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Canine couture: Dogs dazzle at Fort Greene’s Great PUPkin Costume Contest

fort greene dog costume contest PUPkin
Cruising to win: $1 billion Powerball winner Pug “Beast” placed third in the 26th annual Great PUPkin Costume Contest at Fort Greene Park.
Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Canines and their two-legged friends had a howling good time at the 26th annual Great PUPkin Dog Costume Contest in Fort Greene Park on Oct. 26.

Brooklyn’s largest and most creative puppy costume contest drew over 1,000 attendees who cheered on pups strutting elaborate outfits. The themes ranged from movies, opera, and fairy tales to the newly crowned WNBA champions, the New York Liberty, and iconic Brooklyn landmarks.

This pooch brings Brooklyn nostalgia to life as the Coney Island Cyclone, complete with mini cars and a roller coaster look that would make any thrill-seeker proud. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
A pup dressed as the Barclays Center pays tribute to the newly crowned WNBA champions, the New York Liberty. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

PUPkin event manager Alana Davis told Brooklyn Paper that the contest serves a fundraiser for the Fort Greene Park Users and Pets Society, a nonprofit supporting the community’s 1,500-plus dog owners. The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to donate, and there is a $20 entry fee for participants.

“We provide poop bags, water bowls — we’re part of the lawn rotation program in Fort Greene Park. We make the park safe for dog owners and non-dog owners [and] provide puppy training,” Davis said, calling the contest “a nice fall day in Brooklyn.”

“Everyone’s here to smile and to root for the underdog, literally,” she added. “It’s a great feeling of community.”

Queen Daenerys Targaryen keeps a watchful eye out for her dragons. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
This dynamic duo steals the show as Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

The Scoobie Doobie Brothers warmed up the crowd, which began gathering around 9:30 a.m. for the contest’s noon kickoff. This year’s judges included Council Member Crystal Hudson, Julie Raskin, vice chair of Fort Greene Park, and Brooke LaMantia, a writer for The Cut.

A pug named Beast, dressed as a $1 billion Powerball winner (complete with a Ferrari prop), placed third. Pooch Otter took second, channeling Liberace in a costume adorned with lace, sequins and pearls, seated by a toy piano. The grand prize went to Gemma, an audience favorite dressed as a Babybel cheese, who wowed the crowd with tricks.

Gemma, dressed as a Babybel cheese, steals hearts (and the grand prize) with her tricks and crowd-pleasing stunts. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Channeling Liberace, Otter sparkles in sequins and lace beside a miniature piano. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Pug “Beast” strikes it rich as a $1 billion Powerball winner, arriving in style with a luxury car to prove it. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Newly crowned WNBA champion and Liberty MVP Jonquel Jones was among the spectators, cheering on the creatively costumed pups. Jones told Brooklyn Paper she didn’t know about the event until she stumbled upon it with her fiancée, Nisha Lagania, and her mother, Ettamae Jones, while walking their dogs, Rylo and Kiba, in Fort Greene Park.

“I think people are always looking for things to do with their dogs, to spend quality time with their family and their pups, and so to have something like this for the people of Brooklyn and the city, it’s amazing,” Jones said.

WNBA Champion and Liberty MVP Jonquel Jones (center) cheered on the pups with her mom, Ettamae Jones, and fiancée, Nisha Lagania. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Council Member Hudson, a judge for the fourth year, evaluated costumes on creativity, ingenuity, originality and individuality.

“It’s always such an amazing time,” Hudson told Brooklyn Paper. “And Brooklynites really come out and come through with the best costumes for their dogs.”

Newlyweds Lexie Ludlam-Ketel and Alex Ketel, along with their terrier-mix Sushi, dressed as characters from “Beetlejuice” — Miss Argentina and Beetlejuice, with Sushi in the role of a sandworm.

The couple adopted Sushi from Animal Heaven in August. A “tripod” who lost a leg due to injury, Sushi now lives her best dog life, running and playing fetch, her owners said.

Newlyweds Lexie Ludlam-Ketel and Alex Ketel and their terrier-mix Sushi dressed up as ‘Beetlejuice’ characters. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
This adorable pair brings Broadway to Brooklyn as Orphan Annie and Daddy Warbucks. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
This pup elevated from wiener to ‘brat.’ Photo by Gabriele Holtermann

Lexie Ludlam-Ketel called the event a “wonderful” way to spend a Saturday.

“It’s fun that we can be silly and dress up with our dogs and go to something like this,” said Ludlam-Ketel, a former dog foster.

Her husband, who had never owned a dog, found it fascinating to join a community he hadn’t known existed.

“Before, I was like, ‘Oh, people just have dogs,'” Ketel said. “But now, actually seeing the same people every day, just walking their dogs and getting to know them. It’s such a great way to make friends in the community.”

The dogs in the audience and their humans got in on the fun. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Council Member Crystal Hudson (center) was one of this year’s jurors. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Taking ‘business class’ to new heights! This pup channels Mayor Eric Adams on a Turkish Airlines flight, giving a nod to recent headlines. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
Four-legged Sherlock Holmes solves every crime. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
This pup guarantees your mail will never go missing again! Photo by Gabriele Holtermann
The ‘everything’ Beagle paid homage to a New York City staple. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann