At Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, NYC, Dogs Strut in Halloween Costumes

On Saturday, October 17, Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village filled with costumed dogs for the annual Dog Halloween Costume Contest, held in Garibaldi Plaza. The Washington Square Park Conservancy, which supports the park's operations alongside NYC Parks, organized the morning, which ran from 10am to noon. It was free for both entrants and spectators.

No pre-registration was required. Dogs and their owners were invited to simply show up. The entry line opened at 9:30am, organizers encouraged arrival before 10am, and contestants had to be in line by 10:30am to take part.

A panel of community members and dog lovers judged the contest, and first, second and third place were announced at the end. Winners had to be present at the park to claim their prizes. Must Love Dogs and Comedy emceed. Jolie Dudley of the group recalled a past year when a small dog dressed as a shrimp was held up and the crowd chanted "shrimp!" in unison.

Last year's winners show the range of entries: Guns N' Roses, Bob Ross, a pair of mops, sushi and Taylor Swift's engagement ring. Costumes run from topical pop culture references to classic Halloween looks.

Kaitlyn Yates, the Conservancy's Programs Director, described the contest as welcoming, creative and joyous, much like the park itself. Washington Square Park has two dog runs, which the Conservancy helps maintain with NYC Parks and community volunteers, providing supplies to keep them safe and fun. The contest is a fixture of the neighborhood's dog community each fall.