In Chicago, a lively parade featuring both people and their pets brought a festive spirit to the city this past weekend.

Although Halloween is still a week away, the celebrations have already begun, particularly for our furry friends. The 38th annual Streeterville Doggy (And Kitty) Halloween Party and Parade took place on Saturday, delighting attendees with its creative costumes on a bright and crisp autumn morning outside the Museum of Contemporary Art.

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Participants showcased a variety of imaginative costumes, with dogs dressed as pumpkins, the pope, hot dogs, and cowboys, proving that creativity knows no bounds.

“Over the years, this event has really grown into a significant gathering,” commented Chicago resident Sarah Yi.

Yi’s 12-year-old Pomeranian, Chloe, charmed the crowd at the costume contest by donning a delightful fried chicken bucket outfit.

“I feel like we’re a little bit on the lazy side,” Yi said. “We just grab whatever is the easiest to buy from Amazon, but some people go all out, which I really admire.”

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Arya West and her mom brought their two pups up from Evanston, the second time they’ve made an appearance in the costume contest.

“So we have Thing 1 right here, Princeton. We have Thing 3, which is Beau. And my mom Cat in the Hat and I am Thing 2,” West said. “We just love it. Whether you have a dog or not, it’s nice to see everyone. You always end up with a smile and we look at the competition for next year.”

Lynn Andrews and Stella, her adorable 5-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo, were abuzz amid the competition as the sweetest bumble bee.

“Oh my goodness. People just love this holiday,” Andrews said. “There was Uber Eats, three was oh my gosh, cows, lions.”

And to make the costume contest event sweeter, donations from the event all went to PAWS Chicago.