Philadelphia's largest Halloween pet costume contest is back - and cuter than ever! Northern Liberties Business Improvement District partners with Street Tails Animal Rescue on the 7th Annual Hound-O-Ween Fall Festival and Doggie Costume Contest. The event is back in person and moves to the intersection of Laurel and N. 2nd Street, on Sunday, October 31st, from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. This year, to ensure proper health and safety protocols, 40 of the region's most festively decked out pets are invited to strut across the stage. Contestants will compete for prizes in four categories for prizes, plus all pets will compete for the grand prize of $500, sponsored by Wilson’s Estate Jewelry. Registration for this annual benefit is only a $30 donation per pet. All proceeds benefit Street Tails Animal Rescue in their mission to help homeless and unwanted animals in the Philadelphia area. On top of the contest, look for outdoor food and drink, fall tunes, Halloween vibes, vendors, music and more. Hound-O-Ween Fall Festival is one of many Halloween and Fall themed activities in Northern Liberties on Halloween Sunday. For registration and full details, visit Northern Liberties Business Improvement District website at https://www.explorenorthernliberties.org/events/

“We can’t wait to see all the pups on parade in costume and wagging their tails,” said NLBID Executive Director Kris Kennedy. “Northern Liberties Business Improvement District is proud to partner and help bring back Philadelphia’s largest Halloween pet costume contest and festival to help out Street Tails Animal Rescue. We are proud to support one of our District businesses that does such important and amazing work in the community. Registration is now open to compete with your costumed crusader and four-legged friends. If you have a pet or pup, come out and walk the stage with them. If you love animals, or just want to enjoy a day of fall fun in the neighborhood, the contest, street festival and vendors will be here for the perfect Sunday Funday on Halloween itself, October 31st. We hope to see everyone there!”

Hound-O-Ween Fall Festival and Pet Costume Contest is presented by Northern Liberties Business Improvement District and Street Tail Animal Rescue, with support from sponsor 2nd Street Animal Hospital. The street festival will open at 12:00pm Noon, and the pets and pups will hit the stage starting at 12:30pm. There will be a celebrity emcee, Halloween and fall vibes, DJ and music, food and beverages, vendors, shopping, raffles, and other surprises.

Pets will compete in five categories, including Best Puppy, Best Adult Dog, Best Pet and Human Combo, and Best Unusual Suspects, plus Grand Prize “Best of Show.” The Judge’s Grand Prize will take home $500 in cash sponsored by Wilson’s Estate Jewelry. Rough start tmes for each category will be announced on Northern Liberties Business District Instagram the week of the event at @northliberties.

Advance registration is now open! Due to the pandemic and safety, there will be a limit this year to 40 pets and pups, so pet parents are asked to register in advance. Registration for this annual benefit is only a $30 donation per pup. All proceeds benefit Street Tails Animal Rescue in their mission to help homeless and unwanted animals in the Philadelphia area.

For the humans in the bunch, there will be plenty of tricks and treats! Look for a menu of fall favorites and Hound-O-Ween food and drink from El Camino Real, who will have a mobile set-up with the following menu items:

MexiDog
House-made hotdog, black beans, pico de gallo, pickled jalapenos & crema

TexDog
House-made hotdog, baked beans, cheese sauce, crispy onions

Backyard Burger
House ground burger, cooper sharp cheese, caramelized onion, pickles

Pulled Pork Sandwich
Apple & Cherry Wood Smoked Pork, coleslaw, sweet BBQ sauce

Dos Equis Beer

Tipsy Chihuahua
Cazadores Tequila, Lime, Triple Sec

Happy Puppy
Local Apple cider, Fall Spices, Bourbon, cinnamon sugar rim

Greyhound
Grapefruit juice, Stateside Vodka

Pomeranian
White rum, pomegranate, triple sec, lemon

El Camino will also tap a special keg of Dos Equis, courtesy of Origlio Distributors, with all proceeds going directly to Street Tails. All food and drink is pay-as-you-go. Patrons must be 21 and up to drink, with identification at the time of purchase.

Vendors, facepainting and pet caricatures will round out the family fun for all ages. Check out a fall-themed Vespa from Motoplex of West Chester, who has a pop up shop in the Piazza. Other vendors will include 2nd Street Animal Hospital, Petco Unleashed, Piggyback Treats, Thrive Flower, Brixxy and Co. and Wag the Dog.

While you take in the competition, shop the vendors and take in the spooky season vibes, don’t forget to enter to win great prizes in the Street Tails auction, with prizes donated by Yards Brewing Co, BarkBox, Apricot Stone, Sculpere, Modern Eye, Party Girl Bake Club, Tune-Up Barber Shop, Yellow Dog Design, The Philadelphia Flyers, a chance to win a two night stay at a classic Adirondack chalet, and more!

“Hound-O-Ween started back in 2013 as a Halloween Parade to raise funds for the rescue,” said Street Tails Social Media and Development/ Fundraising Coordinator Allison Lewis. “Since its inception, Hound-O-Ween has grown from a small parade with 5-10 contestants to an annual gathering enjoyed by people of all ages. My favorite thing about the event is that it draws people from all over, from all walks of life and all ages, and brings them together for one fun-filled day where we all get to be kids again. Plus, we aren’t just dogs anymore! I always love when people bring animals that aren’t dogs. We’ve had cats, pigs, goats, and bunnies as contestants.”

For more information and to register your pet for the 7th Annual Hound-O-Ween Fall Festival and Doggie Costume Contest, visit Northern Liberties website at:
https://www.explorenorthernliberties.org/events/

For more about Street Tails and the work they do in the community, visit:
https://www.streettails.org/

ABOUT NORTHERN LIBERTIES BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Northern Liberties Business Improvement District was formed in 2018 to provide supplements to the municipal services of the City of Philadelphia; maintain a safe, clean and vibrant commercial district for the benefit of the residents, users, and owners within the district, and to citizens of Philadelphia and the region; to create opportunities for the business and residential communities to come together to make improvements to the district; and develop and implement programs and services that ensure that Northern Liberties continues to be a desirable place to live, work, shop, invest and visit. For more information, see explorenorthernliberties.org.