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If there’s one person who knows how to throw a scary good party, it’s Alix Earle!
The content creator, 23, hosted a blow-out Halloween bash at Keys Nightclub in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, an invite-only spooky soirée that was nonetheless star-studded — and of course, costume-filled.
The theme of the night was “Mad Forest,” an Alice in Wonderland-inspired setting that transformed the venue into a chilling yet enchanting take on the fairytale classic. In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Earle described her inaugural Halloween bash as “a twist on the whimsical world.”
“I wanted the first large scale party I’ve ever thrown to be really memorable,” the Hot Mess podcast host says. “Everyone has been to a Halloween party covered in pumpkins or ghosts, but I wanted something that felt a bit creepy, but not in the traditional sense we’re all used to seeing.
To no surprise, Earle — the Halloween queen of the evening — wore a look that did not disappoint, and that of course was perfectly on-theme. Unrecognizable, she dressed as a glammed-up version of the famed tale’s Cheshire Cat.
“I thought of the Cheshire Cat costume last year on Halloween, but I didn’t end up having enough time to do it in a big enough way,” she says of why she chose the famed, striped character. “I knew if I was recreating this incredibly, I would have to go all out… with a party, too.”
The month’s eerie full moon might have passed, but the stars were surely out. A poison ivy-inspired Shay Mitchell, Nicholas Alexander Chavez and The Kid Laroi were all in attendance. Landon Barker, Ava Max and Anastasia Karanikolaou also made their way inside.
In fact, attendees entered the otherworldly forest through a giant keyhole which set the stage for the storybook vision Earle had in mind. Creative consultant and event designer Melissa Andre helped bring the idea to life, crafting a forest featuring 10-foot colorful mushrooms and towering 14-foot trees.
DJs and performers including Gryffin, Carlita and Frank Walker kept the music and energy going throughout the night while guests hit the dance floor beneath the cascading playing cards. They showed off their moves and sipped some brews from 10 p.m. until late.
“We didn’t want the night to end,” Earle tells PEOPLE. “Even when the lights came back on. I want to keep hosting Halloween parties, with different themes, in different cities.”
She adds, “It’s so much fun making it all come together, beyond just the costume.”
Scroll on for an exclusive look inside Alix Earle’s hot Halloween haunt!
Alix Earle dressed as the Cheshire Cat
Virisa Yong/BFA
Earle dressed as the Cheshire Cat, a costume idea she tells PEOPLE she had in mind “for about a year” prior to executing it. She built the Halloween theme around her look, landing on Alice in Wonderland because it “has so many fun and creepy aspects to it.”
The GRWM queen went all-in on her Cheshire Cat costume, which included prosthetics and full body paint. “I started preparing about a month out so we could pull in an amazing team for body painting, prosthetics and a wig,” she says.
“Since I was in a bodysuit, it allowed me to dance and move around comfortably,” Earle recalls, adding, “Except for maybe when I could only drink out of a straw with the prosthetics.”
Fortunately, there were no costume malfunctions this year. However, Earle jokes, “I’m pretty sure some of my friends left with my paint on their costumes. Probably from all of the dancing. Oops!”
The “Mad Forest” theme
Virisa Yong/BFA
Earle’s “Mad Forest” Halloween party was held at Keys Nightclub in Los Angeles, presented by The h.wood Group. The creator partnered with creative consultant and event designer Melissa Andre to bring her Alice in Wonderland vision to life.
“My main focus for the party was the decor and the music. I knew I wanted to transform the Keys club into a completely different space and lean into the theme,” Earle says.
“Their walls that have keys all over them actually played into the theme nicely as well,” she continues. “In order to walk into the club, you had to enter through this massive keyhole made out of green hedges.”
“After the keyhole, you enter into the Mad Forest, we had bare trees with spiky branches everywhere and in the middle of the club,” Earles says. “There was a forest-like section with all different types of massive mushrooms growing out of the floor.”
Halloween brews and treats
Victor Arriola
The Halloween drinks and treats were to die for — and of course, on theme. Truly-infused specialty cocktails were offered that were creatively titled to fit the “Mad Forest” vibe.
“We created a custom cocktail menu of specialty drinks,” says Earle. “Mad Margarita,” “Down the Vodka, Rabbit Hole,” “Which Way Shot” and “Cheshire Cat Cooler” were among the beverages served.
“We launched my chocolate bar with GoPuff, available in a limited-edition Pink Sea Salt Chocolate,” she points out, adding, “So we had to-go bags hanging from the trees for guests to snack on or take with them as an early trick-or-treat.”
Chart-topping artists and DJs performed
Victor Arriola
You can’t have a party without music — and no one knows that better than Earle. “The music was really important to me. My friends and I love music,” she says.
Frank Walker, Carlita and Gryffin hit the stage. “Each set was so much fun!” Earle tells PEOPLE.
With good music, comes a lot of dancing. Therefore, Earle took that into consideration when prepping the space.
“We chose to completely remove the booths in the middle of the club to create a giant dance floor that revolved around this massive magic mushroom vignette, to give it a real party vibe,” she says. “I wanted people to dance instead of just socialize.”
Star-studded guests came dressed to impress
Virisa Yong/BFA
Earle’s Halloween extravaganza was exclusive, attracting some of the biggest names in Hollywood to the spooky, storybook scene.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez, Shay Mitchell, The Kid LAROI, Landon Barker, Ava Max, Anastasia Karanikolaou, Carter Gregory, Ashtin Earle, Rickey Thompson and Josh Richards were among the notable names who stepped out.
“My friend Madeline Argy actually came dressed up as me, which was such a funny surprise,” Earle recalls of the most memorable costume. “Other standouts included another person in prosthetics as the Grinch.”
She adds, “I’m pretty sure no one saw him break character all night long, which was wild to watch.”
Ava Max
Virisa Yong/BFA
Ava Max understood the assignment, dressing as Alice from Alice in Wonderland. The “Kings and Queens” singer wore the fictional character’s blue dress and paired it with a mask to top it off.
Nicholas Alexander Chavez
Nicholas Alexander Chavez poses for a photo in front of the Key hedges.
The DJ booth
Victor Arriola
Earle went all-in on a Halloween party this year because the holiday is her “absolute favorite.” She explains, “I’ve just always loved the creativity involved in it and I still do today.”
The TikTok star, who’s based in Miami, tells PEOPLE why she hosted in California. “All of my best friends and I were planning to be in L.A. this year,” she says. “I just got an apartment there for when I’m there for work and so I really wanted to kick that off with an extra fun celebration.”
