San Antonio goes all out for Halloween, and the four-legged crowd is invited to most of the fun. From zoo costume contests to a pooch parade in a shopping center, here's every dog-friendly Halloween event worth knowing about this October. Maybe I'll see you there — look for the guy in the Awoo Crew shirt with too many treats in his pockets.
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## This Saturday: October 10
### Garden Ridge Market Days Howl-o-Ween Dog Costume Contest **Saturday, October 10 · 9:30 AM–2:30 PM · Northeast Bible Church, 19185 FM 2252, Garden Ridge · FREE**
The month's first big dog costume contest, with $500+ in prizes on the line. It's part of the monthly Garden Ridge Market Days fall festival: 200+ local vendors, 50+ food trucks, trick-or-treating with the vendors, and free kids' activities. Free admission and parking. Get there early: the contest draws a crowd, and the morning light is better for photos.
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## Weekend 1: October 17–18
### Barktoberfest **Saturday, October 17 · 10 AM–4 PM · Boerne Main Square, Downtown Boerne**
Worth the drive up I-10. Costume contest, a vendor market, and adoptions from local rescues. Boerne's Main Square is one of the prettiest event settings in the Hill Country: shaded sidewalks, plenty of water stops, and an old-town vibe that photographs well with a costumed pup.
### Trick-or-Tail Dog Day (Zoo Boo!) **Sunday, October 18 · 9 AM–6 PM · San Antonio Zoo, 3903 N St Mary's St**
Dog-friendly trick-or-treating *inside the zoo*, plus a dog costume contest. Admission is regular zoo admission. Your dog gets in on the fun for the price of your ticket. Go early; the morning crowd is calmer and the pavement is cooler.
### PetSmart Tricks for Treats + Meet the Spooky Pets **Oct 17, 10 AM–4 PM · Oct 18, noon–2 PM · All San Antonio PetSmart stores · FREE**
The chain's biggest Halloween event of the year, free, and no costume required (encouraged, but every pet is a star no matter what they wear). Saturday the 17th is trick-or-treating at treat stations around the store, with a photo area that has a Halloween backdrop and props, plus coloring pages and sticker sheets for the family. The first 50 arrivals get a Halloween-themed PetSmart tote bag, so go early. Sunday the 18th brings the new one: Meet the Spooky Pets, where PetSmart associates introduce families to snakes, spiders, and death-feigning beetles and talk daily care (featured critters vary by store). The Tricks for Treats setup runs again Saturday the 25th, 10 AM–4 PM.
Want a shot at $500? PetSmart's #PetSmartHalloweenContest runs through Oct 26: three categories (solo costume, pet with a toy/friend/human, spooky scene around your pet's costume), $500 in Treats Rewards savings for each grand-prize winner and $250 for nine runners-up. Enter on social media with #PetSmartHalloweenContest plus the category hashtag. No purchase necessary, 18+.
### Dogtober Pet Adoption & Fall Festival **Saturday–Sunday, October 17–18 · hosted by San Antonio Animal Care Services, the Animal Defense League of Texas, and SNIPSA**
Billed as San Antonio's largest fall pet adoption celebration, with 300+ adoptable pets. Even if you're not adopting, it's a great free outing with the dog you already have, and a good place to meet the rescues behind the city's biggest adoption push.
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## Weekend 2: October 24
### 5th Annual Howl-O-Ween Furr-ty **Saturday, October 24 · 12–3 PM · Hops & Hounds, 1119 Ave B · FREE**
The big one. Costume categories include Best Costume, Funniest, Most Creative, and Best Duo (that's you and your dog, plan accordingly). It benefits AniMeals, the Meals on Wheels SA pet-food program. Bring a pet-food or supply donation and you'll get raffle tickets. Free tickets on Eventbrite. Hops & Hounds is the dog-friendly bar where a lot of SA's dog community hangs out, so expect a crowd.
### Howl-O-Ween at The Rock at La Cantera **Saturday, October 24 · 4–6 PM · Gunn Family Coyote Dog Park, 1 Spurs Way · FREE with registration**
Pup trick-or-treat trail, local pet vendors, photo ops, food trucks, and a live SNIPSA adoption fair. The Coyote Dog Park location means the off-leash crowd is comfortable. Good pick if your dog is social and you want the full festival experience.
### Howl-O-Ween Extravaganza at Animal World (Snake Farm Zoo) **Saturday–Sunday, October 24–25 · 10 AM–6 PM · New Braunfels**
Worth the short drive: trick-or-treat stations, a costume contest, and a haunted hay maze, all at the zoo. A full-day option if the Saturday-only events feel too packed.
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## Dates still being announced
### Cherrity Bar Howl-O-Ween Pet Costume Contest A fundraiser for the THRU Project with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes. No 2026 edition had been announced as of early October — check do210.com in case one pops up.
### Bully Bash 2026 The annual bully-rescue festival, presented by Tabor Road Veterinary Hospital. Adoption plus costume contests. Last year's was in early November and no 2026 date had been announced yet; watch @makeastandbullyrescue on Instagram for updates.
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## Business buzz
Local pet businesses are getting into the spirit too. These popped up in the SA dog community recently and are worth a follow:
- **Two Techs and a Tail**: running a "Spooktacular Pet Costume Contest" with a call for entries - **Fergie's Paw Spa**: hosting a pet blessing service event - **SNIPSA**: appearing at October events around town (including the La Cantera Howl-O-Ween)
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## Tips for taking your dog to Halloween events
I walk and sit dogs for a living, and October is one of my favorite months, but crowded events are a lot for some dogs. A few things I tell my clients:
- **Heat still matters.** Late-October San Antonio can hit the 80s. Stick to morning events with heat-sensitive dogs, bring water, and skip anything midday if your dog runs hot. Pavement check: if it's too hot for your hand, it's too hot for paws. - **Costumes are optional, comfort isn't.** If your dog freezes up or tries to chew the costume off, that's your answer. A festive bandana counts. Never a costume that restricts movement, breathing, or vision. - **Know your dog's social battery.** A packed costume contest is overstimulating for some dogs. There's no shame in a 30-minute visit and an early exit. Leaving on a good note beats pushing it. - **Leash + ID, always.** Festive crowds, open gates, food on the ground. Keep the leash short and make sure tags (or a microchip registration) are current. - **Treats > tricks.** Bring high-value treats. A well-timed snack keeps focus on you when the guy in the inflatable dinosaur walks by.
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## Going out of town for Halloween?
If your plans involve travel instead of trick-or-treating, your dog still needs care. I'm Ignacio, a professional pet sitter and dog walker here in San Antonio. Drop-in visits, dog walks, and in-home overnight care, all with a free meet-and-greet first so your dog knows me before you leave.
**[Book a free meet-and-greet → awoocrewpetcare.com](https://awoocrewpetcare.com)**
Have a spooky, safe Halloween. And send me your costume photos. Seriously, I collect them.
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