The best Halloween parties in Los Angeles 2013

Part party, part art exhibit, part pancake breakfast... this event combines all the things we love most. Head to Lot613 in DTLA on October 5th to watch over 50 Hollywood makeup artists transform pretty models into gory zombies during the Zombie Fashion Show. Then take a stroll around the room, where you'll find over 300 pieces of eerie-themed artwork. There will also be live music (and therefore, dancing) and free all-you-can eat pancakes by the Pancakes & Booze Art Show. What more could you want?

One of the city's hottest yearly dance parties, and definitely one of the best gay Halloween events (second only to the WeHo parade), Halloweenie will feature five DJs, with headliner David Audé. This year's event beneficiary is the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, so expect to see the sweet-voiced members in attendance. (Also, we have to point out that the hosts of Halloweenie, Fred Arens and Jason Duguay... are named Fred and Jason. It's almost too perfect.)

Start planning your costume now—LA's favorite public radio station, KCRW, will host its legendary Halloween masquerade ball at the Park Plaza this year on October 26. Expect to find a labyrinth of sensory-stimulating themed rooms showcasing circus troops, DJs, ghost stories, costume contests and, of course, boogying masqueraders. There will also be an array of food trucks on site to satisfy your post-dance midnight hunger. Pre-sale tickets for the party are on sale now with discounts for both members ($75) and non-members ($85). Also, the event is 21 and over, so be sure to leave any trick-or-treaters or college freshmen at home.

Live out your secret naughty fantasies at this Halloween swingers party, courtesy of Mass Pleasures, the "World’s Premier Luxury Pleasure Club." RSVP for an invite to a secret LA mansion at this classiest of sex soirees, touted as a "unique playground for the world's sexual elite." Mingle with pretty professionals indulging their hedonistic desires. Dress code is noir/avant-garde; femme fatale vampire costumes are also welcome. In a not-so-subtle move, "hot single ladies under 35" get in free, while couples have to shell out $150.

The Echoplex presents a boozy, costumed dance party with three DJs, a Midnight Mashup Show, go-go dancing from R.A.I.D. (Random Acts of Irreverent Dance) and a Halloween photo booth. There's a costume contest at midnight, with $200 first prizes for scariest, sluttest, and best overall costumes. Be one of the first 300 to arrive and receive a free mashup CD—it's the perfect music for the ADD generation, with a spooky Halloween twist.

LA's naughty nightlife kingpins the Boulet Brothers will host this special Halloween edition of their "Dragula" dance club, held at notorious Silver Lake "bear" bar Faultline. The Men's Club Sound System will DJ and "exorsisters" like Squeaky Blonde and evil queen Jackie Beat will provide entertainment. It all leads up to a midnight drag pageant: Strut your stuff on the runway for a chance to win $200 cash. Try and show up early for guaranteed entry.

Billed as "the only Halloween party in the Valley," (we guess they mean the only one that matters?), this Federal Bar bash offers up burlesque dancers, live music, roving magicians and tarot card readers, and lots of drink specials. Prizes will be given out throughout the night for best/sexiest/funniest/etc. costume (and as the party hosts get more drunk, the prizes will flow more freely). Even if you're not gunning for free stuff, come dressed up or you'll be denied entry—seriously.

This is the largest Halloween street party in the world, and there's really no better place to be on October 31st. Sure, the crowd is huge (like, a half million people huge) and a bit belligerent, but the amazing display of costumes and general merry-making spirit deem it at least a worthy stop, if not your main destination for the evening. There will be dancing, drinking, and many mid-parade costume contests. Even if you don't plan on entering one, it's best to still come dressed to the nines—no one likes a party pooper in jeans and a t-shirt. Tip: Try to be around for the crowning of the honorary "Queen of the Carnival," and expect lots of surprises; MTV wowed the crowd in 2011 with a pop-up Robyn concert.

This Halloween, the Echo will be transformed into a haunted house, in which some of our favorite Folk Fest bands will join forces to form supergroups of darkness and entertain us with their favorite tunes about wicked deeds and sinister fascinations. Murder ballads are always wickedly fun, especially so on Halloween. This LA Record and New LA Folk Fest sponsored event is not one to miss, and luckily, you can afford it: Tickets are $8 a pop, or $5 if you show up in costume (and why wouldn't you?).

Add some kinky fun to your Halloween celebrations at this yearly ball, put on by LA "Princes of Perversion" the Boulet Brothers. Expect live dj sets, burlesque performances, horror mazes and even haunted hayride lapdancers. Come in costume and try your hand at carnival games with a gory twist, like bobbing for apples in "blood." Famous horror author and artist Clive Barker will host the night.