BOSTON, Mass. — Downtown Crossing in Boston went to the dogs on Saturday as the 12th annual Doggone Halloween Costume Parade brought out more than 150 dressed-up pups and the biggest crowd the event has seen. Estimates of the field varied, with one count topping 250 costumed dogs, and hundreds of spectators came to watch.
The Downtown Boston Alliance, a nonprofit, puts on the parade every year. An organizer said the streets were packed with people and that turnout topped every year since the contest began.
Owners went all out. Costumes ranged from familiar characters such as Woody from Toy Story, a Spider-Man spin called Spider-dog and Beetlejuice to more inventive builds. One winning entry turned a dog into a bag of leaves, leaf blower included. Another put a Snoopy look-alike on top of a doghouse roof, and a third dressed a dog as a KitchenAid stand mixer.
Judges handed out awards in several categories: best costume, scariest costume, cutest costume, best dog and human duo, and best dog and child costume. Five dogs walked away with top honors.
Each category carried its own prize. Winners took home rewards such as hotel overnights, nights at the movies and meals out, along with a gift basket from a chicken finger chain.
Organizers called this year’s edition the largest in the contest’s 12-year run. Residents and their pets took over the shopping district for the celebration. One winning owner dressed her two dogs together as a Cookie Monster cafe, built around a spooky version of a kitchen stand mixer.
Filed under: Boston MA Neighborhood News