Costumed Dogs Take Over a Queens Waterfront Park on Halloween
Bring a dog to compete or come to watch, with pumpkin decorating, costume making and a vegan food market around the contest.
🗓️ One afternoon only
🐶 Costumes on the Lawn
A nearby dog café co-hosts what the park bills as New York's second largest dog costume contest. Judging runs from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with prizes for the winner, runner-up and third place. Owners sign their dogs up on-site at the café's table, which opens for registration at 1:00 PM.
🎃 Decorate a Pumpkin or Enter the Contest
A drop-in workshop hands out pumpkins to decorate from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM, first come, first served. Carvers can instead enter the Pumpkin Carving Contest from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, which has limited slots, and younger entrants need an adult with them.
📍 When to Arrive
Socrates Sculpture Park sits at 32-01 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, on the Queens waterfront. The free Eventbrite RSVP covers festival entry, not a spot in the dog contest. Owners entering a dog should arrive near 1:00 PM to register, then fill the wait with the drop-in costume-making workshop, open until 3:00 PM. Spectators can come closer to 3:00 PM for the judging and eat at the Planted Culture Vegan Food Market, open until 5:00 PM.
