A newly begun tradition is back for its second year: The popular Halloween golf cart parade will roll through Manhattan Beach on Sunday, October 31 starting at 1:00 p.m.

Golf cart owners and their families are encouraged to participate by decorating their golf carts and riding along in costume. At least 50 golf carts are already expected to be part of the parade.

"You don't need a golf cart to enjoy the parade; the parade is for everyone and all ages," said Manhattan Beach resident Shawn Giaconi, the event organizer. "The parade route was created so that friends and families can get an early start on celebrating Halloween and have some well-deserved fun by wearing a costume and going to a local spot to see the festive carts and crew."

Prizes for the best decorated golf carts include Best Theme ($100 Tacolicious gift card),  Most Spooky ($100 Un Caffe Altamura gift card), and Fan Favorite ($100 Culture Brewing Co. gift card).

Golf carts will arrive at Pacific Elementary School at noon for decoration judging. Prizes will be announced at 12:45 p.m. and the parade will begin at 1:00 p.m.

To participate, register your golf cart here. (Participants this year are encouraged to make a voluntary donation to the Colon Cancer Alliance.)

This year, the route will run through downtown to allow outdoor dining patrons to watch the parade from their seats. (See the full map below in .pdf form.)

The parade will begin at Pacific Elementary School at 1:00 p.m., head down Manhattan Beach Blvd. to the Greenbelt at Ardmore, head up to Poinsettia and then back down the greenbelt on Valley, head up Highland Ave to Bruce's Beach, where it will make a circle and return to Downtown Manhattan Beach. The parade will circle through Downtown Manhattan Beach past restaurants and landmarks, and then come to a conclusion just past Metlox.

For prime parade viewing, Giaconi suggests going to one of the restaurants along the route, which include Lemonade, Pitfire Pizza, Noah's Bagels, Culture Brewing Co., Hennessey's, Esperanza, The Kettle, Starbucks, Un Caffe Altamura, Uncle Bill's, Fishing With Dynamite, MB Post, Nando Trattoria, Slay Steak & Fish House, Tacolicious, Simmzy's, and Fusion Sushi.

Alternatively, Giaconi said, parade-watchers might want to have a picnic at Bruce's Beach or Live Oak Park, or walk to a spot on the wood chip trail on the Greenbelt to get a great view of the parade.

Giaconi launched the parade tradition last year with a successful Halloween parade that drew more than 40 golf carts. A planned holiday parade was subsequently canceled due to pandemic rules. Nevertheless, the parade returned in 2021 for the 4th of July.

For questions, or to volunteer to help with future parades, contact Shawn Giaconi at [email protected] .