While this upcoming Saturday is Halloween, Sunday was Pug-O-Ween.

This annual event, hosted by YYC Pugs, celebrates Halloween for Calgary’s pugs and their owners.

Pug-O-Ween is the group’s largest event of the year, with other events including an annual Christmas party and summer visits to dog-friendly patios.

This year’s event was hosted at Chasin’ Tails.

According to founder Alethea Mackie, they usually see 40 to 50 pugs in attendance at Pug-O-Ween.

Alethea Mackie poses next to the prize table at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH

Mackie herself says pugs have been her breed of choice for 20 years, and she currently has two of her own.

“Pug people…we love our pugs…They’re a very special breed of dogs,” said Mackie.

Mackie started the group in 2020 after a previous group she had been a part of fizzled out due to COVID-19.

The YYC Pug group poses for a photo at their Pug-O-Ween event on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY

Starting with outdoor meetups, the group eventually grew to host events like Pug-O-Ween.

“This is a great group of people. The Pug people are just great people. It’s a really great group,” said MelanieTewksbury, who was in attendance with her dog, Mia Booboo Jane Tewksbury.

Mia Booboo Jane Tewksbury poses in her taco costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026.
PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY
Melanie and Mia Booboo Jane Tewksbury pose for a photo at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026.
PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY

The group currently has 821 members, including Lacey Farrish, who brought three of her pugs with her today: Marshmellow, Sharlotte, and Alyce.

This year, Marshmellow was a football player, and Sharlotte and Alyce were cheerleaders.

Alyce shows off her cheerleading costume at YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY
Lacey Farrish poses with dogs Alyce (left) and Marshmellow (right) at a Pug-o-ween event on October 25th, 2026.
PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY
Alyce shows off her cheerleading costume at YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026.
PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY

Farrish has been a part of the club for six years now and shared what this event means to her.

“It’s really amazing, especially this Halloween meetup…The dogs get to come. We get to have fun, you know, put little costumes on them. They get to socialize, especially in this colder weather. It’s kind of nice that they get to play indoors,” described Farrish.

Kaitlyn Hustad, another group member, dressed her pug, Gordo, as a snail.

Gord Hustad struts while wearing a snail costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026.
PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY
Gordo and Kaitlyn Hustad pose with Will Reive at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026.
PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY

Hustad joined the group three years ago when she got Gordo and says seeing pugs run around in costumes brings her joy.

“It’s like the best serotonin boost you could ever ask for,” explained Hustad.

  • Nacho poses in his pumpkin sweater at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO BY: AMY JAQUISH
  • Luna looks at the camera while wearing a princess costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO BY: AMY JAQUISH
  • A pug stands alone in his costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Frank and Jenelle don matching alien costumes at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Olive poses in a banana costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO BY: AMY JAQUISH, CALGARY JOURNAL
  • A dog wears a costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Billy wears a dragon costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Pepper looks up at the camera while wearing a lady bug costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Olive poses in a banana costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • A black pug wears a murderous costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Val Mullen holds Posie (left) while Matthew Herasymiuk holds Luna (right) at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Billy the pug poses in in a dragon costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Paris runs in her tinkerbell costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH
  • Mia struts in her spider costume at the YYC Pugs Pug-O-Ween event, on October 25th, 2026. PHOTO: AMY JAQUISH

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Amy Jaquish is in her fourth and final year of the Journalism and Digital Media program at Mount Royal University. She has a passion for both writing and photography, as she loves to capture every aspect...