Eat free or cheap on Halloween at several restaurants when you come dressed in costume. Fill your bellies with food before or after Halloween so there’s less room to eat all of that candy!
As always, check with your location to make sure they are participating and read the details carefully – some offers are for kids only. Happy Halloween!
In 2023, many communities are holding their trick-or-treat on October 31, so you’ll want to work these deals into your schedule on Halloween.
Not sure when trick-or-treat is being held in your community? See our Trick or Treat schedule around Columbus and Central Ohio.
Jeni’s Cone Coins
While it’s not an eat free on Halloween, good deals at Jeni’s is always worth sharing!
Pass out Jeni’s Cone Coins for Halloween, fall parties, or even just to bribe your own kids. Each coin is good for a FREE kids cone (worth $4.25). Purchase bundles of 15 coins for $35 (less than $2.50 each!).
photo: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Wendy’s Boo Books
Buy a Wendy’s Frosty Boo Book for $1, get a booklet of 5 coupons for free Jr. Frosty’s, plus a bonus coupon for a $1.99 kids’ meal!
85 cents from every $1 purchase goes to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
McDonald’s Boo Buckets
Buy a Happy Meal and get a FREE Boo Bucket, while supplies last!
In 2024, you’ll find 4 Monster options. Details about Boo Buckets here.
Halloween Meal Deals and Kids Eat Cheap for Halloween
El Vaquero Halloween discount
On Thursday, October 31, visit any El Vaquero location in costume and receive 20% off your bill.
The day also marks the beginning of Día de los Muertos, a three-day Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors loved ones who have passed. El Vaquero invites the community to join in the festivities with authentic Mexican cuisine to make the occasion even more special.
Hot Chicken Takeover
Get a FREE Banana Pudding with any purchase (in-store only, mention promo). See website.
Genghis Grill
BOGO Bowl-Ritto! Buy One, Get One FREE (use code: BOOWLRITTO, in-store & online). 1865 N Pearl Street, Columbus. See website.
Chipotle Boorito BOGO
For 2024, Chipotle Rewards members in costume will receive a $6 entrée offer in-restaurant on October 31. Full details here!
Baskin-Robbins
Chill out on Halloween at Baskin-Robbins! The ice cream shop “Celebrates 31” with a 31% discount on the 31st of every month. Halloween always falls on Oct. 31! That means “little monsters” (and their grown-ups!) can get big scoop of savings on Halloween.
Flavor of the Month for October is Apple Cider Donut, but they also have Halloween treat inspired flavors, REESE’S Peanut Butter Cup, Jamoca® Almond Fudge, or Rocky Road.
Krispy Kreme Halloween Specials
Krispy Kreme is offering a new Ghost Busters Halloween Collection of doughnuts that you won’t want to miss!
Wear your costume to a participating Krispy Kreme shop on Halloween, Thursday, October 31, 2024, and get a FREE Original Glazed doughnut. No purchase required.
Free Halloween doughnut details here!
image: Krispy Kreme
Free pancake at IHOP
October 24- October 31, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Kids ages 12 and under can get a FREE Scary Face pancake at IHOP, with the purchase of an adult entrée.
IHOP
Papa John’s Jack ‘O Lantern Pizza
Papa John’s popular pumpkin-shaped Jack ‘O Lantern pizza is available at most shops through Halloween. Price varies per market, but starts at $10.99. It’s a fun (and easy) Halloween-themed dinner.
Free cookie with Halloween Costume
Through November 3, 2024. Wear a costume into any Insomnia Cookies store through this weekend, and get 1 FREE classic cookie – no purchase needed, when you mention the deal. Details here.
Expires 11/4/2024 at 3 AM PST. No purchase necessary. Valid for one free Classic cookie only. Excludes limited-time-only flavors. Must be visibly wearing a costume in-store to redeem. Limit 1 use per customer per day.
courtesy of Insomnia Cookies
Applebees Dollarita and Spooky Sips
For the month of October, Applebee’s is offering several Spooky Sips. Even a booze-y bucket deal!
Prefer something less sweet and even cheaper? The famous Dollarita is back! That’s right – a margarita for just $1! Details here.
Must be 21+. Void where prohibited. Tax & gratuity excluded. Dine-in only, except where carry-out alcohol is permitted by law. Participation may vary. While supplies last.
McAlister’s Deli
Sip a spooky brew! McAlister’s Deli has brewed up a magical potion: the Witch’s Brew, a lemonade made with cane sugar, lemon juice, and caramel apple syrup.
Sometimes they offer a special in the days leading up to Halloween, so check the link!
Chili’s
Sip on the Margarita of the Month for October at Chili’s — The Witches Brew Marg.
It is brewed with Lunazul® Blanco Tequila, blue curacao, Monin® Granny Smith Apple, and fresh sour. To top it off, you get a spooky swizzle stick and a slice of orange. This the limited-time margarita is only $6.
Shake Shack
Shake Shack is shaking up fall nights with a sweet deal. Enjoy an autumn afternoon with a cool treat — even better with a friend or family member.
Through December 31, Shake Shack is sweetening fall afternoons with buy-one-get-one FREE shake special online with promo code “TWOFORFUN” – between 2 pm – 5 pm.
image: Shake Shack
Marco’s Pizza
Those looking for the perfect pre- OR post-trick-or-treating meal can snag some spooky limited-time offering with Marco’s new Triple Pepperoni Magnifico Pizza!
Starting at $11.99* with code TRIPLEPEP, this pepperoni lover’s delight combines Marco’s signature crispy, cupped Old World Pepperoni® and classic pepperoni with a new bold shredded pepperoni, creating a one-of-a-kind pizza experience – available at participating Marco’s locations.
*Use code TRIPLEPEP. Valid on Large Triple Pepperoni Magnifico only for a limited time.
Find more Fall Fun here!
- Best places to pick apples in Central Ohio
- Columbus Pumpkin Patches, Farm Activities, Corn Mazes, and More!
- Big list of great Fall date ideas around Columbus
- Best hikes and scenic drives for Fall Color in Ohio
- Over 120 events celebrating Fall and Halloween in Columbus
- 11 Haunted Woods and Haunted Houses Around Columbus
- Trick or treat, trunk or treat, and Halloween parties
If you don’t know what to dress up as for all of these Halloween events, check out these 100 Cheap and Easy DIY Halloween Costumes.
There's so much to do in Columbus in the Fall, whether you’re looking for something spooky or kid-friendly! Check out our HUGE list of fall events, Haunted Houses and Haunted Woods and Spooky Ghost Tours, community Trunk or Treat events and Halloween Parties, and our list of pumpkin patches, farm activities and corn mazes! Plus, find out when your community is having Trick or Treat or Beggar's Night this year!
Val says
Hi! We are still waiting on confirmation for most of these deals, but we’ll update as we find them. Typically it is fully updated about 10-14 days before Halloween, as most dining establishments don’t release deals much further ahead than that.
Linda says
Sorry, I meant it links to the 2022 article.
Linda says
I noticed that the Halloween cheap eats link goes back to the 2023 article. When will this be updated for 2023? https://www.columbusonthecheap.com/kids-eat-free-on-halloween/