Is your pup’s Halloween look still a blank canvas? Picture tails swishing under glow-up capes, tiny astronaut helmets bobbing beside their human “space commanders,” and seniors in cozy fleece bee suits earning extra smiles from the judges. Liberty’s Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade is only a short cruise from Junction West, and this year’s costume trends are equal parts wow-factor and wag-friendly comfort.
Key Takeaways
Every great parade day starts with a quick cheat sheet. Scan the bullets below, share them with your travel crew, and head into October armed with the facts that matter most.
– What: Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade, a big dog-costume contest near Liberty, Missouri
– When: Saturday, Oct 25, 2025, 2 p.m.–4 p.m.; sign-up ends 3:30 p.m.
– Where: Stocksdale Dog Park, 901 S LaFrenz Rd; about 90 minutes from Junction West RV Park
– Scoring: Judges give 0–10 points each for Creativity, Execution, and Comfort (30 points total)
– Costume tips:
• Match human + pet for extra wow
• Use thrift-store toddler clothes, soft cotton, or fleece for comfort
• Clip-on wings, LED collars, and up-cycled items add flair without weight
– Pack & prep: Roll costumes small, carry Velcro, pins, and chalk for quick fixes; store flat in a tote
– Health & safety: Non-toxic paint, clear ears, trimmed nails, short leash, water, poop bags, vaccine photos on phone
– Before travel: Let your dog run at Junction West’s fenced area, rinse paws, pick a shady site for black-fur pets, enjoy 50 Mbps Wi-Fi for live streams
– Photo & share: Shoot in early-afternoon light, place the sun behind your dog near the red barn wall, use burst mode, post 15–30 sec reels with #PawsInLiberty and #HowlOWeenLiberty
With the essentials locked down, dig into the details below. In the next five minutes you’ll grab budget-smart DIY ideas that fit in an RV cupboard, judge-pleasing tips for safe, stress-free strutting, and photo hacks to make your feed pop with #LibertyPetParade sparkle. Leash up that imagination—your four-legged co-pilot’s best outfit yet starts now.
Parade Snapshot: What, When, Where
Saturday, October 25, 2025, belongs to the dogs—literally—from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Stocksdale Dog Park, 901 S LaFrenz Road in Liberty, Missouri. Registration opens at 2 and closes at 3:30, giving every last-minute DIYer enough time to pin a cape or adjust a foam hat. By 3:45, judges tally scores for Creativity, Execution, and Comfort, each worth ten points, and winners scoop up prizes before the final tail wags goodbye city event page.
No other formal pet-costume contest exists within sixty miles of Liberty, Kansas, making this gathering a magnet for families, road-tripping RVers, and pet-fashion influencers who crave a standout stage. A scenic ninety-minute drive carries you from Junction West Coffeyville RV Park’s spacious pull-through sites to the parade gate, so you can leave your rig set up and still arrive refreshed. Coffee trucks and local vendors, highlighted in last year’s coverage KC Parent recap, add extra flavor to an already tail-thrilling afternoon.
2025 Costume Trend Forecast
Matching owner-pet ensembles keep stealing shows because they double the flair without doubling the cost. Think chef and puppy pizza, park ranger with bear cub, or astronaut guiding a wobbly-eyed alien down the path. Thrift-store toddler costumes supply most of the fabric, so you spend more time laughing over hot-glue angles and less time raiding specialty shops. Judges reward stories these duos tell, and front-row cameras capture the bond in every step.
Comfort rules the runway through soft-fabric chic. Cotton jersey capes and fleece vests move with the stride of senior dogs, letting arthritic joints stay loose while crowds gush over bumblebee stripes. Lightweight layers also roll into one-inch bundles that fit inside an RV cupboard—ideal when storage battles for space with leashes, treats, and that collapsible camp chair you swear you need. Breathable textiles help prevent hot spots, so the only thing scratching is your camera shutter.
Clip-on drama pieces add wow without weight. Felt wings, foam top hats, and detachable LED collars crank up visibility for dusk parades, yet they slip off in seconds if a pet needs a breather. Store them flat in a plastic tote to avoid bends—an easy win for travelers who bounce over Kansas backroads before rolling into Liberty. A strip of reflective tape on your dog’s bandana can echo the LEDs and keep stroller-pushing parents visible, too.
Sustainability threads through 2025 styles, and up-cycling earns serious creativity points. A toddler dragon tail reborn as a dachshund’s sidekick or a thrifted flannel shirt reshaped into lumberjack chic proves you can turn “what’s on hand” into runway-worthy fashion. Keep a small tackle box of Velcro squares, chalk, and safety pins on standby to tackle wardrobe malfunctions faster than you can say “Best in Show.”
Prep Like a Pro at Junction West
Morning energy burns bright in Junction West’s fenced dog zone, so schedule a ten-minute romp before loading up the family van. A quick paw rinse at your RV’s outdoor spigot keeps fleece straps clean and reduces the itch factor during the drive. Stash vaccination records in your phone gallery—rabies and Bordetella proof often sits at the top of a judge’s checklist—and slip a collapsible bowl plus a short, non-retractable leash into your daypack for organizer-approved gear.
