9 Twin Cities Dog Halloween Costume Contests, Parades and Parties This Week

Updated October 24, 2026

Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and Twin Cities dogs are getting a full week to dress up for it. By our count there are nine dog costume contests, parades and parties across the metro between Saturday, Oct. 24, and Saturday, Oct. 31. The headliners: Howl-O-Ween at North Loop Green on Saturday, Oct. 24, a three-event Thursday on Oct. 29 (Waconia’s costume parade, a free yappy hour downtown and a $500 cash-prize contest in Plymouth), the bonfire contest at Loring Park on Friday, Oct. 30, and a Halloween-day double of Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley and Saint Bark in St. Paul.

We checked every date and time below against the organizer’s own page, and we’ve noted where listings disagree. Events change, so give the organizer a quick look before you head out.

The short version

Sat., Oct. 24: Howl-O-Ween at North Loop Green, 1–4 p.m., free. Columbia Heights Truck or Treat, 1–4 p.m., with a pet costume contest at 2:30 p.m. and adoptable dogs from Healing Hearts Rescue.
Sunday, Oct. 25: Trick-or-treat with Midwest Animal Rescue & Services at Maple Grove PetSmart, noon–3 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 29: Waconia’s Howl-ween costume parade (5 p.m.), a free Yappy Hour at Aloft Minneapolis (6–8 p.m.) and Brew Park Plymouth’s contest ($20 per dog, 6:30–8 p.m.).
Friday, Oct. 30: The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s free Howl-o-ween contest at Loring Park, 6–7:30 p.m., with a bonfire.
Saturday, Oct. 31: A Ruff Start Rescue fundraiser at Forgotten Star Brewing (1–4 p.m.) and a Howl-o-Ween Pawty at Saint Bark (2–4 p.m.).
Safety: Keep candy (especially chocolate and anything sugar-free with xylitol) and wrappers out of reach. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is 888-426-4435, 24/7.

Saturday, Oct. 24

Howl-O-Ween at The Green

North Loop Green, the park at 350 N. Fifth St. in Minneapolis’ North Loop, hosts a free dog-friendly Halloween party from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a costume contest for the best-dressed canine, local vendors and Halloween activities. Racket’s weekend listing adds a pup-cup bar and adoptable dogs from Minnesota Basset Rescue. Dogs must be on a leash. (Some calendars, including an earlier version of ours, listed this for Oct. 31. The venue’s own page, FOX 9 and Racket all say Oct. 24.) Details from North Loop Green · Our listing.

Columbia Heights Truck or Treat, with Healing Hearts Rescue

The city’s annual Truck or Treat runs 1–4 p.m. at Huset Park East, 3965 Jefferson St. NE, Columbia Heights. It’s mainly a kids’ event with candy and vehicles to explore, but the city says the Canine Coach hosts a pet costume contest at 2:30 p.m., with a gift certificate for the winner. Healing Hearts Rescue lists an adoption event at Truck or Treat for the same hours, so you can meet adoptable dogs and puppies. It’s free. Expect crowds of kids, so a short leash and a calm dog are best. Our listing.

Sunday, Oct. 25

MARS Trick or Treat at Maple Grove PetSmart

Midwest Animal Rescue & Services (MARS) volunteers will be at PetSmart, 11200 Fountains Dr. in Maple Grove, from noon to 3 p.m. Stop by with your costumed dog to say hello and learn about the dogs and cats MARS has in foster care. The rescue says no adoptable pets will attend this one, and it doesn’t list a cost. Our listing.

Thursday, Oct. 29

Howl-ween at Paws Inn and costume parade, Waconia

Paws Inn Pet Essentials, 120 S. Vine St. in downtown Waconia, throws an afternoon of Halloween fun from 3:30 to 6 p.m., with the costume parade through Waconia at 5 p.m. Expect photo ops, Tricks for Treats for kids and dogs, vendors, goody bags and a costume contest with six categories, including Best Kid & Pet Costume and Best Homemade Costume. This year’s theme is Marvel vs. DC, but any costume works. The store asks that you bring a social dog or another well-behaved pet. Our listing.

