The 2nd Annual Paws & Claws Costume Crawl Is Coming to Southport

Chicago does Halloween very well. It also does neighborhood walks, independent bookstores, and pets dressed as oddly specific cultural references very well. The 2nd Annual Paws & Claws Costume Crawl brings all four together on Southport.

The Halloween pet parade gathers at Three Avenues Bookshop on Wednesday, October 28. Costumes are clearly invited. Good judgment is also invited, especially from the person holding the leash.

Paws & Claws Costume Crawl Details

• Date: Wednesday, October 28, 2026
• Gathering time: 5:30 p.m.
• Parade start: 6 p.m.
• Starting point: Three Avenues Bookshop
• Address: 3009 N. Southport Ave., Chicago

The information above comes from the event flyer supplied to Em & Me. Registration, route, weather plans, and other participation details were not listed, so check with Three Avenues Bookshop before attending.

A Very Good Use of a Wednesday Evening

Three Avenues is a family-run independent bookstore in Lakeview, the kind of place that already understands a neighborhood event should have a little personality. A pet costume parade makes sense here. It is visual, walkable, communal, and just structured enough to get everyone out the door before the evening disappears into takeout.

The second-annual label is the charming part. One parade can be an experiment. Two begins to look like a ritual.

Come for the tiny capes and improbable group costumes. Pay attention to the ordinary neighborhood pleasure underneath them: people meeting one another on the sidewalk, a local shop acting as a gathering place, and pets briefly becoming the most discussed residents on the block.

Plan the Costume Around the Pet

The strongest costume concept is the one your pet can comfortably wear.

Humane World for Animals recommends considering the individual animal’s personality and keeping costumes minimal. Clothing should allow free movement, and chewable pieces should be removed. ASPCA likewise advises that a costume should not interfere with movement, hearing, sight, breathing, vocalizing, eating, drinking, or bathroom breaks.

That leaves plenty of creative territory. A bandana, decorated harness, soft cape, or single lightweight detail can read clearly without turning the walk into a wardrobe negotiation. If your pet freezes, paws at the outfit, changes posture, or otherwise looks uncomfortable, remove it. The costume has completed its very short run.

Give the full look a test walk at home before October 28. Check it from every angle. Make sure nothing drags, twists around the leash, blocks the collar hardware, or becomes irresistible to chew.

What to Bring

Think of the parade kit as an edited walk bag:

• A secure leash or carrier appropriate for your pet
• Waste bags
• Water and a small bowl if your pet will need them
• A current, readable ID tag
• A few familiar rewards
• A simple layer for yourself once the evening cools down
• Your phone, with enough storage left for at least one cat dressed as a ghost

Keep the ID visible under or beside the costume. Crowds, unusual clothing, and an unfamiliar route can change the feel of an ordinary walk. Our guide to what to put on a dog ID tag can help you edit the information before parade night.

The Low-Costume Option

Some pets enjoy an audience but have no interest in clothing. They are allowed to maintain that boundary.

A seasonal collar detail or Halloween tag gives the look a point of view without covering the body. The Ouija Planchette Seasonal Mini is a small clip-on option, while the Bat Personalized Pet Tag handles the theme and the identification in one shape.

For the pet whose Halloween look is less costume department, more excellent accessory.

Our broader Halloween accessories guide has more ideas for pets who would prefer to arrive as themselves, only slightly more October.

Know When to Skip the Parade

The guest list may be charming. The experience will still include unfamiliar animals, people in unusual outfits, street noise, and a gathering after dark.

If that combination is not your pet’s idea of a pleasant Wednesday, let them stay home. You can visit the bookstore another day, admire the photos later, and preserve everyone’s dignity. Participating thoughtfully sometimes means not participating.

People attending without a pet can help by giving animals space, asking before approaching, and keeping their own costume pieces and treats out of reach. The sidewalk belongs to everyone, including the small wizard who is trying very hard to concentrate.

Before You Head to Southport

Event details can change. Check Three Avenues Bookshop’s website or social channels for any final instructions, route information, weather updates, or registration notes.

Then do one last practical check:

1. Costume fits and has survived a test walk.
2. Collar, harness, leash, or carrier is secure.
3. ID information is current.
4. Your pet is comfortable with the setting.
5. You know where to go: 3009 N. Southport Ave.

Gathering begins at 5:30 p.m., with the parade scheduled to start at 6 p.m.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Paws & Claws Costume Crawl?

The 2nd Annual Paws & Claws Costume Crawl is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The flyer says to gather at 5:30 p.m.; the parade begins at 6 p.m.

Where does the parade start?

The announced starting point is Three Avenues Bookshop, 3009 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood.

Does my pet need a full costume?

The flyer invites people to dress up their pets, but a comfortable bandana, tag, or seasonal collar detail is a perfectly good approach. Never use a costume that restricts movement, sight, hearing, breathing, or normal behavior.

Is registration required?

The supplied flyer does not state whether registration is required. Check directly with Three Avenues Bookshop for current participation details.

The Last Word

The Paws & Claws Costume Crawl is a small neighborhood idea with excellent visual potential: a bookstore, an October evening, and a parade of pets who did not personally request a theme.

Make the costume comfortable. Keep the ID current. Arrive with enough time to settle in. Then enjoy the particular magic of Southport briefly becoming a runway for capes, pumpkins, ghosts, and at least one costume nobody understands until the owner explains it.

Sources

• User-supplied 2026 Paws & Claws Costume Crawl event flyer
• Three Avenues Bookshop venue listing
• Humane World for Animals Halloween safety tips
• ASPCA Halloween costume guidance