A joyful Halloween tradition took over Downtown Crossing on Saturday as the streets filled with hundreds of dogs strutting, performing, and socializing while wearing their very own Halloween costumes. Some matched their owners, some matched fellow canine friends, and others appeared in their own one-of-a-kind apparel. The competition for best dressed was on as the dogs pranced down Washington St., looking to catch the eye of the judges and over 1,000 spectators. 

The 11th annual Doggone Halloween Pet Parade hosted over 100 dogs and numerous small businesses in a celebration of Boston’s beloved fluffy friends. Judged on costume and creativity, pooches competed to win gift baskets from sponsors and recognition for their innovation.

Dogs and their owners turned Downtown Crossing into a swarm of color and fun, with Halloween photo ops, crowds hovering over the fence of the parade route, and booming music from the DJ stand. 

From dogs playing on Boston Common to the constantly increasing number of doggy strollers on the sidewalks, it’s no secret that Boston residents have become enamored with pampering their pups. 

One competitor, Olive, a blue merle Aussie, “Dogfluencer,” and ambassador for Polkadog Bakery—a small Boston business dedicated to making handmade dog treats—attended in a reflective space outfit matching her martian and alien dressed owners. 

“We love to do activities with Olive. We try to do fun things with her for her Instagram,” said Doug Sherwood, Olive’s owner. 

The event showcased not just the dolled up pups, but the time commitment and investment owners are willing to make for this yearly event. 

Colleen Court, a 10-time returning contestant, began her dog Hooper’s costume two months in advance of the event. Court, widely known amongst the event attendees, has won almost every year with her extreme outfits and loving golden retriever. This past year, she had three-year-old Hooper sit inside a handmade plane with wheels almost twice as large as the pup. Hooper and Colleen walked away with the gold for Best Costume once again. 

“It’s a tradition now. I don’t have kids, so I don’t have anyone to dress up, but I always liked Halloween. I’m very creative and I like trying to challenge myself,” Court said.  

The parade came to a close, and contestants perused the numerous vendors selected specifically for their small business title and dog-themed merchandise. 

Dani Larosee, the owner of Best Friends Supplies Co., creates dog advocacy gear for dogs to wear as leashes, bandanas, and more. She is a returning vendor, familiar with the returning dogs and pets who attend this event each year.  

“For the city to reach out to me, it’s really nice of them to acknowledge me as a Boston-based business and want to invite me here to do this,” said Larosee, who added the event brings a sense of community spirit with many of the contestants returning year after year.

As awards were given, the atmosphere was loud with conversation and dog barking, showcasing the connection between the dog owners from all over the city. 

Zephyr, a large dog sporting a hairy spider costume who won the Scariest Costume Award, was a first-time attendee joined by parents Merika and Austin Sanders. Merika said they bring Zephyr to the dog park every day, which, combined with events like these, has formed a local community of dog parents.

“It’s actually a great way to meet new people and learn who your neighbors are,” she said. 

Scott and Johnathon Greenspan, accompanied by their two–time competitor, five-year-old goldendoodle Bowen, echoed similar sentiments about the supportive group.

“I think people know us because of Bowen, and I feel like we’ve made connections with other dog owners through him,” Scott said. “Bowen’s a key part of the neighborhood.”

As the day ended and costume-wearing dogs filtered through the streets home, the lasting impression of joy and festivity lingered on for every person, dog, and pet that was able to attend. 

“As a queer and trans person [I’ve] been feeling kind of hopeless lately with everything going on,” said Rowan Leor, accompanied by their service dog, Emerson. “It was really uplifting to walk through the parade and see people cheering from the sidelines for a rainbow costume.”