Yappy Hour: Dog Costume Contest at Aloft Minneapolis

Aloft Minneapolis, 900 Washington Ave. S. near the downtown riverfront, hosts a free yappy hour from 6 to 8 p.m. Best-dressed dogs win prizes. There are treats, plus professional photos by Profeshie. RSVP on Eventbrite. Parking is paid. Our listing.

Halloween Doggy Costume Contest at Brew Park Plymouth

Brew Park, the indoor off-leash dog park and bar at 2605 Fernbrook Ln. N., Suite J, in Plymouth, runs its contest from 6:30 to 8 p.m. with $500 in cash prizes: $300 for Best Dog/Owner Duo and $200 for Best Dog Costume. Tickets are $20 per dog (members get up to 50% off), and Brew Park warns they’re limited. Every dog gets a free treat bag. Park rules apply: register your dog online with up-to-date vaccine records before you go, dogs over 8 months must be spayed or neutered, and you must be 18 or older to enter the park. Our listing.

Friday, Oct. 30

Howl-o-ween Dog Costume Contest at Loring Park

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s annual contest runs 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Loring Park, based at the recreation center at 1382 Willow St., with judging at 6:30 p.m. The park board promises a bonfire and treats for both people and dogs. It’s free, open to all ages and happens rain or shine, so dress for the weather. Friends of Loring Park co-promotes it. Park board listing.

Saturday, Oct. 31

Halloween Paw-ty & Dog Costume Contest benefiting Ruff Start Rescue

Forgotten Star Brewing Co., 38 Northern Stacks Dr. in Fridley, hosts the party in its taproom from 1 to 4 p.m. Pre-register online or at the door between 1 and 2 p.m. Entry is a suggested $10 donation per dog. Judging starts promptly at 2 p.m. in three categories: Most Creative, Spookiest and Funniest. Human costumes are encouraged. Tammy Taylor Photography runs a fall photo booth, and Forgotten Star will match donations up to $500. Our listing.

Howl-o-Ween Pawty at Saint Bark

Saint Bark, the indoor dog park and bar at 1145 Snelling Ave. N. in St. Paul, closes out Halloween afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. with a costume contest, prizes and Pumpkin Pup Cups. A food truck is still to be announced. Come in costume or just come to hang out. The event page doesn’t list admission and links to Saint Bark’s guest waiver and kids policy, so check those before you go. Our listing.

Halloween safety for dogs

Most Halloween trips to the emergency vet come from things at home, not costume contests. A few basics from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the ASPCA:

Candy stays out of reach. The AVMA says not to feed pets Halloween treats. Chocolate is toxic to dogs. So is xylitol, a sweetener in many sugar-free candies and gums. Raisins can cause kidney failure. Keep the candy bowl and kids’ trick-or-treat bags up high.
Watch the wrappers. Foil and plastic wrappers, lollipop sticks and the bags themselves can block a dog’s gut. Pick up after trick-or-treating, before your dog finds the stash.
Costumes should fit. The AVMA’s test: the costume should be comfortable and shouldn’t block your dog’s sight, hearing, breathing, mouth or movement. Nothing should be easy to chew off and swallow. Do a trial run before contest day, and don’t leave a dog alone in costume. If your dog freezes, paws at it or tucks its tail, a festive bandana counts.
Guard the front door. All that doorbell ringing stresses a lot of dogs, and an open door is an escape route. The AVMA suggests putting nervous dogs in a room away from the front door during trick-or-treating hours, or giving them a safe place to hide.
Check ID. Make sure your dog is wearing a collar with a current ID tag and that the microchip registration has your phone number, in case your dog does slip out.
Candles and glow sticks. Keep lit jack-o’-lanterns where a wagging tail can’t knock them over. A chewed glow stick usually isn’t dangerous, but it tastes terrible and can cause heavy drooling.

If you think your dog ate something it shouldn’t have, call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. It’s open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. A consultation fee may apply.

Looking for more to do? See all dog-friendly events in Minneapolis–St. Paul.

We’ll update this list if organizers change times or add events.