The evolution of McDonald's Halloween Buckets

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 McDonald's first introduced their iconic Halloween "Boo" buckets in 1986.  Happy Meal's were served inside the bucket the bucket was considered the 'toy' in the Happy Meal.  I recall as a child, being outraged at no toy, as a simple bucket to me was dissatisfying.  And a small one at that, definitely too small for trick or treating. 

The Halloween buckets first debuted in 1986 - and featured three orange pumpkin designs all with differing facial features. The buckets were all orange and black in color. In following years, the options upgraded to a pumpkin, ghost and witch.  There was a point in time, however, when they buckets were not any of these - and showed Ronald McDonald and the other Mcds characters in various Halloween hijinx.

The buckets disappeared for a few years into the 1990's but returned most recently in the last 4 years - as nostalgia seems to be a big selling point for McDonald's consumers. 

Comparatively speaking,  the original Halloween buckets were much larger, and contained lids, although still not big enough to adequately hold a good candy haul. The 'lids' in more recent years were replaced by sticker sheets you can use to decorate your bucket if you like. Lots of people are, understandably so, upset by the lack of lids. 

 

Original pumpkin buckets from 1986 tv advertisement

The buckets appeared first, in 1986, but didn't return again the following year.  In 1989, the buckets received a character upgrade and featured pumpkin, ghost and witch designs. 

The older buckets are now collectors items and are being sold on eBay at high price points.  Even the new buckets are being sold out at some McDonald's locations faster than supply can bring them in. 

1989 MCdonalds Witch Halloween Bucket

1989 Mcdonalds Halloween Buckets

The pails returned again in 1990.  In 1991, however, they were replaced with "Mcboo Bags." 

Mcdonalds replaced buckets with bags in 1991

To be fair, the bags did glow in the dark, and the happy meals did come with toys. The toys were from a fun tv show; GraveDale High.  Gravedale High premiered as a Saturday Morning cartoon on NBC in 1990 and lasted a mere 13 episodes.  

Thankfully, the buckets returned in 1992, featuring cookie cutter lids.

1992 version of Mcdonalds Halloween Pails featured a cookie cutter lid

In 1993, the pails were replaced by Mcnugget Buddies. 

In 1994, the buckets made their final appearance and wouldn't be seen again until 1999.

The pails made a lackluster return then, but featured only two designs, and no faces.  Instead, they had scenes on them showing the McDonald's characters in various states of fright.  The buckets also had no lids.

After 2001 - the buckets again disappeared for nearly a decade.  Only returning again in 2010.  This was a wobbly time for the buckets as they were themed around popular movies at the time.  No more did they feature our beloved pumpkin, ghost and witch faces.  In fact, they were hardly Halloween at all.  In 2016, the buckets reign ended, with The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown as the theme.

The buckets finally returned most recently in the last three years.  Although smaller, and without lids, they still deliver the nostalgia hit that we all crave.

Do you remember any of these buckets from your childhood?  Which ones did I miss?  Did you actually trick or treat with these tiny buckets? 










Research for this article was obtained from various resources including:
DreadCentral

Ebay.com

GraveDale High