Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade in Long Beach: A Halloween Parade Near Me

The 25th annual Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade steps off at 2:30 pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot Street, Long Beach, and watching is free. For Long Beach families typing halloween parade near me, this is a real procession: costumed kids and adults without dogs lead the route at 2:28 pm, then more than 350 dressed-up dogs follow for about 40 minutes past a judges' canopy on a red carpet.

The parade is run by Justin Rudd, who started the Haute Dogs network in 2001, and his nonprofit Community Action Team, a 501(c)(3) that also produces the Belmont Shore Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest, a Fourth of July kids' bike parade and the Long Beach Turkey Trot. Rudd bills the Howl'oween Parade as the world's largest Halloween pet event, and 2026 is its 25th edition.

Rudd is also the reason Long Beach has an off-leash dog beach. Rosie's Dog Beach, named after his late English bulldog Rosie, covers 4.2 acres at 5000 E. Ocean Boulevard, between Roycroft and Granada avenues. The parade draws on that same community, and the organizer says the last edition brought more than 350 costumed dogs and roughly 1,500 spectators who came without a dog.

The vendor fair opens in Marina Vista Park at 12:30 pm and runs until 4 pm, with food trucks, vendors and rescue groups offering animals for adoption. Costumed humans without dogs line up first and step off at 2:28 pm, two minutes ahead of the dogs at 2:30 pm. The march lasts about 40 minutes, and the awards ceremony follows at approximately 3:30 pm.

The route runs along the park's concrete bike path, where a red carpet is laid out and the judges sit under a white canopy. Judging is based on originality, showmanship, costume detail and first impression. The panel includes the reigning Teen, Miss, Ms. and Mrs. Long Beach and Southern California titleholders. The grand prize, from sponsor Redbarn, is dog food for a year, with top-12 finalists recognized.

Costumed people can walk in the parade for free, so a child in costume can join the procession without bringing a dog or paying anything. Kids and adults without dogs register at no cost and lead the procession. Dog entries are $10 in advance through Friday night, $20 on parade weekend, or $35 for a VIP entry that skips the line and walks near the front.

Check in at the red-and-white Haute Dogs registration tent near the start of the route, close to Colorado Street, where VIP entrants have a separate line and collect wristbands. Pin your bib number on the front of the human so the judges can read it. Judges pick finalists from individual dogs, groups of at least two, and non-motorized floats up to 5 feet wide, such as decorated wagons.

About 500 front-row chairs are set up inside the park and rent for $6 in exact cash, or $7 by credit card. You can also bring your own folding chair and set it up in the second row for free. Families with small children should grab front-row seats near the judges' canopy, because that is where entries slow down and pose for the panel.

Here is the honest call: leave an anxious or reactive dog at home if you only plan to watch. The organizer's own rules bar aggressive dogs, dogs in heat and puppies under four months, and a packed bike path lined with hundreds of costumed dogs is a hard afternoon for a nervous animal. A dog-free spectator gets the same view with none of the stress.

All dogs must stay leashed, carry ID tags and be current on rabies and other vaccinations. Costumes must be safe and comfortable for the dog, and older, flat-faced or overheated dogs are allowed to walk past the judges and then leave the route early. Confetti is banned, and the organizer asks entrants to pause only briefly for photos so the line keeps moving.

The organizer also bans culturally insensitive costumes and lists examples to avoid, including a Native American princess, a sombrero-and-poncho outfit, a geisha and an Arab sheik. If you are unsure whether a costume crosses that line, the page advises skipping it. Group entries are welcome, and the judges look specifically for the best groups, so a family in matching theme costumes walking with its dog can compete as one entry.

The timing lines up well with Belmont Shore's own Halloween tradition. The Belmont Shore Business Association runs Trick-or-Treat on 2nd Street from 4 to 6 pm on Saturday, October 31, 2026, and participating shops put jack-o'-lantern signs in their windows to show they are handing out treats. Kids still in costume from the parade can walk straight into it after the awards.

Its sister restaurant, Nick's on 2nd at 4901 E. Second Street, opens at the same hour and is the place for a burger or salad.

If October 31 is already booked, Torrance's Community Services Department hosts a free Halloween Movie Night at Wilson Park on Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 4 to 9 pm. Before the screening of Toy Story 5, the evening includes food trucks, DJ music, train rides, a pumpkin carving contest and a costume parade, so kids get to march in their costumes a week early.

Long Beach dog owners who want a calmer warm-up can also take their pup to Rosie's Dog Beach, open daily from 6 am to 8 pm, for a costume test run on the sand. The rule there is one dog per adult, and dogs must stay leashed until they reach the off-leash zone at the water.

Event: 25th annual Haute Dog Howl'oween Parade, Saturday, October 31, 2026. Where: Marina Vista Park, 5355 E. Eliot Street, Long Beach, CA 90803, near the tennis courts. Times: vendor fair 12:30 to 4 pm, costumed humans 2:28 pm, dogs 2:30 pm, awards around 3:30 pm. Cost: free to watch and free for costumed people walking without a dog. It is a rain-or-shine event.

Parking: free street parking around the park, the Marine Stadium lots, and about 800 metered spaces in the Granada Avenue and Belmont Pier lots. Bring exact cash if you plan to rent a chair. Restrooms: plan a stop at a Second Street restaurant before heading to the route. Water: bring a bowl and a bottle for your dog, since the parade itself runs about 40 minutes in the afternoon sun.