Have A Happy Halloween At The Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest And Fort Greene Park Halloween Festival
The 17th annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest is returning this year — on Halloween day! — for another round of ridiculously adorable dogs in hilariously creative outfits. Do you think you and your dog can wow the crowds this year? Then get brainstorming!
Event registration begins at 11am on Saturday, October 31 (rain date Sunday, November 1) on the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument plaza inside Fort Greene Park. Costume judging starts at noon shop at the base of the monument stairs. Entry is free, but a $5 donation per entrant is suggested. Winners receive various prizes — including the coveted rosette ribbons.
Organized by Fort Greene PUPS, this year’s Great PUPkin is occurring simultaneously with the Halloween Festival organized by the Fort Greene Park Conservancy. The Halloween Festival will feature a horse-drawn hay ride, pumpkin patch, sack races, stilt-walkers, costume parade, food, face-painting, and more.
Great PUPkin will run from 11am to around 1pm, and the festival runs from noon to 3pm.
“It feels like yesterday, I started doing this as a joke with my friends,” said Fort Greene PUPS founder Kath Hansen. “But it will be on my tombstone: ‘She made people dress their dogs in costumes.'”
That joke turned into something special for the whole Fort Greene community, with pooch versions of Evel Knievel, Big Bird, and food items such as tacos and banana splits bringing fun times to our neighborhood backyard.
“Whenever somebody repurposes a plastic cone collar into a martini glass, or a movie camera, Victorian lace collar, or paper shredder, I’m ridiculously entertained,” added Hansen.
Neighborhood businesses are also getting involved, sponsoring the event with donations. This year, Heart of Brooklyn Veterinary Hospital and Who’s Your Doggy have gifts for every entrant, while Greene Grape Provisions will be bringing homemade dog treats. Brooklyn Bark will also be on hand with a prize wheel.
There will even be an official afterparty at Die Stammkneipe/DerSchwarze Kolner (710 Fulton Street) at 2pm for a special happy hour.