Tail-Wagging Fun: Ocean City Hosts Dog Days on the Boardwalk This Weekend!

Get ready for a paws-itively perfect weekend in Ocean City, NJ, as the popular Dog Days on the Boardwalk event returns this Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26, 2025. With clear and mild weather forecasted, it’s the ideal time for families and their “best friends” to stroll the famous boardwalk, which rarely permits canines.

The weekend’s main event is the charming Howl-O-Ween Parade, where costumed canines and their owners will strut their stuff for a great cause. All proceeds from the parade benefit the Humane Society of Ocean City. You can register for the parade here.

The boardwalk will be open to leashed dogs for two days of activities and relaxation.

Saturday is packed with activities centered around our furry companions:

• Dogs Permitted on the Boardwalk: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Free Photos with Santa: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the Ocean City Music Pier loggia, where you can snap a holiday-themed photo with Santa in a lifeguard boat.
• “Pet of the Year” Announcement: 12 p.m. at the Ocean City Music Pier (Moorlyn Terrace and Boardwalk).
• Parade Registration/Packet Pickup: 1 p.m. at the Ocean City Sports and Civic Center (Sixth Street and Boardwalk).
• Howl-O-Ween Parade: 3 p.m. The procession starts at Sixth Street and continues along the Boardwalk to 14th Street. Spectators are encouraged to cheer for all the creative dog-and-owner costumes!

Throughout the day, attendees can browse dog-specific vendors for treats and collars and find fun photo-op stations along the boardwalk.

Sunday, October 26, 2025: Last Chance Stroll

• Dogs Permitted on the Boardwalk: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Adding star power to the event, this year’s Grand Marshals are former Philadelphia Phillies player Milt Thompson and FOX 29 news anchor Dawn Timmeney.

• Milt Thompson is a local sports hero, known for his key role in the Phillies’ 1993 National League Championship team and later serving as hitting coach during the 2008 World Series victory.
• Dawn Timmeney, an Emmy-winning journalist, is a passionate animal advocate who previously co-produced and hosted a weekly show dedicated to animal welfare, “Dawn’s Pet Project.”

The entire weekend is made possible through the support of sponsors, including Jilly’s OCNJ, OCNJ Entertainment, Playland’s Castaway Cove, Manco & Manco Pizza, Johnson’s Popcorn, We Make It Personal, and Kohr Brothers. Don’t miss this special opportunity to enjoy the Ocean City Boardwalk with your four-legged family members!