The weather Saturday may have looked like it would start raining cats and dogs any minute, but a parade of canines were making their way through the East Village that afternoon to brighten up an otherwise gloomy day. One of the largest costume contests for dogs in the world, the 26th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade allows pups to compete for the title of “Best in Show.” The pets and their owners go all out, from scary to fun costumes, which get more elaborate each year. Entertainment journalist Giuliana Rancic emceed the event where prizes for top 10 winners were selected, but ultimately a candy-themed entry called “Sweet Shop” was crowned the champion. RELATED:Enter theMetro Pet Halloween Costume Contest
All funds raised at the event support theFriends of First Run, the organization responsible for maintenance of the Tompkins Square Park Dog Run. Check out the gallery above of the dogs that made it out to the parade Saturday — and find out where you can follow many of them on Instagram.