Halloween 2020: Dog Parades In Montclair, Newark, Caldwell

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Essex County will go to the dogs on the weekend before Halloween.

The county will hold its annual “Strutt Your Mutt” Halloween costume parade and contest in Brookdale, Branch Brook and Grover Cleveland parks for 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be some tweaks to the popular event, officials said.

The costume parades and contests will be held as follows:

SATURDAY, OCT. 24

• Brookdale Park – Starts at 9:30 a.m. at the Brookdale dog park on Grove Street in Montclair
• Branch Brook Park – Starts at 1 p.m. at the Branch Brook dog park at Branch Brook Park West near Heller Parkway in Newark

SUNDAY, OCT. 25

• Grover Cleveland Park – Starts at 11 a.m. at the park on Brookside Avenue in Caldwell/Essex Fells

Strut Your Mutt is a free event. Prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories. For more information, call 973-268-3500.

This year, there will be some changes due to the COVID-19 crisis. Pre-registration of all entries is required, and there will be no in-person registration on the day of the parades. Register online here.

“The Essex County Strut Your Mutt Canine Halloween Costume Contests have become popular places for dog owners to bring their faithful companions, show off their creative talents, celebrate their pets and share a happy event with other dog owners,” County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said.

Essex County’s five dog parks are located in Branch Brook Park in Newark, Hilltop Reservation in North Caldwell, Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair, South Mountain Reservation in Maplewood/Millburn and Watsessing Park in Bloomfield/East Orange.

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