When it comes to seasonal treats, no time of year slays like Halloween. From pumpkin spice lattes and candy apples to, well, pumpkin spice everything else, we’re in for a ghoulishly good time. But McDonald’s and a handful of fast-food restaurants have taken the spooky surprises one step further.
This year, McDonald’s is bringing back an iconic Halloween treat for fans of all ages, and the trick is to get one before they’re gone for the season. Keep reading to find out which Halloween item is returning to McDonald’s and when you’ll be able to get your hands on the spookiest surprise of the season.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more food news, humor, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
Which Halloween classic is coming back to McDonald’s?
After much anticipation, the iconic Boo Buckets are returning to McDonald’s restaurants just in time for spooky season. These fun and frightful buckets contain Happy Meals in the days leading up to Halloween, and part of the fun is trying to collect each style before fright night.
Not only are they as cute as they are creepy, but they’re also versatile. You can use Boo Buckets long after you’ve enjoyed your meal for things like trick-or-treating, organizing your Happy Meal toys or building sandcastles at the beach when warm weather rolls back around.
Even though they come with Happy Meals, Boo Buckets aren’t just for kids. Let’s be honest: Adults want them too!
How are these different from last year’s buckets?
The 2025 designs are completely different from last year’s Boo Buckets, which came in four scarily sweet monster designs. This year, McDonald’s Boo Buckets feature five frightful faces: a ghost, a pumpkin, a goblin, a cat and a zombie. While you may have seen similar creatures in years past, the designs have changed—this year’s pumpkin, for instance, is more like a cousin of the 2023 jack-o’-lantern. And the cat and zombie are brand-new additions to the McDonald’s Halloween lineup.
As they did last year, each Boo Bucket comes with Halloween-themed stickers, so you can truly make them your own.
What are McDonald’s fans saying?
McDonald’s fans of all ages love the iconic Boo Buckets. The younger set finds them playful and fun—like Happy Meals, but even happier. For more seasoned McDonald’s fans, the buckets stir up a sweet sense of nostalgia. “In the ’80s, these were the best way to store your Lego bricks,” wrote one user on Instagram.
Originally introduced in 1986, Boo Buckets made an appearance every year for Halloween until 2016, when McDonald’s discontinued them. They rose from the dead in 2022 and have been a spooky-season staple ever since. The limited run each year—just around the holiday—makes them feel even more special.
Here’s what just a smattering of Instagram commenters wrote about this fan-favorite treat:
- “Yesss! Best time of the year 👏🙌”
- “I was waiting for this. My baby’s first McDonald’s Halloween bucket ☺️”
- “These are frighteningly adorable 🥹”
- “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!! 🎃”
When will the Boo Buckets be available?
With Halloween just around the corner, you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on your very own Boo Bucket. They officially land at McDonald’s locations on Oct. 21, and they’ll be available with Happy Meals while supplies last. (Pro tip: Special-edition treats tend to pop up earlier than launch day at some McDonald’s restaurants, so keep your eyes peeled for them during your next visit.)
What other fall treats should you be on the lookout for this season?
Fall flavors and the spooky Halloween spirit are the perfect combination to inspire seasonal specialties, and Boo Buckets are just the beginning. Some of the most exciting fall items across fast-food restaurants this year include:
- McDonald’s: The fall McCafé menu features Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee, Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Pumpkin & Crème Pie.
- Burger King: A Monster Menu includes Halloween-themed foods, a limited-edition Halloween Bucket and Burger King x Scooby-Doo toys featuring Scooby and the gang.
- Wendy’s: The Frosty Fright Kids Meal comes with either a four-piece chicken nuggets order, a hamburger or a cheeseburger; fries or Apple Bites; a kids’ drink; and one of 12 Frosty-themed toys.
- Dunkin’: The season sees the launch of fall-flavored lattes, Halloween-themed donuts and the return of the beloved Halloween Munchkins Bucket.
RELATED:
- We Interviewed Top Chefs, and 6 Out of 10 Picked This as Their All-Time Favorite McDonald’s Burger
- This McDonald’s Has Parking for Your Horses—No Kidding! Find Out Where It Is
- 11 Things You Never Knew About the McDonald’s Apple Pie
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- McDonald’s: “McDonald’s USA Menu Spotter”
- The Columbus Dispatch: “Fans booing McDonald’s Halloween Boo Buckets for 2024”
- Burger King: “Burger King Invites Guests to Do the Monster Mash This Halloween with All-New ‘Monster Menu'”
- Wendy’s: “Wendy’s 2025 Frosty Frights and Boo! Books”
- Toyshiz on Instagram: “Boo Buckets Are Back”
- Officialhappymeal on Instagram: “BOO!”
The post This Halloween Classic Is Returning to McDonald’s—But Only for a Limited Time appeared first on Reader's Digest.
from Reader's Digest https://ift.tt/Dr8T1VE
Comments
Post a Comment