Costume contests, local dog bakeries with fall treats, and Toronto-inspired costume ideas.
By Onslow's Team · Published September 22, 2026 · 3 min read
Put it in the calendar
Sunday, October 25 — two free costume contests, both on the same afternoon.
Riverside opens first at 11 AM, The Bentway runs 12–4 PM. They overlap from 12 to 3, so pick one or start east and head west.
Toronto’s biggest dog Halloween event, under the Gardiner. Costume contest with categories (Best DIY, Best Family, Judges’ Picks), Toronto Dog Moms vendor market, “Yappy Hour,” warm drinks, fall treats. Sponsored by Ren’s Pets.
Free neighbourhood Halloween festival with a dedicated dog costume contest. Judging, prizes from local vendors, free photobooth, pumpkin decorating, haunted house, DJ. Organized by the Riverside BIA.
Annual costume contest and vendor market at the Downsview off-leash dog park.
Small cardboard box painted red with “Out of Service” on the front. Strapped to the harness. A Toronto classic.
Grey bandana + pipe cleaner tail + a miniature City of Toronto green bin as a prop. Toronto’s real mascot.
Tall cone hat on top of the head, secured to the harness. Bonus: attach a tiny Drake figure for the Views album cover.
DIY a Timbits box from cardboard. Or buy the official Lumberjack Pet Costume from timshop.timhortons.ca ($32.99, sizes S/M/L).
Two versions: Certified Lover Boy (oversized black coat + gold chains) or Degrassi-era Drake (oversized glasses + button-down). OVO owl bandana works too.
Blue bandana + a tiny batting helmet or baseball cap. Simple and recognizable.
179 Avenue Rd, Yorkville
Local, organic, hand-baked treats and cookies. Custom cakes with seasonal flavours. Also sells costumes and accessories.
Sold at Toronto pet boutiques
Award-winning gluten-free dog bakery. Their pumpkin treats use pumpkin puree, organic oat flour, eggs, and Ceylon cinnamon, all dog-safe ingredients. 3-month shelf life (6 months frozen).
Newmarket, delivers to GTA
All-natural, human-grade, preservative-free. Custom dog cakes and signature pet jellies. Order online for GTA delivery.
Toronto
Small-batch treats made for dogs with allergies and sensitivities. No preservatives, additives, or fillers.
Multiple GTA locations
Canadian chain with in-house bakery. Carries seasonal Halloween treats.
Pumpkin is great. Pumpkin spice is not.
Plain pumpkin is vet-recommended for dogs. But pumpkin spice blends contain nutmeg (toxic — causes seizures) and cloves (causes GI distress). If buying seasonal treats, check the ingredients.
Hanna Road is famous for elaborate displays and a lively atmosphere.
Pacific Avenue is one of the best trick-or-treating streets in the city.
Historic Victorian homes with over-the-top decorations.
Family-driven, entire streets transform.
Home to annual dog costume events and a very dog-friendly community.
Halloween night · October 31
The contests are the fun part. October 31 at home is the risky one.
The candy bowl — Chocolate, xylitol, raisins and candy wrappers are all dangerous. Keep the bowl off the floor and out of reach.
The doorbell — It rings non-stop for hours. Set your dog up in a back room away from the door.
The costume — Costumes can be stressful. Check your dog can see, hear and walk normally in whatever they’re wearing.
Howl’oween at The Bentway (Oct 25) is the biggest, with categories for Best DIY, Best Family, and Judges’ Picks. Riverside Halloween Fest (same day) also has a costume contest with prizes from local vendors.
Dogfather & Co. (Yorkville), Barkday Treats (at pet boutiques), Paw’s Appetite (online, GTA delivery), BonBones Bakery, and Bone & Biscuit (multiple locations). Always check ingredients and avoid nutmeg and cloves.
Yes. The TimShop (timshop.timhortons.ca) sells a Lumberjack Pet Costume ($32.99, sizes S/M/L) plus pet hoodies in Retro Logo, Iced Capp, and other designs.
There’s no formal “dog trick-or-treating” in Toronto, but a costumed evening walk through Leaside, Cabbagetown, or The Beaches is a great alternative. The Howl-O-Ween Unleashed event at Downsview Park includes treat stations for costumed dogs.
Sources: thebentway.ca; riverside-to.com; downsviewpark.ca; dogfatherandco.com; barkdaytreats.com; pawsappetite.com; timshop.timhortons.ca; Eventbrite listings.
Halloween safety
Keep your dog safe
DIY costumes
Build your own
Pumpkin treats
Safe seasonal snacks
Fall events
Full calendar
Onslow's shows you events, off-leash parks, and dog-friendly spots on a live map. Free on iOS and Android.