Fries, Feathers, and Fifteen Minutes of Fame: Luna Takes the Boardwalk

A rough collie dressed as a box of Thrasher’s french fries walks onto the Ocean City Boardwalk, pursued by three seagulls.

That was us. That was our Halloween costume plan. Luna was the star.

On October 24, 2026, we joined the Pets in Disguise Parade in Ocean City, Maryland, previously called the Howl-o-ween Parade. The annual Halloween pet celebration is part of Sunfest weekend and supports the Worcester County Humane Society, a wonderful reason to dress up your dog and make a happy spectacle of yourself.

Behind the Fries

Before Luna could become a box of Thrasher’s fries, my son had some serious costume building to do. He cut and fitted cardboard boxes to go over her harness, with the leash coming out through a french fry. The fries themselves were Styrofoam covered with fabric from a blanket we found at Goodwill. The finishing touch was a vinyl sticker of the Thrasher’s image that we had printed at CVS.

It took a lot of work to get everything just right. The costume needed to fit Luna comfortably, stay light enough for her to wear, and let us walk her easily using her harness.

The parade photos show the finished creation, but these behind-the-scenes pictures tell another part of the story: a lot of creativity, careful fitting, and work went into that box of fries.

The Most Popular Fries on the Boardwalk

If you’ve ever carried french fries along the Ocean City Boardwalk, you already understand our costume concept. Seagulls have a remarkable ability to notice someone else’s lunch.

Luna’s three accompanying seagulls spent the parade trying to get a bite. The whole thing was a big hit and in Ocean City, seagulls chasing Thrasher’s fries hardly requires an explanation.

Our little flock even made The Baltimore Sun’s social media! Their Instagram and Facebook accounts shared with @ocmd_life, featured Luna with the question: “Is there a more Maryland costume?”

They also called her “the star of the show.” I may be biased, but I think they got that exactly right.

Naturally, We Had to Visit Thrasher’s

We couldn’t spend the day dressed as fries and hungry birds without stopping at Thrasher’s. Luna was an even bigger attraction in the Thrasher’s line, which was at least 50 people long with the Sunfest crowd.

Luna had to pose for at least a dozen photos. They even gave us a discount on our fries, which was a lovely bonus to an already memorable day. Our costume had officially earned its keep. Luna got to sample a few fries for the photos.

A Little Visit from Seagull Street

Readers of my books may recognize another reason I loved this costume idea. The seagulls were a nod to Seagull Street, the fictitious setting of my books. Usually, that world lives on the page. Last weekend, a little piece of it followed us down the Ocean City Boardwalk, wearing feathers and trying to steal the dog’s fries. It was a silly, joyful way to bring my writing life along for a family adventure… and you can be sure there will be a Halloween pet parade scene in my next book, which is set in Fall/Winter 2026!

Thank you to everyone who enjoyed our little flock, to Thrasher’s for the discounted fries, and to the people who make this parade possible in support of the Worcester County Humane Society. Especially big thank-you to my son, whose hard work gave Luna her starring role.

Did you spot us on the Boardwalk? Or does your dog have a Halloween costume that deserves a moment in the spotlight? Tell me in the comments!