Depending on where you get your information from it’s “Spooky Season” right now and has been since Oct. 1 – for some folks.
I started preparing my friends and family right after Labor Day – or pretty much the moment I saw my first Halloween decoration on a store shelf.
Sometimes that also includes the day that Starbucks brings back its seasonal pumpkin spice and fall-themed drinks, Bath & Body Works debuts its fall collection, or whenever the first big display of candy corn is made.
Either way, after last week’s first brief cold front, I’m of the mind that spooky season is definitely in full swing, and am excited to see how everyone handles Halloween this year.
After all, the actual celebration day falls on Tuesday this year and will make it harder for families to get out and get their trick-or-treating done in time for school the next day.
I’m glad to see that the Bay City Main Street Program has brought back “Trick-or-Treat Around the Square” again this year, too.
That fun and family-friendly event is slated for noon until 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, in downtown Bay City and coincides with Market Day this month, too.
I’ve missed the annual event the past few years since it’s always a great way to get colorful photos filled with children of all ages and adults in costume.
Plus, it gives me an excuse to dress up, too!
Another thing I’m looking forward to this year is the return of the McDonald’s “Boo Buckets” again – with one new design this year!
Last year the restaurant chain offered Happy Meals in the spooky pails – they double as a container for trick-or-treat candy.
This was the first time they were made available since 2016.
McDonald’s first sold the decorated plastic buckets in 1986 and has brought them back sporadically since.
This time around there are four different designs: Monster, Skeleton, Mummy, and Vampire - available for the first time since the original buckets came out in 1986.
If you’re like me and have to collect them all, then mark your calendars for Wednesday, Oct. 18, so you’re ready to order them at a moment’s notice!
Now, growing up, I remember having my own spooky pail collection featuring only the green, orange, and white buckets – or the McGoblin, McPunk’n, and McBoo respectively.
This year’s vampiric addition will be a purple bucket and has the same paperboard lid with a sticker activity just like the others.
Happy Meals range from $4-7 so the Boo Bucket is expected to be a similar price; there is no additional cost for the buckets as the typical toy that comes with a Happy Meal is being replaced with the bucket.
You can order them by placing a Happy Meal order either in the restaurant or through the app.
Now the only hard part is trying to score a purple pail before they sell out instead of one of the others I already own!
