The unmistakable charm of Halloween is incomplete without its signature mix of delightful frights and sweet treats. Restaurants and retailers all around the world ride this wave of excitement, introducing fun and unique ways to elevate the festive spirit for their customers. One such beloved tradition is McDonald’s Boo Buckets, an iconic addition to their Happy Meals.
Anticipating a joyous spooky season, McDonald’s announced the comeback of the infamous Boo Buckets in 2024. A customer favorite, these buckets bring collective joy, doubling as fun containers for Happy Meals and handy pails for Halloween’s trick-or-treat tradition. This year, the buckets are adding a new twist to their color palette with the addition of a blue bucket, which is new for 2024, alongside the regular white, orange, and green ones. Each color substitutes the previous year’s purple design. To match the eerie Halloween mood, each bucket flaunts a distinct monster decoration. But here’s where the fun just begins!
These buckets come with a host of stickers that allow kids to transform them into their personal Halloween accessories. With wings, ears, or other spooky enhancements at their disposal, children can let their imagination run wild. The Boo Buckets were first introduced in 1986, and 2024 marks the third consecutive year and a triumphant return of this Halloween staple. After sparking nostalgia by bringing them back in 2022 after a gap of six years, the bucket tradition continues to gather steam.
Starting October 15, 2024, these decorative McDonald’s Boo Buckets can be snatched up from participating locations. But hurry, they’re available only until supplies last! As for the cost, the prices might vary based on location. To get your hands on a Happy Meal with the Boo Bucket, simply head over to the nearest McDonald’s restaurant, use the drive-through, or order through the chain’s mobile app.
Apart from the thrill of trick-or-treating with your personalized Boo Bucket, a Happy Meal also offers a feast for your taste buds. The meal offers three enticing entree choices: either a hamburger (cheeseburger), four-piece, or six-piece chicken nuggets. Each meal also comes with a choice of side – fries or apple slices, and a drink to wash it all down with!
However, the launch of the McDonald’s Boo Buckets has stirred mixed opinions among fans. Social media is divided over the appeal of the iconic pails. McDonald’s shared a teaser featuring the four color choices on a platform formerly known as Twitter, where fans shared a visible excitement. In contrast, the same announcement on Instagram attracted more subdued reactions, with fans expressing disappointment over the design and colors of the buckets for 2024. Some called for a return of the old school bucket designs from the ’90s, while others lamented a perceived lack of effort in design optimization. Still, others expressed core satisfaction, validating that these buckets are, after all, aimed primarily at children and are not to be taken too seriously.
The mixed reactions to the Boo Buckets show that Halloween is a season steeped in nostalgia. Every year, people crave a return to the elements that defined their childhood celebrations of the festival. While some may see the boo buckets as a bold new twist, others will long for the ‘old’ variants. Regardless of the reviews, the McDonald’s Boo Buckets are a delightful Halloween tradition that will continue to thrill, entertain and provide tasty treats for years to come.
