Cart is empty The spooky time of the year is just a few days away.
Halloween certainly holds a special place in the hearts of everyone be it young or old.
What’s not to love? You get to dress up, eat mouth-watering sugar treats, get refreshed from the unique October breeze and enjoy trick-or-treating.
Halloween 2022 expenditure had surged to a record-breaking $10.6 billion in the US, as reported by the National Retail Foundation.
Here are top 15 ideas we have collected to give you a head start for Halloween 2023
1. Create a Halloween menu with pumpkin and other seasonal specials
Your digital menu boards are the true reflection and soul of your restaurant.
Making a Halloween TV screen menu with pumpkin and other special treats can be a great way to make your customers happy and get more people to come to your restaurant during the spooky season.
Pumpkin is super important for Halloween, so you should definitely have some dishes with pumpkin in them on your menu.
Think about having things like a warm “Pumpkin Spice Latte” for a comforting drink, “Pumpkin Soup” to start the meal, or a yummy “Pumpkin Risotto” as the main dish.
These dishes should be front and center on your Halloween menu boards and be sure to give them a spooky look that goes with the Halloween vibe.
2. Plan out a week of Halloween promotions to attract more crowd
A fantastic way to dive into the Halloween spirit several days in advance is by offering themed promotions during the week leading up to October 31st.
Consider introducing daily specials on your menu items. Associate them with each weekday.
They could look something like this:
- Monday Madness: Start the week with a free drink with your order.
- Spooky Tuesday: Get a spooky 31% off select sides or entrees.
- Wicked Wednesday: Buy one spooky Halloween special cocktail, and we’ll treat you to another one for free.
- Halloween Happy Hour: Join us for a Halloween Happy Hour, where you can enjoy a spine-tingling 50% off on drinks and appetizers.
- Thrilling Thursday: Indulge in seasonal menu items with a whopping 75% discount.
- Frightening Friday: Receive a free side with your order.
- Costume Saturday: Dress up in your Halloween costume and get a free entree.
Don’t forget to spread the word about these devilishly good deals!
3. Change the Halloween menu design look and give it the seasonal spooky feel
Revamp your Halloween menu design with a spine-tingling, seasonal twist to captivate your patrons. Embrace Halloween’s festive charm by incorporating graphics, fonts and colors that level up its spooky feel.
Incorporate high quality food pictures of Halloween menu items that have been prepared for the week.
Ensure design consistency across online and print formats for easy recognition.
Give your menu a ghoulishly good makeover, enticing more customers to celebrate the season with your tantalizing Halloween offerings.
4. Give restaurant TV screen menu item names the Halloween touch
Giving your menu items names that level up its Halloween vibe will give your entire menu the festive vibe it needs.
Although the dishes at your restaurant will remain the same, merely altering the names on your menu to Halloween-themed ones can draw in customers who appreciate the festive twist on the holiday.
Here are some of the name inspirations that you can use for the menu names:
- Monster Muncher
- Witch’s Brew Stew
- Spiced Pumpkin Delight
- Caramel Apple Dream
- Mummy Pizza
- Monster Mashup
- Vampire Blood
- Devil’s Potion
- Creepy Cauliflower
- Princess’ Peach Pie
- Pirate’s Platter
- Haunted Harvest Salad
5. Add decorative elements that give your restaurant the Halloween vibe
You can turn your restaurant into a spooky Halloween spot by adding decorations like pumpkins, cobwebs, ghostly lights, skeletons, tombstones, and hanging bat banners.
Make the tables spookier with Halloween-themed centerpieces, napkins, and candles. Don’t forget to place Jack-O-Lanterns and skulls on shelves and countertops for that eerie atmosphere.
These creative decorations not only make the place feel more like Halloween but also create a memorable dining experience that captures the spirit of the season.
Your customers will enjoy their meals in a uniquely themed setting that’s perfect for the Halloween season.
6. Run Halloween contests to grab more crowd to your restaurant
Here are some of the contest ideas that can be used to drive more engagement:
- Instagram costume contest: Restaurants can run Instagram costume contests to gain more followers and reward gift cards to the winners to gain more loyalty and customer base.
- Hold a pumpkin-carving contest: Restaurants can organize pumpkin-carving contests that allow the participants to showcase their artistic skills and get rewarded with some delicious food for it.
- Halloween-Themed Recipe Challenges: Customers can be encouraged to participate by submitting unique Halloween inspired recipes. The winner could be again rewarded with a gift card or some loyalty program benefit.
- Scavenger Hunt for kids: This can be exciting, especially for kids with clues and prices included in the scavenger hunt. They can play and enjoy themselves while their family can relax and have their meals.
7. Give your social media content strategy the Halloween twist
Your social media strategy should be solid this time of the year. Halloween in general tends to grab more attention towards it and with your proactive approach, you can start getting more followers and visitors to your restaurant.