Travelers and snowbirds keep costumes camera crisp by laying them flat in a tote that slides neatly under a dinette seat. Reserve a shade-friendly site in rows C or D when calling the park, especially if your furry co-pilot sports dark fur that soaks up midday heat. With average Wi-Fi speeds around 50 Mbps, livestreams load smoothly, letting influencers tease followers with behind-the-scenes clips long before the first paw hits the parade route.
Health and Safety Judges Love
Judges lean toward entries that sparkle without sacrificing wellbeing. Non-toxic, unscented face paint formulated for children’s skin plays nice with canine coats, while leaving ear canals clear preserves balance as applause rolls through the park. Trim nails forty-eight hours ahead to dodge snagged fabric, then test-drive the full ensemble around your picnic table so any discomfort shows long before showtime.
Pet-parade etiquette lands you extra nods. Pack biodegradable waste bags, because nothing sinks a costume-contest score like a forgotten droplet near the judging tent. Keep water breaks frequent using that collapsible bowl, and maintain a six-foot leash to prevent tangled legs in crowded lanes. When the announcer calls your number, a calm, hydrated dog walks straight, steals hearts, and reminds every spectator why comfort belongs on the scorecard.
Capture and Share the Moment
Photography pros swear by early-afternoon light along Liberty’s Main Street, where the sun backlights costumes and erases harsh shadows. Angle your dog so the gentle glow hits from behind, then frame the red barn wall near the dog-park gate for color pop that makes a bee-striped terrier look movie-poster ready. Burst-mode lets one confident stroll yield dozens of crisp frames, perfect for parents balancing strollers, leashes, and snack cups.
Short reels between fifteen and thirty seconds dominate feeds this year. Zoom in on LED collars flickering against twilight and add a quick call-to-action inviting viewers to book Junction West for next year’s parade weekend. Hashtags like #PawsInLiberty and #HowlOWeenLiberty help future travelers find your masterpiece, while tagging the park’s social handle boosts reach through cross-sharing. Every comment fuels the algorithm, nudging next October’s guest list a little higher community chatter.
Costume complete? Then lock in the easy part—your launch pad. Junction West Coffeyville RV Park has the shaded pull-throughs, fenced dog zone, and reliable Wi-Fi that turn parade prep into pure fun. Reserve your site today, give your co-pilot a victory lap around the dog park, and roll out to Liberty knowing a clean, quiet spot—and a warm welcome—will be waiting when the last tail stops wagging.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the hottest costume trends for this year’s Liberty Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade?
A: Judges say matching owner-pet duos, soft-fabric fleece or jersey layers, and small clip-on add-ons like felt wings or LED collars earn top scores because they look creative on camera yet keep pets cool and comfy.
Q: I’m on a tight budget—how can I make a winning costume without spending much?
A: Thrift-store toddler outfits, old flannel shirts, and scrap Velcro turn into chef hats, dragon tails, or lumberjack vests in minutes; a hot-glue gun and safety pins handle most tailoring so you stay under ten dollars.
Q: Will the parade route work for kids in strollers and dogs on short leashes?
A: Yes, Stocksdale Dog Park has paved, level paths wide enough for stroller wheels, and organizers ask for non-retractable six-foot leashes so pups stay close while families roll along safely.
Q: How early should we arrive to register?
A: Registration tables open at 2 p.m. and close at 3:30 p.m.; showing up around 2:15 gives you breathing room to tweak a cape, snap a few photos, and avoid the last-minute rush.
Q: Where can I stash a bulky costume piece while driving from Coffeyville?
A: Lightweight layers roll into one-inch bundles that slide under an RV dinette seat, and flat items like foam hats or felt wings ride safely in a plastic tote laid on the floor to prevent bends.
Q: My senior dog tires easily—any low-energy costume ideas?
A: A soft fleece bee or ladybug vest slips on like a sweater, adds no extra weight, and still delivers bright color pops that charm judges without asking older joints to carry props.
Q: Are there health requirements for entering the contest?
A: Bring digital or paper proof of current rabies and Bordetella shots; staff check them at the table, and having the records ready speeds you straight to the fun part—strutting.
Q: What if the weather turns chilly or drizzly?
A: Cotton or fleece layers double as warmth, and clip-on pieces come off fast if they get wet; the event is rain-or-shine unless severe storms roll in, so pack a towel and you’ll be set.
Q: I’m traveling light—how can I add “wow” that still packs small?
A: Detachable LED collars, reflective tape strips, and fold-flat foam top hats weigh almost nothing, fit in a zip bag, and light up dusk photos without hogging suitcase space.
Q: Any photography tips to boost my social-media likes?
A: Early-afternoon sun along Liberty’s Main Street backlights costumes perfectly, and the red barn wall near the gate gives a vivid backdrop that makes colors pop in both burst photos and 15-second reels.