Halloween Pooch Parade at Brookdale Park and South Mountain Dog Park

They came as bulldozers, bees, a pair of dice and even a mariachi band.

This year Halloween wasn't limited to those on two legs. At the annual Essex County "Strut Your Mutt" Halloween parade for dogs, prizes were awarded to pets and their owners for the most creative, the scariest and the best pet/owner costume duo.

The parades were held at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair and South Mountain Dog Park in Maplewood/Millburn over the past weekend, which was rescheduled after last week's snowstorm.

“Our dog parks have become popular places for dog owners to bring their pets, and our canine Halloween costume parades are another opportunity for the public to enjoy our historic park system,” said Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo. “I am always amazed and impressed with the creativity of the costumes. Congratulations to the winners."

DiVincenzo had his picture taken with each of the winners. The Brookdale Park winners were:
 
Most Scary Costume: First place went to Dolores Alimi, East Orange, with her pet dressed as the Wicked Witch and Snow White; second place was given to Helaine Mosen, Montclair, whose pet was dressed as a witch; while third place was Sue Millber from Little Falls with her pet dressed as bees.
 
Most Creative Costume: First place went to Janice Luiken, Montclair, whose pets were dressed as dice; second place was awarded to Kelly Tweed from Montclair, whose pet was dressed as a bulldozer; and third place was given to Lileith Campbell from West Orange, whose pet was a Breast Cancer Awareness Dog.
 
Best Owner-Pet Costume: First place went to Fanny Chin, Naomi Chassen and Shelly Huber and their pets, who dressed as branches of the U.S. Military. Second place was given to Lynne Goldin from Montclair and her pet, who dressed as a mariachi band and third place was given to Celine Prell from Montclair and her pet, who dressed as Scooby Doo and Shaggy.
 
Best in Show: First place was Keith Wienman from Verona and his pet dressed as a Chia Pet.
 
Award winners at the Essex County South Mountain Dog Park were:

Most Scary Costume: First place was Joy Scally from Essex Fells and her pet dressed as a Devil Dog; second place was Betty Plunkett from Morristown and her pet dressed as a skeleton. Third place was Candace Wildy from Orange and her pet dressed as Count Barkula.
 
Most Creative Costume: First place went to George and Olga Cameron from Newark and their pet, who dressed as characters from “Boardwalk Empire.” Second place was awarded to Regina Mahon from Bayonne and her pet dressed as a pirate. Third place went to Wilma Velazquez from Short Hills and her pet dressed as a red dragon.
 
Best Owner-Pet Costume: First place went to Imogene Schwarz and her pets, who were dressed as Uncle Sam, Democrats and Republicans. Second place went to Ed, Malinda, Ava and Brayden Esposito from Florham Park and their pet, who depicted characters from the “Wizard of Oz.” Third place went to Rose Mercuro from Montclair and her pet, who dressed as Lady GaGa.
 
Best in Show: First place was awarded to Nila Onuferko of Maplewood and her pet dressed as Humpty Dumpty.