No bones about it, the Kiwanis Club of Ocean Beach will inject the spirit of the spooky season into humans and several hundred of their four-legged companions on Sunday, Oct. 28 when it hosts its seventh installment of the Ocean Beach “Howl-O-Ween” Canine Carnival at Dusty Rhodes Dog Park on the west side across from Robb Field.

The free event, held in association with the Ocean Beach Recreation Council with primary corporate sponsor Dog Beach Dog Wash, is an annual party for the dog-loving community, featuring games, a doggie costume parade, costume prizes, food and a street fair serving up goodies for pets and people.

Prize categories can be whimsical and could include entries for the scariest, funniest, cutest, ugliest, biggest, smallest, most medium-size, best surfer, most OB-like, dog/owner look-alike — well, you get the picture. Separate judging categories will be for single dogs, groups of two or more dogs and floats entries (dogs riding on wagons, skateboards, other dogs).

The street fair and canine festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the canine parade from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Dog registration is available from

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and judges will evaluate costumes from 10 a.m. until the end of the parade. Prizes will be awarded around 3 p.m.

Admission to the canine carnival is free, but dogs must register to take part in the contest and parade.

The registration fee is $7 for a single dog, $10 for groups of dogs, $10 for float entries. There is no charge for humans to walking with the dogs in the parade and costumes are encouraged.

City ordinance requires all dogs to be restrained with a maximum six-foot leash at all times.

For more information, call (619) 225-8705, or email oceanbeachkiwanis@gmail.com.