McDonald’s is officially bringing its spookiest merch back — and there are two newbies to welcome into the frightening fold.
The fast-food giant just announced that its Happy Meal Boo Buckets will be returning to restaurants nationwide on Oct. 21.
This year’s lineup includes a trio of returning themed buckets — Ghost, Pumpkin and Goblin — in addition to two new “ghoulie friends”: Cat and Zombie. McDonald’s notes that each bucket has its own “creepy, kooky and cute expressions,” and kiddos can decorate their pails with Halloween-themed stickers.
Last Year’s Boo Buckets Led to, Well, Boos
This year’s designs appear to be a return to form. In 2024, the company redesigned the pails, which led to criticism on social media. While not exact replicas of pails from years past, the newest designs look more similar to those from 2023.
As in previous years, the Halloween-themed buckets will only be available with Happy Meal orders, temporarily replacing the classic Happy Meal boxes.
Burger King and Wendy’s Also Have Halloween Offerings
McDonald’s is a relative latecomer to spooky season. Last month, Burger King announced its first-ever Monster Menu, which features four creature-inspired twists on menu items, as well as a Halloween-themed King Jr. Meal, which comes with collectible Scooby Doo-themed toys.
BK also dropped its own limited-edition Halloween Bucket, which will be available starting Oct. 13 at participating restaurants, while supplies last.
Meanwhile, Wendy’s is already offering the Frosty Frights Kids’ Meal, which features the choice of a 4-piece chicken nuggets, a hamburger or cheeseburger, plus Jr. Hot & Crispy Fries or Apple Bites and a kids’ drink, for a limited time. Kids can collect up to 12 Frosty-inspired toys from the meal.
