Grab your best canine costumes, dig out your coolest doggie duds and kick off the Halloween season with Lakewood’s first-ever Spooky Pooch Parade on Oct. 18.

Beloved dogs of all shapes and sizes are expected to strut their stuff down Detroit Avenue. Owners and children are encouraged to come in costume, too. Make it a family affair.

“This hilarious new event will bring all of Lakewood together to celebrate Halloween,” said parade co-founder Rhonda Loje. “Come strut in costume through our great walkable city. It will be great fun for dogs and kids,” she said.

The first 200 registered participants will receive a goody bag filled with both doggie treats and toys. Registration check-in begins at 1 p.m. at the St. Charles Green (behind the parking garage on Belle Ave.) with the pooch parade set to step off at 2 p.m. The parade route marches down Detroit to the Lakewood Public Library.

More fun follows the parade as participants proceed over to the Arthur Avenue Extension (next to Discount Drug Mart) where celebrity judges, including news anchor Denise Dufala, will choose costume winners for both dogs and kids. Costume categories include most creative, most original, and best float. A raffle will also be held with a grand prize of one year’s worth of dog food courtesy of Pet’s General Store on Madison Avenue and two handmade dog houses from Lakewood Hardware. Vendors and non-profits will have booths providing dog-related information, services and merchandise. Activities for the kids and a North Coast Dogs’ obedience demonstration will keep things rolling.

Registration costs $10 per dog, $15 the day of the parade. Pre-register online at www.mainstreetlakewood.org. Registration forms can also be downloaded or found at the library.

Now a few rules: All dogs must be on a non-retractable leash at all times; rabies and vaccinations must be current; all dogs must wear I.D. tags; no dogs in heat and no aggressive dogs; no puppies under 4 months old or without vaccinations. Finally, be prepared to pick up the poop! And have fun!

Proceeds from the parade will benefit the Lakewood Animal Shelter, the Lakewood Dog Park and parade organizer Main Street Lakewood.

“Lakewood loves animals and I know that we can have Halloween fun and also help support our own Animal Shelter and Dog Park at the same time,” said Loje, who suggests checking out www.hautedogs.org/howloween.html for costume suggestions.

So mark it down, Oct. 18. It’s sure to be a howlin’ good time.