Pugs Show Off Their Mugs

Chestertown Hosts Tenth Annual Halloween Pug Party and Parade

Story by Matt Kipp

Photos provided by Pam Morin

It started as a Sunday afternoon gathering in mid-October with twenty-one pugs and their respective owners.

Ten years later, over 200 pugs from all over the country are expected to participate in the fun at the tenth anniversary of the Halloween Pug Party and Parade. “It is quite a fun phenomenon to see,” Pug Party and Parade Event Coordinator Pam Morin says.

"It is quite a fun phenomenon to see."

Pug owners from all around the country gather to show off their dogs at the Annual Halloween Pug Party and Parade in Chestertown, NY. “We have some from Florida, Connecticut, New Jersey, a lot from New York City, and all over,” Pug Parade co-founder and organizer, Kim Olden says.

The idea for this event came while Olden was attending a local parade in her hometown of Chestertown, NY. She brought her pugs to this parade and had dressed them up in costumes. “Another lady was there with her pugs and I thought we should have a costume parade for pugs,” Olden says.

The following year, the pug parade was started by Kim and her husband Bob Olden. “We decided to have contests and do a little advertising and it grew from there. The first year we had twenty-one pugs,” Olden says. “They [Bob and Kim Olden] developed it [the parade] and it began to grow as a unique event in our area,” Morin says. In 2008, “We had 700-800 people and had 199 pugs registered and in costume last year.”

Five years ago registration of participating pugs was growing and Bob and Kim Olden needed more help. “The Chamber [North Warren Chamber of Commerce] saw that they could use some help so there became a relationship where the Chamber became the umbrella for this annual Halloween Pug Party and Parade,” Morin says.

The Chamber sponsors the Pug Parade. “I work between the town of Horicon and Chestertown to coordinate some funding and we also reach out to our Chamber members to assist with sponsorship for prizes and etc,” Morin says.

The parade has many contests like curliest tail, best wrinkles, scariest costume, prettiest costume, most handsome costumes, oldest pug, youngest pug, the pug who traveled the farthest, and best storybook character. “There is a pug duo contest for the best two pugs and multiple pugs contest for owners who have three or four pugs all dressed up,” Olden explains. There is a best float contest where owners build a small float to show off their pugs. People in past years have decorated carriages, strollers, and wagons. “We also have a pug owner contest because sometimes the owner will get dressed up with their dog,” Olden says. Prizes for these contests vary from T-shirts to dog treats and items. A certificate is also given to the winner.

Even though the contests are for pugs, other dogs are welcome to attend. “We are not looking for registered pedigree papers,” Morin says. “We are open and friendly.” Last year two families got together and put together a float using three pugs and a German Shepard. “The German Shepard was the guide dog and pulled the wagon that was their float,” Morin explains.

Local vendors are involved with the parade. The North Warren Youth Commission serves hot dogs, hamburgers and popcorn. Bagel Girls make their own bagels. Anywhere’s Restaurant and Bar participates and has “wonderful cheesecake,” Morin says. The Main Street Ice Cream Parlor ad Restaurant has homemade soups and chili. Betty’s Funny Farm provides authentic handmade Adirondack crafts like sweaters, quilts, jams, jelly, and more.

Curt Austin and his wife Nancy of Austin Image Photography have been taking pug portraits at the parade for four years. “There is no charge to have them taken and we encourage everyone to line up and have their pug’s portrait taken,” Curt Austin says. “Many of the participants dress up too, not just the dogs. It can range from just one dog wearing a silly hat to a wagon with six pugs in it with six people standing around dressed up according to some theme,” Austin says. The portraits will be put online for later purchase. 

“This year, because we are celebrating our tenth year, we will be holding a three day event,” Olden says. There will be a Halloween Gala Benefit Ball on Friday, October 16, a pumpkin paddle on Saturday, October 17, and the Halloween pug party and parade will be held on Sunday, October 18. 

“We will be having a community pumpkin decorating and recipe contest. People will bring the entries to our town hall and those entries will all be part of the decorating of the hall for the ball [Gala Benefit Ball],” Morin says. The Gala will include a pug party fashion show and deserts. This Gala will serve as a fundraiser to take care of the expenses. Once they have offset the costs of the events the rest of the money will go to the Green Mountain Pug Rescue Center. “They are our closest designated group and they attended last year and will be attending this year,” Morin says.

The Pug Pumpkin Paddle starts on Saturday morning. Pug owners compete in this competition. “The idea is a hollowed out pumpkin with perhaps a stuffed animal inside of it and the first one across the finish line in the water, wins,” Morin says. The idea is based off of the Cooperstown Pumpkin Paddle. At noon the local pug owners march down the street and with their pugs to promote the events on the following day. At 2:00, the event Potholes and Pugs will take place. The Natural Stone Bridge and Caves in Pottersville will be open for the pugs and owners at no cost. And on Saturday night the will be Dinner and a Movie. “Have your dinner in one of the restaurants that is offering a special and after that our local theater is going to open up and show movie and a documentary.” Morin says.

"It’s all about giving attention to the dogs."

On Sunday, the Halloween Pug and Party will begin at 10 a.m. and end around 2 p.m. at Dynamite Hill Recreation Area in Chestertown, NY. “It’s a big beautiful day, last year was just beautiful, people got their blankets out of their cars ad sat all over the hill watching the parade,” Morin says. The Parade is a family event where pet lovers come to Chestertown to enjoy a celebration of dogs. “For pet lovers, it’s all about a dog day,” Morin says. “It’s all about giving attention to the dogs.”