Bring your pup along while you explore suburbia
Fall weekends in the NYC suburbs are packed with events and community activities, making them a perfect time to get out and explore. But some of the most popular events have an added twist – they’re designed for pets. So if you have a dog who’s also getting ready to make a move, be sure and check out these parades and other pet-friendly events, ideal for getting a sneak peek of what life could be like in the ‘burbs. Here are the 2026 events to put on your calendar.
FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CT
Greenwich
Date: Sunday, September 27
Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Location: Roger Sherman Baldwin Park, 100 Arch Street
Adopt-A-Dog’s 38th annual Puttin’ On The Dog brings thousands of pet lovers to Roger Sherman Baldwin Park for one of the area’s largest dog-focused events. Meet adoptable dogs, watch canine competitions and demonstrations, browse local vendors, grab something from the food trucks, and stop by the Kid Zone if you’re bringing the whole family.
Howl & Prowl
Date: Sunday, October 25
Time: 12:00 PM–4:00 PM
Location: Greenwich Town Hall, 101 Field Point Road
Howl & Prowl returns to Greenwich Town Hall on October 25 for another afternoon devoted to local pets and their people. Save the date for the annual pet-focused Halloween celebration, with additional details about this year’s activities still to come.
Fairfield
Harvest Market & Dog Costume Parade
Date: Saturday, October 17
Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM; dog parade at noon
Location: Fairfield Town Hall Green, 611 Old Post Road
Fairfield’s annual Harvest Market combines a traditional fall market with a Halloween dog costume parade. More than 70 retailers, makers, businesses, and other vendors will be on hand, along with food trucks, a beer garden, giant pumpkin activities, and the noon pet parade along Old Post Road.
Stamford
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Mill River Park, 1010 Washington Blvd.
Calling all dog lovers! Luckypawlooza takes over Stamford for a day of adoptable pups, food trucks, a doggie fun fun, kids’ activities, local vendors, and plenty of tail-wagging fun…all benefiting Lucky Dog Refuge and improvements to Mill River’s Bark Park.
WESTCHESTER
Croton on Hudson
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Croton Landing Park, 1 Van Wyck Street
Costumes aren’t just for kids! Dress up your four-legged friend and head to Croton-on-Hudson for a festive Halloween dog parade, complete with a costume contest, prizes, raffles, and plenty of adorable pups in their Halloween best.
Larchmont
Date: Saturday, November 2
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Addison Park, Chatsworth Avenue
Bring your pup to Larchmont for a dog-friendly community gathering featuring a meet-and-greet with local dog owners and pet-related businesses, plus free samples and giveaways. It’s a fun excuse for four-legged residents and their humans to mix and mingle.
Port Chester
Family Fun & Pet Extravaganza
Date: Saturday, September 19
Location: Port Chester
Start the fall pet-event season in Port Chester at the Family Fun & Pet Extravaganza. SPCA Westchester will be on site with its Mobile Adoption Unit, giving visitors the chance to meet adoptable animals while spending the day in the community.
Pound Ridge
Wooffstock 2026
Date: Sunday, October 4
Location: Pound Ridge Community Church
Wooffstock returns to Pound Ridge this October, with SPCA Westchester bringing its Mobile Adoption Unit and adoptable pets to the annual dog-friendly community event. Additional details for the 2026 event are still to come.
Rye Brook
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 10:30 AM–12:00 PM; parade at 11:45 AM
Location: Pine Ridge Park
Bring your dog in costume for Rye Brook’s annual Howl-o-Ween in the Park, co-sponsored by the Humane Society of Westchester. The morning includes prizes for the top three dog costumes, meet-and-greets with pets available for adoption through the Humane Society, and a costume parade to close out the event.
White Plains
Howl-o-Ween Bash
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Bark Dog Park, Brockway Place
Head to White Plains’ Bark Dog Park for a special Howl-o-Ween celebration for local dogs and their owners. The hour-long event gives four-legged residents a chance to join in the city’s Halloween festivities at their own neighborhood gathering spot.
