Dog Halloween Costume Pawty
Our Halloween in the Park event took place outdoors at the off-leash dog park—a perfect spot for dogs and their parents to gather and celebrate in costume. Since it was an outdoor event in late October, one of our main concerns was the weather. Thankfully, a few of our amazing volunteers brought along shelter tents as a backup plan in case it rained. On the morning of the event, we were greeted not by rain, but by strong winds coming off the mighty Fraser River. To keep everyone comfortable, we made a quick decision to move our setup to the lower half of the park, away from the upper path where the gusts were strongest. It turned out to be a great choice!
Throughout the day, approximately 80 people came out with their pups, all dressed up in creative and adorable Halloween costumes. The atmosphere was cheerful and full of laughter as dogs showed off their outfits—some even joined by their parents, who got into the Halloween spirit too!
Our team of volunteers played a huge role in making the event a success. They helped with decorating the space, organizing the costume contest, playing Halloween music, handing out trick-or-treat goodies for both dogs and dog parents, and running the photo booth where families could capture a fun memory of their furry friend. Volunteers also kept a close eye to make sure all the dogs were getting along, collected garbage, and ensured the park was left spotless afterward.
One of the best parts of the day was seeing how happy and thankful people were. Many visitors expressed their appreciation for hosting such a fun and thoughtful community event. Even though we had a big turnout, it still felt friendly and personal—everyone had time to connect, mingle, and let their pups play freely.
Overall, the event went smoothly and left everyone smiling. We learned the value of planning for unpredictable weather, working together as a team, and staying flexible when things change. Most importantly, we saw how something as simple as dogs in costumes can bring people together and create lasting community connections. It was a joyful and memorable day filled with wagging tails, laughter, and lots of Halloween spirit!
Professional photos by Tommy Nguyen at Kind Photos YVR: https://kindphotosyvr.pic-time.com/-barkpark/login?inviteptoken2=AAAAAAYBAADUP7Os69vmZXnODuQKfe41dQ%2c%2c&fbclid=IwY2xjawNxxJtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF1MEVpSjVBQUVPU0cwNHNiAR6MVGbg9Nk8oXMuJny3Ew2W5iA5jNzTxZoLyw7ZAHhejzGVK9I_VBgtIMsXMw_aem_RWKfnKvGy2EKRjHwPCaLpg&redirect_back=%2f-barkpark%2fgallery%3finviteptoken2%3dAAAAAAYBAADUP7Os69vmZXnODuQKfe41dQ%252c%252c%26fbclid%3dIwY2xjawNxxJtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF1MEVpSjVBQUVPU0cwNHNiAR6MVGbg9Nk8oXMuJny3Ew2W5iA5jNzTxZoLyw7ZAHhejzGVK9I_VBgtIMsXMw_aem_RWKfnKvGy2EKRjHwPCaLpg
