Planning your own Halloween costume can be stressful and expensive, but planning a Halloween costume for your dog is neither of those things (well, it might be the latter, depending on your commitment). Internet goers likely saw footage from the NYC Halloween Dog Parade — and while these pups certainly raised the cuteness bar, it’s time for Hoboken + Jersey City pet owners to put the New Jersey vs. New York debate to rest. This weekend, separate dog parades + costume contests are taking place in Hoboken + Jersey City. Read on to learn more about the upcoming pet Halloween costume events in Hoboken + Jersey City this weekend.
Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest + Parade
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After a successful event last year, the Hoboken Community Center is hosting its second-ever Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest + Parade. On Saturday, October 28th, costumed pups will trot through the streets of Hoboken, starting at Church Square Park at 2PM. All furry friends must be registered to walk, and prices are $15 per dog or $20 per dog at the door. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Hoboken Community Center, a non-profit that provides essential services and spaces to support the well-being of the Hoboken community. Find the registration link here.
Read More: Where to See the Best Halloween Displays in Hoboken
Guests can expect to see top-tier dog costumes, live music, and 21 local vendors. There are nine costume categories to enter, which means there will be nine winners chosen by a panel of judges (including The Hoboken Girl founder Jennifer Tripucka). Prizes vary, each of which will have a $200 value, according to the Hoboken Community Center’s Instagram.
While it’s unclear what Hoboken pups will dress as this year (we predict lots of Barbies) (dare we call them… Barkies?), a few highlights from last year’s event to get you excited: a golden doodle chef, a wiener dog in a hot dog bun, and a ballerina yellow lab.
Days of the Dead Celebration
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One of Jersey City’s most popular Halloween celebrations is the annual Days of the Dead Celebration in Riverview Fisk Park and it returns for 2023 on Sunday, October 29th. The event features traditional live music + dance, local Mexican-American artist Santiago Cohen’s giant puppet parade (which, if you haven’t read about it, we highly recommend), and a pet costume contest hosted by the Riverview Neighborhood Association.
The costume contest kicks off at 1PM, and registration can be done day of between 10:30AM-12:30PM for $5. You can find the complete event schedule here.
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Locals without four-legged companions are welcome to attend both events. If you’re looking for some animal-free Halloween festivities, here’s a list of celebrations in Hoboken + Jersey City this weekend.
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As always, be sure to follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok to stay in the know on all things Hoboken + Jersey City.
