Get Ready for a Spooktacular Howloween Costume Contest

Thank you for so many paw-some submissions! We are no longer accepting submission forms but we invite you to vote for your favorite pet. Voting is now open through October 29. Please vote via the link below.

Spooky season is upon us and we’re calling all animal and library lovers to participate in our spooktacular Howloween Pet Costume Contest!

If you’re a proud pet owner who loves Halloween, grab your pet and their cutest costume or design something new! Borrow one of our sewing machines to create your own pet costume or visit us at one of our makerspaces. You bring the fabric, and we’ll supply the tools. Get ready to showcase your furry friend and your creativity.

San Mateo County Libraries will select ten pets and invite the community to vote for their favorite. The first-place winner will be awarded a swag bag, available for pick up at their home library and their pet will be featured on our social media channels. The second and third-place runners-up will also be showcased on our social media channels.

Submission Period: October 3 – October 22. Please submit your entry via our website.
Voting Period: October 23 – October 29. Stay tuned on our digital platforms to see how you can vote.
Winner Announced: Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Don’t forget to submit your entry below by Sunday, October 22. (We have extended the deadline for the submission period previously set to Monday, October 16.)

Submission Rules and Guidelines:

  • Your pet must be wearing a costume in the photo.
  • Costumes and submissions must adhere to community guidelines and be suitable for all audiences.
  • Photos must be submitted in JPEG or PNG format and meet a resolution of at least 1024 pixels by 768 pixels. The file size of the photo should not exceed 30 MB.
  • The photo should be clear and well-lit, without excessive filters or heavy editing.
  • We request that patrons submit real photos. Please refrain from submitting heavily photoshopped or AI-generated images.
  • Only one entry is allowed per pet.
  • This contest is open to community members 13 years of age or older. If you are under 13, you may still participate with the consent of and submission by a parent or guardian.
  • By submitting your photo, you grant San Mateo County Libraries permission to use and display the image for promotional and marketing materials.

We can’t wait to see your boo-tiful pets!

The submission period is now closed. Don't forget to vote for your favorite Howloween participant.