While Halloween may not seem like a special occasion for fast-food chains, it's actually one of the busiest nights of the year. That's probably because many families are taking their kids trick or treating while also handing out candy to the people who ring their doorbells.
It's a busy night, which drives sales at casual eateries, including Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's. All three of those chains have historically embraced the holiday in different ways.
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McDonald's, of course, has its "Boo Buckets," plastic pails in which it serves its Happy Meals kids' meals. Those buckets aren't all that big, so they're more collectibles than actually useful Halloween candy collection devices. Boo Buckets haven't been offered every year, but they are returning this year.
Restaurant Brands International's (QSR) -) Burger King takes a more food-based approach. It has offered a number of theme Whoppers around the holiday, including. the aptly named Halloween Whopper, which was served on a black hamburger bun.
McDonald's also throughout the 1980s and 1990s offered Halloween coupon books. The contents varied from year to year, but the coupons could be redeemed for various food items, and the value of the book was much higher than the price the chain charged for it.
Families would often buy the books to hand them out instead of candy. In theory, that was an option less likely to meet with anger (and possible tricks) compared to giving out fruit or toothbrushes to trick-or-treaters.
McDonald's has not shared whether it plans to offer a 2023 Halloween coupon book. Some, but not all, of the chain's locations offered one in 2022 that offered 12 coupons for $21 in food for $1. Wendy's (WEN) -), which lacks a Halloween tradition of its own will be offering a similar coupon book product this year (as it has in past years).
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Here's what Wendy's plans this Halloween
Wendy's plans to bring back its $1 Halloween "Boo! Books" this year.
"Each $1 Boo! Book contains 5 coupons for free Jr. Frosty treats – no purchase necessary – plus an additional 6th coupon for a $1.99 Kids Meal, with any purchase," Chew Boom reported. "You can buy your Boo! Book at any Wendy’s, at the drive-thru window, as well as online or in the app through October 31, 2023 or while supplies last. Coupons are valid through December 31, 2023."
In addition to being an alternative to handing out candy, the Boo! Books are also benefitting a good cause. Nearly the entire price of the coupon book, $0.90 of every dollar, will be donated to Wendy's founder Dave Thomas' Foundation for Adoption.
Burger King has a Halloween contest
In addition to the Halloween Whopper, Burger King also has released a Ghost Whopper, and a Ghost Pepper Whopper. This year, the chain is celebrating the spooky season by giving its customers a choice.
Members of the chain's BK Royal Perks loyalty program can now vote for whether the Ghost Pepper Whopper or the new Ghost Pepper Chicken Fries should make a limited-time appearance on the chain's menu. Votes are placed through the chain's app and no end date has been given for the promotion.
It seems likely, however, that the content will end before Halloween so the winning menu item can be on the chain's menu for the big day.
Burger King has offered dozens of variations of its signature Whopper as limited-time offers over the years. It has often brought back popular versions of the beloved sandwich for a return engagement.
This, however, is the first time the company has used a vote to decide which menu item to add. Yum Brands (YUM) -) Taco Bell has used that method multiple times over the past few years.
