12 best costumes from NYC's Halloween dog parade, from Taylor Swift to Pennywise
The Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade was celebrated over the weekend. Dogs strutted the route in cute and creative costumes. Here are some of the best-dressed dogs from the costume contest.
If you haven't figured out your Halloween costume yet, you may want to start brainstorming some ideas, as there are dogs out there beating you.
Pet owners celebrated the spooky holiday at the Tompkins Square Park Halloween Dog Parade Sunday, marking 35 years of this special event. There were new tricks this year, with adoptable rescue dogs from ASPCA, Social Tees, and Pup Starz serving as Grand Marshals.
Around 1,200 dog owners registered to march on the route on Avenue B with their costumed pups for the chance to win Best In Show. The panel of three judges picks 20 finalists for the costume contest. One grand prize winner takes home a supply of dog food from sponsor Stella & Chewy’s and a gift card to Tompkins Square Bagels.
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The non-profit New York Dog Parade, which puts on the event every year, even allows those without a four-legged friend to walk the parade with a dog from the shelter through a partnership.
This year, Pookah won the grand prize for dressing up as Winnie the Pooh sitting in a jar of honey, and her owners dressed up as Piglet and Tigger.
Owners pull out all of the stops for the dog parade, from elaborate costumes and floats to interactive features and matching costumes. This year's parade saw impressive costumes, including pups rocking Guns N’ Roses-inspired looks, a French Bulldog as "Doggy Parton," and a chihuahua dressed as Barbie.
This is a must-see event every October in New York City; it is recognized as the largest Halloween dog celebration in the world.
Here are some of the best photos of costumed dogs (and cats that snuck in) that we captured from the parade:
1 of 12 A UFO
This cute pup was inspired by galactic and celestial events for their costume. They were transported from the Milky Way straight to the dog parade dressed as a UFO.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)2 of 12 A Regal King
This dog is giving King energy. Donned with a crown to perfectly fit their little head, this dog wore a classic royal regalia.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)3 of 12 Pennywise from IT
This pup is giving cute and spooky energy with their Pennywise costume. The owners even paired the dog with a red balloon to nail the outfit completely.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)
4 of 12 "Life of a Showcat"
Dressed-up kitties crashed the dog parade on a "Life of a Showcat"-themed parade float inspired by Taylor Swift's new album Life of a Showgirl. This kitty is pictured on a fluffy bed with white feather boas surrounding them.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)5 of 12 "Life of a Showcat"
Another cat joined the "Life of a Showcat" parade float, which was inspired by Taylor Swift, who is a cat lover herself. This beautiful cat is seen sitting on a fluffy cloud bed.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)6 of 12 Loofa in a Bubble Bath
This pug is the cutest loofah we've ever seen. In this creative costume idea, the pug is dressed as a blue bath loofah with a yellow rubber duck hiding in the fluff. This pup is ready for bath time after the parade.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)
7 of 12 Scooby-Doo
The owners matched their costumes perfectly with their pup for a family costume. The owners went as Shaggy and Velma, and the pooch, of course, went as Scooby-Doo with the iconic blue and green dog tag.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)8 of 12 "Piece of Cake" Movers
This dog is moving to New York City. In this perfectly NYC costume, the cute pooch is a "Piece of Cake" mover, sitting in their own moving truck with the company's logo.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)9 of 12 "Piece of Cake" Movers
"Piece of Cake" trucks are always spotted around New York City at any given time, as people move frequently around the city. The owners wore Piece of Cake movers shirts to match their pup's costume.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)
10 of 12 More Pennywise
The owners went all out with this Pennywise costume. They committed to the bit, and it paid off. The pup was dressed in a matching Pennywise-inspired outfit.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)11 of 12 Sparkly Unicorn
This precious pup dressed as a unicorn, with a perfectly fitting unicorn horn headband. The owner also matched the costume with a unicorn-inspired, colorful wig.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)12 of 12 Chucky
This doodle is dressed up as the killer doll Chucky. The pup is wearing blue overalls, a white-and-red striped shirt, and an orange wig that perfectly pulls off the Chucky look.
(Image:Sheridan Smith for The Mirror)