McDonald’s is bringing back its beloved Boo Buckets, adding to the excitement of the Halloween season with two new designs. The fast-food giant announced that the nostalgic buckets, featuring characters such as Ghost, Pumpkin, and Goblin, are returning this year with the introduction of Cat and Zombie, expanding the collection to five playful designs.
The limited-edition Boo Buckets, available with Happy Meals, will begin distribution at participating McDonald’s locations nationwide starting on October 21, while supplies last. Each bucket showcases various spooky expressions and includes Halloween-themed stickers, allowing fans to personalize their pails.
McDonald’s playful announcement reflects on recent trends, noting with humor that “imitation is the most BOO-tiful form of flattery,” but reiterates that there is “only one OG Halloween bucket,” emphasizing their uniqueness in the Halloween collectible market.
This Halloween tradition dates back to 1986, with the original designs including McPunk’n, McBoo, and McGoblin. Over the years, the buckets have seen several iterations, from the original orange hues to green and white variations introduced in 1989. After a hiatus starting in 2016, the buckets made a successful return in 2022, delighting fans once again.
In addition to the Boo Buckets, McDonald’s has also launched its Monopoly promotion, allowing customers to “peel and play” for a chance to win prizes ranging from free food to significant rewards like a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited or a cash sum of $1 million. This combination of nostalgic collectibles and exciting promotions sets the stage for a festive Halloween at McDonald’s.