The right quality pictures posted frequently on all the social media handles can get you more likes and intrigue people to come and try your food.
Post some intriguing pictures of your special spooky cocktails or pumpkin pies and get more footfalls.
You can also encourage your customers to put their photos and tag your restaurant.
Hashtags are another way to get more reach on social media.
Unique hashtags can be used for contest entries, to enhance brand awareness and boost your online presence.
8. Do email marketing with emailers people will remember for years
Halloween gives you a very good opportunity to design emailers that people will remember for years.
With spooky, eye-catching visuals and uncanny subject lines that pique curiosity, restaurants promote their exclusive Halloween-themed menu previews and offer special discounts to entire customers.
By crafting unforgettable email campaigns that engage your audience, restaurants can forge a robust, lasting bond with customers.
This ensures that customers return year after year to enjoy your amazing food every time.
9. Partner with local businesses to cross promote Halloween specials
Customers love it when you are more involved in the community, especially during the holiday season. You get a fantastic opportunity to team up with local businesses this time of the year. This gives customers the opportunity to try holiday-themed treats.
If you want to infuse Halloween spirit into your restaurant without any major menu overhauls in October, consider a collaboration with a neighboring bakery or catering service.
This partnership can bring a diverse array of Halloween treats for customers, from creatively curated cupcakes to devilishly delicious brownies and other eerily enticing sweets.
It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement that delights your customers while ensuring your restaurant stays in the holiday groove.
10. Give away eco-friendly trick or treating bags to customers
Handing out eco-friendly trick-or-treating bags to your customers is a thoughtful way to spread Halloween joy while being kind to the planet.
These reusable bags, often crafted from sustainable materials, not only make a delightful treat for kids but also promote eco-consciousness.
They can be custom designed with spooky or fun patterns, adding a festive touch to the holiday.
Such giveaways not only boost your restaurant’s reputation as an environmentally responsible business but also create a memorable, eco-friendly Halloween experience for your customers.
11. Get your staff dress up in Halloween costumes
Having your staff don Halloween costumes is a fantastic way to inject a festive and fun atmosphere into your restaurant. This playful twist elevates the dining experience, making it unforgettable for your customers.
When employees dress up as their favorite characters or in spooky outfits, it fosters a lively, engaging ambiance that diners truly enjoy. Plus, it invites them to partake in the Halloween merriment, creating a more immersive dining experience.
Beyond the entertainment, staff costumes bring a unique charm that solidifies your restaurant’s bond with customers, ensuring they come back for more enjoyable Halloween experiences, year after year.
12. Dedicate a menu section for kids
Dedicating a special menu section just for kids is a thoughtful way to enhance the dining experience at your restaurant. This kid-friendly section can feature tasty and fun meals keeping Halloween ingredients in mind.
From smaller portions of popular dishes to creative, child-approved options, it ensures that even the little ones have an enjoyable dining experience.
Additionally, having a dedicated kids’ menu keeps families coming back, as parents appreciate the convenience and variety it offers.
13. Offer a dress up discount
Introducing a dress-up discount is a creative way to add some excitement to your restaurant experience.
This might even prompt some customers to dress up just to get a discount, thus increasing the festive spirit.
Customers not only get to enjoy a discount but also relish the fun of dressing up, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to their visit.
It’s a win-win that enhances customer engagement and satisfaction.
14. Give away a small or unique Halloween menu special with every order
Elevate your Halloween dining experience by offering a little something extra with every order – a small, unique Halloween menu special.
It’s a delightful surprise that adds a touch of spooktacular charm to every meal. Whether it’s a special Halloween-themed dessert, a spooky drink, or a fun side dish, these additions enhance the festive ambiance of your restaurant.
This gesture not only shows your appreciation for your customers but also ensures that each visit to your establishment is a memorable one, making them want to return to your restaurant every time.
Good and delicious food is great, but a memorable experience will surely pull more customers to your restaurant.
15. Play music that gives the Halloween vibes
Set the Halloween mood in your establishment with spine-tingling tunes that set the right tone for Halloween.
Playing music that embodies the mysterious vibes of the holiday instantly adds to the ambiance. From creepy classics to modern haunted melodies, your soundtrack should immerse diners in the Halloween experience.
It’s a subtle yet effective way to create a festive atmosphere, ensuring customers not only savor your food but also enjoy the spooky spirit.
The right music selection can elevate your restaurant’s Halloween appeal, so make sure to create your playlist well in advance.
There are countless ways to make your restaurant a Halloween hotspot.
These unique initiatives not only enhance the dining experience but also foster a sense of community and fun.
With a dash of creativity and a pinch of Halloween spirit, your restaurant can shine this October.
We hope these ideas help you stand out.
If you are by any chance in search of an easy-to-use digital menu board solution or an extensive POS that can help you streamline your restaurant operations, Priority1 POS can be a good fit. Drop us a quick line at sales@priority1-pos.com
Happy haunting!
