Comprehensive Guide To Free Halloween Events Food Deals And Printable Activities In The United States

Halloween is a significant spending holiday, with total retail spending estimated at $8.8 billion in 2019 according to the National Retail Federation. For families planning budgets, especially with Thanksgiving approaching shortly after, accessing free Halloween offerings can provide substantial savings. This article details free events, food promotions, printable activities, and other no-cost Halloween opportunities available to U.S. consumers, based on verified information from official event pages and promotional sources.

Free Community and Retail Events

Numerous community organizations, retailers, and local governments host free Halloween events. These events often include trick-or-treating, crafts, and entertainment, providing safe and cost-effective alternatives to private parties.

Retail and Mall Events

Several national retailers and shopping centers organize free Halloween activities. Bass Pro Shops and its sister company, Cabela’s, host Halloween events at their locations, offering free photos, costume parades, and crafts. Specific mall events have included: - Cary Towne Center (Cary, North Carolina) hosted a Halloween Mall Crawl on Saturday, October 26, 2019, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. - Crabtree Valley Mall (Raleigh, North Carolina) held a trick-or-treating event on October 31st from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., providing free photos and treats. - Downtown Apex (Apex, North Carolina) organized a Trick or Treat event on Sunday, October 27, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Salem Street, alongside a Witches’ Night Out on Friday, October 25, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Family and Kid-Focused Events

Various organizations offer free events specifically for children and families. - Michael’s stores host a Kids Club Monster Bash. For example, a store in 2018 held the event on Saturday, October 27th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with free supplies included. Note that some Michael’s events may require a paid adult admission; a specific 2019 event listed an adult admission of $10. - Grant’s Farm in St. Louis, Missouri, offers a range of Halloween events from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. on select dates. - White Deer Park (location not specified in source) held a “Trick-or-Treat the Trails” event on Halloween day from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. - The North Carolina Museum of History hosts a Halloween Safe Night event (specific date and time not provided in the source material). - The Durham Police Department (Durham, North Carolina) hosted a Trunk or Treat event and safety fair on Saturday, October 27, 2019, from 10 a.m. until noon.

How to Find Local Events

Because free Halloween events are highly location-specific, consumers are advised to check local resources. Effective search terms include: - free Halloween events near me - free kid friendly Halloween events near me - free family Halloween events near me

Local malls, libraries, community centers, and local government websites are primary sources for finding these events.

Free Food Promotions from Restaurants

Several restaurant chains offer free food items for children on or around Halloween. These promotions typically require the child to be present and may require the purchase of an adult entrée.

• Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. offers free kids’ meals with the purchase of an adult entrée.
• IHOP (International House of Pancakes) has a long-standing promotion for Halloween. At participating locations, children aged 12 and under can receive a free Scary Face Pancake. For Halloween 2024, IHOP offered this promotion for five consecutive days, not just on October 31st. The specific hours for the promotion in 2019 were from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31.

Free Printable Halloween Games and Activities

Consumers can access a variety of free, printable Halloween games and activities online. These are useful for parties, classroom activities, or home entertainment.

Printable Games

• Halloween Bingo: A family-friendly game available in traditional crossword and picture crossword formats.
• Halloween Fortune Teller: An interactive paper craft designed to keep children entertained.
• Halloween Sudoku: Puzzle variations suitable for kids.
• Halloween Mazes: Printable mazes with a Halloween theme.

Printable Decorations

• Spider Doilies: Creepy spider-themed doilies for Halloween decoration.
• Additional printable decorations include garlands and candle holders (specific examples not detailed in the source).

Free Halloween Literature and Media

Free Books

• Amazon Kindle eBooks: Free Halloween-themed books are occasionally available on Amazon. Examples from the source include Halloween Party Ideas by Chef Goodies and Free Scary Halloween Stories for Kids. These are time-sensitive offers, as prices on Amazon can change frequently.
• Free Comic Book Day / Halloween Comic Fest: The annual Halloween Comic Fest event, typically held on October 27th (e.g., 2018), allows attendees to receive a free comic at participating comic book stores. Consumers can find participating stores via the official Halloween ComicFest website.

Free Horror Movies

• YouTube: Searching for phrases like “full horror movies” or “[movie title] full movie” can yield full-length horror films available for free on YouTube.
• Big Five Glories: This website offers free, classic black-and-white horror movies such as George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, Horror Express, and Phantom of the Opera.
• BnWMovies.com (Black and White Movies): This site features classic horror films like Nosferatu, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and Frankenstein.

Free Magazines

Extensive research did not find any Halloween magazines available for free by mail. The closest alternative is the free comic book events mentioned above.

Tips for Acquiring Halloween Costumes and Decorations

While no sources list programs for completely free new costumes, the following methods can help consumers obtain costumes and decorations at minimal or no cost.

• Second-Hand Stores: Goodwill and Salvation Army are cited as goldmines for finding used Halloween costumes at low prices.
• Classifieds: Websites like HauntedClassifieds function as a Craigslist-style marketplace for buying and selling Halloween-related items, including costumes, where great deals can often be found.
• Printable Decorations: As noted, numerous free printable decorations are available online.

Conclusion

Halloween offers numerous opportunities for U.S. consumers to enjoy the holiday without significant expenditure. Free community and retail events, such as those hosted by Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and local malls, provide safe entertainment and activities. Restaurant chains like IHOP and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. offer free food promotions for children. A wealth of free printable games, decorations, and activities can be found online, and free horror movies are accessible through platforms like YouTube and specialized websites. For costumes and literature, consumers can utilize second-hand stores, online marketplaces, and limited-time free book offers. To maximize savings, consumers should verify event details and promotion terms directly with local venues and official restaurant websites, as offerings and availability can vary by location and year.

Sources

1. MoneyPantry Halloween Freebies
2. Freebfinder Halloween Freebies