Inspo for your next Halloween costume!

On Saturday, October 17th, at 11 am, a parade of dogs in Halloween costumes with elaborate floats flooded Avenue B, spanning 6 blocks from 7th-13th Street. The dogs strutted down this closed-off runway with their owners, drawing huge crowds of viewers (myself included). 

There was a wide variety of dogs, small to big, chihuahuas to golden retrievers, and an even larger variety of costumes. However, I managed to select my ten favorite costumes I saw, which are ranked in the list below. 

10. The tiniest cowboy with the tiniest hat and booties! 

9. A fluffy piece of popcorn? 

8. Scrub-a-dub-dub – it’s bath time 

7. she was a fairy 

6. 3 cats crashing the dog parade and stealing the spotlight 

5. An artsy and tasteful Frenchie

4. Smiling pirate family with their silly rainbow parrot!

3. A diva if I’ve ever seen one

2. 3 blind mice!

1. First place by effort alone – a classic costume elevated by the owner’s participation

Community was not only fostered between the dogs, eagerly sniffing each other in line to march, but also between the viewers and dog owners. Residents of apartments nearby watched from fire escapes, viewers filled the stairs outside buildings along the avenue, and dog owners lingered after the parade to let people pet and take photos of their dressed-up pups. While not an event for the claustrophobic, it was really nice to see so many New Yorkers come together over a wholesome, human desire to see dogs in Halloween costumes. If you’re a dog-lover and willing to wake up early on a Saturday morning, the Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade is an event not to be missed!

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