NEW JERSEY
Cranford
Date: Sunday, October 25
Time: Registration begins at 10:30 AM; parade begins at 11:00 AM
Location: Post Office Plaza, Eastman Street
Get those costumes ready! Cranford’s Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade invites pups and their people to Post Office Plaza for a festive Sunday morning parade filled with four-legged friends showing off their Halloween best.
Montclair/Bloomfield
Strut Your Mutt Canine Halloween Costume Contest
Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 9:00 AM
Location: Brookdale Park
Brookdale Park’s annual Strut Your Mutt invites local dog owners to get creative for its popular canine Halloween costume contest. Essex County has confirmed the October 24 event on its 2026 park calendar, with additional details and timing still to come.
Summit
Date: Saturday, September 26
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Summit Family Aquatic Center, 100 Ashwood Avenue
Who needs a Halloween costume when you can break out the doggy bathing suit? Summit’s annual Doggy Dip invites pups to take one last dip of the season at the Summit Family Aquatic Center, with dedicated sessions for dogs of different sizes.
West Orange
Date: Saturday, September 19
Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM
Location: Berson Family Center at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
The Zoological Society of New Jersey’s 10th annual BARKtoberfest brings together animal shelters and rescue groups for a free pet adoption event and marketplace. Meet adoptable dogs and cats, browse vendors, visit the food trucks, and enter your own pet in the costume contest. The event takes place outside the zoo, where pets are welcome.
LONG ISLAND, NY
East Meadow
Date: Sunday, October 25
Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM; judging at 2:00 PM
Location: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theater, Eisenhower Park
Nassau Barkfest returns in 2026 with Long Island’s largest free pet costume contest and parade. No advance registration is required, making it easy to bring your pet, check out the costumes, and join the fun. Be sure and bring unopened pet food or treats, which will be donated to animals in need
Old Westbury
Fall Dog Parade & Costume Contest
Date: Sunday, October 25
Time: 3:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road
Old Westbury Gardens’ annual Fall Dog Parade & Costume Contest returns as part of Fall Dog Days Weekend, when visitors can bring leashed dogs to explore designated areas of the Gardens. The Sunday costume contest includes categories ranging from Most Original and Funniest to Best Person & Dog, with participants required to register before the contest begins.
Rockville Centre
Second Annual Rockville Centre Dog Meet-Up & Holiday Parade
Date: Saturday, October 10
Time:11:00 AM–1:00 PM
Location: RVC Municipal Field No. 2
Costumes are optional, but four-legged fun is guaranteed! Rockville Centre’s second annual Dog Meet-Up and Parade brings local dog lovers together for a festive afternoon featuring giveaways, raffles, and prizes for the best-dressed canine companions.
Westbury
Hicks Nurseries Pet Parade & Costume Competition
Date: Wednesday, October 14
Time: Registration begins at 4:00 PM; parade begins at 5:00 PM
Location: Hicks Nurseries, 100 Jericho Turnpike
Hicks Nurseries’ annual Halloween pet parade returns with more than $600 in prizes and costume categories including Best Overall, Most Original, Funniest, Best Group, and Best Child & Pet. Every participating pet also receives a ribbon.
What Can a Pet-Friendly Event Tell You About a Town?
If you’re moving with a dog, your suburban search probably includes some questions that have nothing to do with schools or commute times. Where will you walk every morning? Are there sidewalks in the neighborhoods you’re considering? Is there a dog park nearby? Can you bring your dog downtown? Are there trails and parks you’ll actually use? How much outdoor space do you really need at home if you have great public spaces nearby?
These are exactly the kinds of lifestyle details to discuss with your Suburban Jungle Strategist. They can help you think beyond whether a town is broadly considered “pet-friendly” and consider how a specific neighborhood and location would work for your family’s actual routine.
And while you’re touring, events like these give you another reason to stick around. Walk the neighborhood before the parade, grab lunch afterward, explore the park, and see how the town feels on a busy fall weekend.
For more insights, visit Suburban Jungle’s New York City suburbs section and the New York City blog page on our website.
Considering a move to the suburbs? Schedule your free initial strategy call today and start exploring the towns that fit your entire family, four-legged members included.