Plan your visit

Hours, directions and etiquette

The museum is mobile. On parade day it moves south down Avenue B at roughly the speed of a dog who keeps stopping to be admired.

Date
Saturday, October 17, 2026The 36th Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.
Hours
Parade steps off at 11 a.m.Find a curbside spot on Avenue B by 10 to 10:30 a.m.
Location
Avenue B, East VillageSouth from East 13th Street to East 7th Street at Tompkins Square Park.
Festival block
East 6th St., Aves. B to COpen 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free and open to the public.
Admission
FreeSuggested donation to Best Friends Animal Society.
Getting there
L to 1st Ave.Or the F to 2nd Ave. Walk east. Follow the sound of a thousand people saying "aww."

Parade details from New York Dog Parade, the nonprofit that runs the event. Check their site on the day for any changes.

Museum etiquette

Please observe the following rules

Our security staff consists of one human with a leash and a fanny pack of treats. Please be kind to them.

  1. Flash photography is permitted and encouraged. The artist has been preparing for this all year.
  2. Please do not touch the art. If the art licks you, that is not your fault.
  3. Do not feed the art without asking the docent. The art will say it is starving. The art had breakfast.
  4. Ask before petting. The artist is a professional, and also a little shy in crowds.
  5. Strollers, wheelchairs and other dogs are welcome in all galleries.
  6. Please keep your voice at a museum whisper. Squeaky toys are, regrettably, not a museum whisper.
  7. Exit through the gift shop.

Admission

Print your own ticket

Admission is free, but every good museum visit deserves a stub for the fridge. Fill in your name and print or screenshot it.

Admit one · The

TOFU MUSEUM

Portrait of a Good Boy
Honored Guest
AdmissionGeneral Admission
DateOct 17, 2026
PriceFree
No. 000001

Visitor questions

Frequently asked

Is Tofu a real dog?

Yes. He is a small apricot poodle mix who lives in New York. The ones in the frames on the float are stuffed animals. The ones on this website are paintings. He is the only one who eats.

Is this a real museum?

No. The Tofu Museum is a Halloween costume with a website. It has no building, no endowment and no gift shop that ships anything. It does have an excellent collection.

Who painted the paintings?

They are new images made after famous works of art, from Botticelli to Banksy, using photos of Tofu as reference. Each wall label explains the original masterpiece, which hangs in a real museum and is well worth a visit.

Where does my donation go?

Directly to Best Friends Animal Society. The link goes to their own donation page; we never see or touch the money. Best Friends is a national no-kill nonprofit and a registered 501(c)(3).

Can I take a picture with Tofu?

Please ask the docent. If he's calm and the parade has paused, probably yes. If he's spotted a pigeon, give it a minute.

Is the robe comfortable?

It is a soft, loose cape that leaves his ears, eyes and legs free. The New York Dog Parade asks that costumes never restrict a dog's sight, hearing or movement, and he gets breaks whenever he wants them.