People love to dress their dogs up in costume, so a Halloween party in Tompkins Square Park is a great way for New York's dog owners to show off their pets dressed up in costume, according to USA Today.
On October 26, dogs will be dressed up in their best Halloween costumes as their owners walk them through the dog parade, one of the largest dog Halloween events in the United States.
Last year, the event brought out more than 500 terriers, bulldogs, Labradors, pugs and all different mutts.
Awards are given out to dogs (owners) with the most "pawsitively" clever costumes. The awards include Broadway tickets and gift certificates for Purina's Beggin', a sponsor of the event this year.
Previous prizes have gone to a corgi dressed up as a bus stop, a golden retriever wearing antlers and a Santa suit while pulling a sleigh and a West highland terrier as spinach, accompanied by his owners dressed as Popeye and Olive Oyl. There were also dogs dressed as rock stars, such as John Lennon and Michael Jackson, as well as the daredevil Evel Knievel.
"The event is a way to share hilarious moments with pets and their owners," Garrett Rosso, a volunteer manager of the dog park, told USA Today. "One year all the pugs came as Chinese take-out.
"Martha Stewart liked the costumes so much that she made them for her dogs," he continued.
This year's parade is the 23rd year of the Halloween parade, which is also a fundraiser for the dog run that's located within the park. Admission is free, though those attending can purchase $5 raffle tickets to win a mini-iPad.
Last year, American consumers spent #370 million on Halloween pet costumes, which was $70 million more than they spent in 2011.
The Halloween parade is held at Tompkins Square Park between Avenue A and Avenue B from noon to 4 p.m.
Video of a previous Halloween Dog Parade in Tompkins Square Park.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
