Toronto’s pooches unleash adorable costumes as part of week-long Halloween festivities under the Gardiner!
Once again, Halloween is going to be one for the dogs! The Bentway is bringing back a beloved neighbourhood event, Howl’oween, on Saturday, October 28 from noon to 4:00pm at 250 Fort York Blvd. With presenting sponsor Ren’s Pets, The Bentway is inviting all local dogs and their owners to participate in a costumed pup parade, complete with amazing prizes, music, a festive photo selfie station, warm drinks, and local fur-endly vendors. It’s a canine costume party that’s not to be missed!
Our site has long been a favourite spot for daily dog-walking, hosting so many of our four-legged neighbours who live nearby in Liberty Village, Fort York, and CityPlace. We can’t wait to welcome pet parents from across the city to visit us for spooky season. Get ready to squeal ‘awwwww’; Howl’oween at The Bentway is, irrefutably, the cutest day of the year!
David Carey, Co-Executive Director of The Bentway
Prize-packs will be awarded to dogs for the Most Fall-Festive, Best DIY, and Most Original costumes, as well as the overall Judge’s Favourite. There will also be a Best Group Costume honour awarded to one family, giving humans the chance to arrive in style too!
This year’s judges’ panel includes: Toronto’s favourite drag pug, Miss Pickles; Scott Arsenault, CEO of Ren’s Pets; and Jessica Auerbacha representative of the international dog rescue HelpAWS. Comedian and TV personality Spencer Litzinger will host.
Ren’s Pets is absolutely thrilled to be the presenting sponsor of Howl’oween at The Bentway. It’s an awesome event for pet parents to dress up their furry friends and have a spooky, fun time together. Ren’s now has three stores in Toronto, and we love supporting community events.
Larissa Wasyliw, VP of Ecommerce & Marketing at Ren’s Pets
Additional partners and vendors for this year’s event include Open Farm and Pawsitive Spirits.
More spooky fun from The Bentway:
In addition to Howl’oween, The Bentway is presenting a full week of free Halloween activities for the community:
Ghost Landing, a large-scale windowfront installation by Toronto artist duo Caterwaul Theatre, will be on display at The Bentway Studio (55 Fort York Blvd) after dusk from October 24 to 31. Encounter urban legends and myths of the CityPlace neighbourhood and its inhabitants (both real and spectral) through innovative shadow puppetry, storytelling, and a series of Jack-O-Lanterns created by local artists.
Caterwaul Theatre will lead a Ghost Walk through Canoe Landing Park on October 26, featuring neighbourhood stories that blur fact, fiction, and myth. There will also be an opportunity to tell your own stories at a shadow puppet workshop on The Bentway Studio terrace.
The Boom Buddies of Waterfront ReConnect: Boom Town are getting Halloween-ready. Spot a “Boo Buddy” hanging out under the Gardiner Expressway October 20 to November 1! Boom Town positions a fleet of boom lifts as street theatre, with a rotating cast of characters that help the city welcome the changing seasons.
Howl’oween Sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: Ren’s Pets
Supporting Sponsors: Open Farm and Pawsitive Spirits
