while music plays from the yards. Everyone walks down Santa Rita that night. Everyone parks on the side streets and walks in, which keeps it safe for the little ones and makes the whole block feel like one big party. The displays change every year, so even if you went last Halloween, you'll see something new.
If you go, park a few blocks away, walk in, and thank the neighbors who put in all that work. They do it for the community, and it shows.
How Do Tarzana Schools Celebrate Halloween?
Halloween in Tarzana starts early, with costume traditions at the local schools.
At Wilbur Elementary, students and teachers parade by grade around the blacktop on Halloween morning while parents watch and cheer. It's a school tradition, not a public event, and if you have little ones there, it's one of those mornings you don't want to miss. WIlbur also hosts a Trunk or Treat for the community, usually a week or so before Halloween, on the yard at Wilbur.
Teens get their turn too. Taft High School, just over the line in Woodland Hills, is where many Tarzana teens go, and its costume contest for students and teachers is a favorite every year.
How Did My Front Yard Become a Halloween Tradition?
My front yard Halloween party started small and grew into a neighborhood tradition that's now more than 25 years old.
It began with me and a few friends in the driveway, handing out candy and doing silly things to scare the trick-or-treaters. Then we got ambitious and built haunted houses in the driveway for the kids to walk through. Eventually it grew into a full party for the whole neighborhood, with food and drinks for every parent walking their little ones up the street.
Some years I have tacos served right in the yard. Other years I make everything myself, usually a big pot of chili and a pot of lentil soup to warm everyone up. The parents of the trick-or-treaters might love it even more than the kids do.
Meet Mary, Our Most Famous Guest
The yard is full of spook and gore, and most of it comes from my good friend Michael Chaille, owner of Ghost Ride Productions, a professional Halloween prop house. I've been collecting his pieces for years, and every year he sends me a box of his latest and greatest props.
Then there's Mary. Mary is legendary. She's a full-size figure of a woman, curled up and badly burned, and she sits in my front window with a light on her for most of October. Neighbors slow down to look (and a few speed up). On Halloween night, Mary comes out to join the party. This year, Mary's sister, Marilyn has arrived and it expected to be roaming around on Halloween night.
Why Does Halloween Show What Tarzana Is Like?
Halloween shows what Tarzana is like because the whole night runs on neighbors opening their yards, their streets, and their front doors to each other.
Nights like this are a big reason people move to Tarzana and stay. You see it on Santa Rita, at the school parades, and in my driveway, where neighbors catch up over a bowl of chili. They're the same neighbors you'll run into over breakfast at VIP's Cafe or on a walk through your own pocket of Tarzana.
If you're curious what life here is like the other 364 days of the year, my complete guide to Tarzana is a great place to start, and my free Tarzana neighborhood guide (just below) covers the pockets, the parks, and what homes are selling for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is Halloween on Santa Rita Street in Tarzana?
Halloween on Santa Rita Street usually runs from about 6 to 9 p.m. on Halloween night. The block between Shirley Avenue and Tampa Avenue is busiest after dark, so plan to park on a side street and walk in.
Is Tarzana a good neighborhood for trick-or-treating?
Yes. Tarzana has a strong neighborhood feel on Halloween, with decorated yards, families walking together, and neighbors who go all out. Santa Rita Street between Shirley and Tampa is the best-known spot for trick-or-treating in Tarzana.
Is the Wilbur Elementary Halloween parade open to the public?
No. The Halloween morning parade at Wilbur Elementary is for students and teachers, and parents are welcome to watch. It's a sweet school tradition rather than a public event.
Key Takeaways • Halloween in Tarzana centers on Santa Rita Street between Shirley and Tampa Avenues, where nearly every home is decorated and the street fills with walkers from about 6 to 9 p.m. • Visitors park on the side streets and walk in, which keeps the block free of cars and safe for kids. • Local schools join in: Wilbur Elementary holds a Halloween morning parade for its students, and Taft High School in Woodland Hills holds a student and teacher costume contest. • Leegie Parker has hosted a Halloween party for her Tarzana neighbors in her front yard for more than 25 years, decorated with props from Ghost Ride Productions. • Traditions like these are a big part of why Tarzana feels like a small town inside Los Angeles. |
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Want the Tarzana Guide? I put together a Tarzana neighborhood guide that covers the pockets, the parks, and what homes are selling for right now. If you'd like a copy, click the button below to email and I'll send it over. |
Happy Halloween from my front yard to yours. If you're thinking about making Tarzana home, or you've been here for years and want to talk about what's next, call or text me at 310-739-9202 or email Leegie@Leegie.com.
And if you pass Mary in the window this week, give her a wave.
Leegie Parker
Real Estate Advisor, Compass
DRE 01020534
310-739-9202 | Leegie@Leegie.com | Leegie.com
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