Spooky Season is in Full Swing at These Fast-Casual Franchises

Throughout October, franchise owners can take advantage of clever marketing initiatives created by their franchisor. In addition to pumpkin spice season and Oktoberfest celebrations, October also means fun products and festive promotions for Halloween. These Halloween deals and products help bring in traffic and sales, making spooky season anything but scary for franchisees. 

Halloween is one of the most popular holidays, and it gets bigger every year. According to the National Retail Federation’s annual holiday survey, Halloween spending is expected to reach $10.6 billion, up from last year’s $10.1 billion, as participation returns to pre-pandemic levels.

Here is a look at fast-food franchises with products, deals and promotions for Halloween 2022. 

Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. Cheese’s annual Halloween Boo-Tacular is a six-week event that lasts through Halloween. Kids can get 10 free Play Points towards any game by wearing a costume. The Boo-Tacular event also includes a monster menu filled with Pumpkin Pepperoni Pizza, a Slime Cookie, and the Creepy Cupcake. Customers have two combo deals to enjoy, according to a press release. The Boo-Tacular Family Pack includes two large, 1-topping pizzas, Slime Cookie, goody bag and activity sheet. This deal starts at $34.99 and is available for carry-out or delivery only. The other deal is Combo #5, which includes two large, 1-topping pizzas, Slime Cookie, six soft drinks, plus a $1 cookie upgrade. The deal starts at $52.69, but prices may vary. This deal is available in-store only.

Burger King

In honor of spooky season, Burger King is rolling out the new Ghost Pepper Whopper, which consists of spicy queso, crispy jalapeños, bacon and ghost pepper cheese. Participating locations will offer this new creation for a limited time only. From Oct. 17-31, there is a deal on two Ghost Pepper Whoppers on Burger King’s app. According to a YouTube video, the special offer is two Ghost Pepper Whoppers and small fries for $10.

McDonald’s

Never one to miss a trend, the Golden Arches has promos and products for Halloween 2022. The fast-food giant is bringing back its trick-or-treating Halloween pails for the first time in six years. This returning product comes back amid the release of adult Happy Meals.

Chipotle

The Mexican-inspired corporate-owned business is offering its in-person Halloween costume promo for the first time since 2019. During this Boorito promotion, customers who wear a costume at the restaurant on Halloween from 3 p.m. until closing will get a $6 entree. This deal is limited to Chipotle Rewards members. 

Krispy Kreme

To make spooky season even sweeter, Krispy Kreme unveiled a Halloween collection of doughnuts. These include the Spooky Spider Doughnut, a glazed doughnut dipped in chocolate icing and topped with cookie pieces, and the Neon Orange Sprinkle Doughnut, which is topped with a Halloween sprinkle blend and neon orange icing. As a Halloween 2022 promotion, customers can get a dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts for $2 with the purchase of any dozen doughnuts at participating locations every Saturday through Halloween. Customers can also get a free doughnut on Halloween by wearing a costume.

Cold Stone Creamery

Cold Stone Creamery is serving up its popular Boo Batter Ice cream for Halloween season. This seasonal treat contains KIT KAT, Halloween OREO Cookies & M&M’S.

Papa John’s

It wouldn’t be a Halloween party without pizza. For a limited time only, Papa John’s is offering its fun and cheerful Jack-O-Lantern pizza.

Jack in the Box

The Jack in the Box franchise is delighting guests with Monster Tacos this spooky season. Customers can enjoy two Monster Tacos for $3. The fast-casual brand also released the Basic Witch Shake, which is available until Nov. 20. The vanilla shake features OREO Cookie pieces and pumpkin spice and is topped with whipped cream and a cherry. 

IHOP

From Oct. 24- 31, IHOP is offering a free Scary Face pancake for kids 12 and younger with the purchase of an adult entree between 4 and 10 p.m. This deal is available dine-in only.

Del Taco

Del Taco is taking Halloween 2022 to a new level with its Tacoberfest promotion that includes 31 days of deals. For the month of October, Del Yeah! Rewards members can enjoy special offerings. On Halloween, customers can get a free Carne Asada Stuffed Quesadilla Taco Guac’d Up with any $3 purchase when using the app.

Baskin Robbins  

For Halloween 2022, Baskin Robbins released the Spicy ’n Spooky ice cream. This new flavor combines white chocolate ghost pepper with dark chocolate ice cream and spicy blood orange flakes. The popular ice cream franchise offers a 31% discount on scoops of ice cream on the 31st of every month. Halloween is no exception. 

Wendy’s

At Wendy’s, spooky season helps others. Every October, the legacy fast-food franchise raises money for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption by selling Boo! Books. With the Boo! Book, customers get five Jr. Frosty coupons for $1. 

Noodles & Company 

Noodles & Company is getting in on the Halloween fun with a promotion. Customers who purchase a regular entree with the company’s app on Halloween will get a free small entree. 

I Heart Mac & Cheese

For Halloween 2022, kids 12 and under will get a free cookie at I Heart Mac & Cheese. The fast-casual brand makes the spooky season extra special with its kids-eat-for-free on Monday deal throughout the month of October.

Dunkin‘

Dunkin’ comes out with Halloween-inspired products every year. In addition to the new Peanut Butter Cup Macchiato, customers can enjoy the Spider Doughnut, Dunk-O-Lantern Doughnut, and all the classics that are shaped like pumpkins. For the month of October, Dunkin’ Rewards members can enjoy perks like getting a free breakfast sandwich with the purchase of a medium or large drink as well as a free medium hot or iced coffee when ordered ahead on the app.   

Tim Hortons

To celebrate Halloween 2022, Tim Hortons released the new Timbits Trick-or-Treat Bucket, which can be filled with 31 Timbits for $9.99. Customers can also purchase the bucket without the Timbits for $3.99. The franchise makes National Coffee Day last all of October with the offer of a medium hot or iced coffee for $.99 when ordered on the app. 

Applebee’s

Applebee’s is offering $6 Spooky Sips just in time for Halloween 2022. According to a press release, the Tipsy Zombie is made with Bacardi Superior and a blend of passion fruit, pineapple, cherry and lime. It is topped with melon liqueur and a gummy brain. The Dracula’s Juice features both Patron Silver and Bacardi Superior.

Huddle House

At the Huddle House franchise, kids eat for free with the purchase of an adult entree in-store from Oct. 28 through Halloween. Customers have to mention the “Kids Eat Free” code to their server to redeem it.