A spirited tradition among New Yorkers and their four-legged companions once again transformed the streets of Manhattan into a spooky delight on Sunday for the 35th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.
Thousands of canines put their best paw forward, strutting down Avenue B in the East Village for the city’s beloved tradition that began as a small event at Tompkins Square Park Dog Run—the city’s first and largest dog park—in 1990. For the first time, the event was hosted by New York Dog Parade, a nonprofit dedicated to spreading cheer and helping pets through dog-centric events.
New York Dog Parade founder Fern Watt told Newsweek that this year’s event featured over 1,200 dogs dressed in costumes. Because of permit regulations for the parade, the organization needed to cap parade participants, but hundreds of other dogs showed up for the festivities.
“Yesterday was incredibly rewarding because everyone just came together with their dogs, all celebrating something so positive,” Watt said. “It’s not often that people get together to be in the streets and cheer and center around something they really love, which is dogs.”
Dogs and owners lined the streets of New York City on October 19 to celebrate the spooky season early with the 35th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.
Read MoreDaniela Cazar/New York Dog Parade
A family dresses up as a group of minions with their dogs during the 35th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade on October 19, 2025.
Daniela Cazar/New York Dog Parade
A dog in costume participated in the 35th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog parade on October 19, 2025.
Daniela Cazar/New York Dog Parade
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel paraded through New York City streets as a pilot in a toy, red plane alongside his owners.
Daniela Cazar/New York Dog Parade
Two dogs rocked their best Guns N’ Roses themed costume alongside their owners during the annual NYC dog parade on October 19, 2025.
Daniela Cazar/New York Dog Parade
Two dogs participated in the 35th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade as a bowl of pasta.
Daniela Cazar/New York Dog Parade
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The event continues to grow every year, and she believes this was the biggest yet, although no official numbers have come through as of Monday afternoon. Last year’s parade had about 15,000 spectators joining the celebration, and Watt believes this year’s numbers will be similar.
For the first time this year, the event featured a dog festival block. People and their dogs had the opportunity to meet the rescues, walk the red carpet, snap photos and receive treats from event sponsor Stella and Chewy’s.
Costume Contest
In this year’s costume contest, Watt said four judges were tasked with the impossible: handing out five golden tickets each to select the participants. Those 20 dogs were invited onstage to compete as finalists. From there, the competition whittled down until one was crowned victorious.
This year’s prize—a year’s worth of free dog food—went to the canine group of “cereal killers” and their crime scene. The dogs sat on a float with crushed cereal boxes sprawled out like a crime scene, with the owners joining the fun and dressing up as the cereal.
“It was gritty and fun and perfect,” Watt said.
Star Doggy Costumes
The “magical” day featured an array of hilarious, spooky and downright creative. From a New York City-inspired masterpiece of a dog dressed to the nines for the Met Gala to pirates and aliens, this year’s event brought out the creativity of owners.
Fern’s favorites, although hard to decide, ended up being all food-related costumes. She said one mutt dressed up as a rotisserie chicken from Costco. Another was a black Chihuahua in a caviar tin.
A few other standouts included a canine as Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors, a Guns N’ Roses tribute and a family of minions.
Dog Exposure
Not only did these canines get to show off their costumes with their owners, but some fur babies living in animal shelters received exposure as they participated in the parade. Shelter dogs from the ASPCA, Social Tees Animal Rescue and Pupstarz Rescue NYC led the parade as the Grand Marshals.
One of the Grand Marshals from Pupstarz Rescue NYC found her forever family, who adopted her at the end of the event. Several other parade goers expressed interest in the available shelter dogs, but Watt said the adoption process might take a few days.
For Watt, taking over the parade was a “huge honor,” but also a big responsibility because of how beloved the tradition has become in the community. Yet, the event is exactly what her nonprofit focuses on: bringing people together through dogs.
“There is nothing else like it,” she said.
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