The Dog Days of Autumn

October 21st, 2024 By Grace Steffen

There’s nothing quite like fall in NYC: crisp morning air, yellow leaves littering the street, the occasional pumpkin spice latte, and of course, the Tompkins Square Dog Parade. This past Saturday, October 19th, marked the 34th annual dog parade. If you are unfamiliar with this spectacle of cuteness overload, you are missing out. It seems like every dog owner in the city comes with their dressed-up pup to march down Ave A to the delight of hundreds of onlookers. This marked my second year attending the parade, but I was as in awe of the creativity and cuteness as last year. 

I joke that this parade is comparable to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. People line the street 3, 4, 5 rows thick trying to get a glimpse of the parade participants. Though it was not my first rodeo, I made the mistake of getting there right at the start of the parade and scrambled to find a viewing spot. Even when I couldn’t see all of the parade, the energy of the crowd was still infectious. 

One might say that this parade is more about the people than the dogs. Some owners go all out, dressing up in a theme to match their furry companion: in Star Wars or Disney Princesses. There are pop culture references, like Taylor Swift and “They’re Eating the Dogs”. I even saw a few NYC-specific pop culture references with the Bed Stuy Aquarium or Rat Czar. Some owners like to keep it simple; I saw plenty of hot dog and taco costumes. No matter the level of effort, all participants get a moment of stardom as they parade down the street. 

Once you’ve seen enough of the actual parade, take a walk through the park, which seems to be overrun by pooches. You may even spend a few minutes outside the dog park watching the pups get some well-deserved playtime. A final treat for your fall afternoon is visiting Boris & Horton, a dog-friendly cafe. Owners bring their dogs here, so even if you are dog-less, you can still get some pets in while enjoying that pumpkin spice latte.

I can now officially say it is Halloween season here in the city, and I for one, am excited. If you missed it this year, mark it on your calendar for next year!