Halloween represents a massive revenue opportunity, with holiday-related spending hitting $8 billion annually. Halloween provides great promotional opportunities for your bar or restaurant to excite current customers, attract new diners, and get noticed.
Pre-Halloween Planning (September 1-October 15)
Menu Development Strategy
Themed Food Specials:
Ghost Pizza: Regular margherita pizza with ghost-shaped cheese cutouts
Witches’ Fingers: Long, thin cookies with almonds for fingernails
Mummy Brie: Baked brie cheese wrapped in puff pastry strips
Eyeball Pasta: Spaghetti with half-fried egg “eyes” on top
Brain Jell-O Shots: Use brain-shaped molds for standard shots
Signature Halloween Cocktails:
Bloody Mary Syringes: Served in actual syringes for maximum effect
Black Lemonade: Activated charcoal adds intrigue to classic drinks
Mystery Drinks: Creative cocktails with fake spiders or worms inside
The Spike Trap: Coconut rum and vanilla vodka with ghost marshmallow garnish
Brain Hemorrhage: Layered shot that creates a brain-like appearance
Digital Menu Halloween Transformation
Evergreen’s digital menu platform enables instant Halloween theming:
Spooky Backgrounds: Dark, haunting imagery with Halloween elements
Animated Elements: Floating bats, creeping spiders, or flickering candlelight effects
Color Scheme: Orange and black accents with blood-red highlights
Special Sections: Dedicated “Witches’ Brew” and “Graveyard Snacks” categories
Countdown Timers: Building anticipation for Halloween night specials
Give Halloween-themed names to traditional cocktails that are already on the menu using your digital displays.
Revenue-Driving Halloween Promotions
Costume Contest Integration
Promotion Structure:
Entry fee: $5 (covers first drink discount)
Categories: Scariest, Funniest, Most Creative, Best Couple
Prizes: $100 gift cards, free dinner for two, branded merchandise
Voting: Customer voting via QR codes on digital menus
Digital Menu Integration: Display live voting results and costume contest categories on your digital boards to encourage participation.
Limited-Time Halloween Specials
Adding a dry-ice cocktail is another simple way to enhance an already-existing menu item.
Scarcity Marketing Tactics:
“Witching Hour” Specials: 9-11 PM exclusive drinks
Limited Edition Items: “Only 50 Zombie Brain shots available tonight”
Flash Promotions: Surprise hourly specials announced via digital menus
Seasonal Ingredients: Pumpkin-flavored items available “while supplies last”
Group and Party Packages
Halloween Party Packages:
Small Coven (4-6 people): Appetizer platter + themed cocktails for $89
Monster Squad (8-10 people): Full dinner + drinks + contest entry for $199
Graveyard Gathering (12+ people): Private area + custom menu + decorations
Operational Excellence During Halloween Rush
Staff Training and Preparation
Halloween-Specific Training:
Cocktail preparation for specialty drinks requiring dry ice or special effects
Costume contest management and customer engagement techniques
Digital menu updates for real-time promotion changes
Food safety protocols for themed items and special ingredients
Upselling strategies for Halloween packages and add-ons
Inventory and Supply Management
Special Ingredient Planning:
Dry ice for cocktail effects (coordinate with supplier for Halloween delivery)
Food coloring for themed beverages and dishes
Specialty molds for brain shots and themed appetizers
Decorative elements like fake spiders, plastic eyeballs, and edible glitter
Extra glassware for specialty cocktail presentations
Demand Forecasting: Plan for 150-200% normal volume on Halloween night, with particular emphasis on:
Themed cocktails and shots
Shareable appetizers and party platters
Photo-worthy presentation items
Late-night snacks for extended hours
Marketing Integration and Promotion
Social Media Halloween Campaign
Content Strategy:
Behind-the-scenes cocktail preparation videos
Staff costume reveals and preparation montages
Customer photo contests with Halloween hashtags
Live streaming of costume contest judging
User-generated content featuring themed menu items
Email and Digital Marketing
Campaign Timeline:
October 1: Halloween menu reveal and early bird reservations
October 15: Costume contest announcement and entry details
October 25: Final week promotions and walk-in availability
October 30: Last-chance reminders and party package availability
Advanced Halloween Strategies
Interactive Digital Experiences
Augmented Reality Menu Features: Partner with technology providers to create AR experiences where customers can see Halloween effects when scanning digital menu items with their phones.
Social Media Integration: Display live social media feeds showing customer Halloween photos on digital menu boards to encourage sharing.
Community Partnership Opportunities
Local Business Collaborations:
Partner with costume shops for cross-promotion discounts
Coordinate with local haunted attractions for group packages
Team up with nearby entertainment venues for Halloween crawl events
Collaborate with local charities for Halloween fundraising initiatives
Extended Halloween Revenue
Halloween Weekend Strategy: Extend Halloween celebrations across the entire weekend before October 31st:
Thursday: “Thriller Thursday” with 80s music and themed drinks
Friday: “Fright Night” with horror movie screenings and specialty menu
Saturday: “Satan’s Saturday” with full costume contest and premium packages
Sunday: “Scary Sunday” recovery brunch with hair-of-the-dog Halloween cocktails
Post-Halloween Analysis and 2026 Planning
Performance Metrics to Track
Revenue Indicators:
Total sales compared to previous Halloween and regular October nights
Average order value for Halloween-themed items vs. regular menu
Costume contest participation rates and associated spending
Social media engagement and user-generated content metrics
Customer acquisition cost for Halloween promotions
Operational Metrics:
Staff efficiency during peak Halloween hours
Inventory accuracy and waste percentages for specialty items
Customer service scores and satisfaction ratings
Digital menu engagement and interaction rates
2026 Improvement Planning
Innovation Opportunities:
Augmented reality menu experiences
Advanced digital effects and interactive displays
Expanded themed food offerings based on 2025 performance
Enhanced costume contest with live streaming and voting apps
Strategic partnerships with local entertainment and retail businesses
Ready to create a spooktacular Halloween experience that drives both revenue and customer loyalty? Evergreen’s digital menu platform provides the perfect foundation for Halloween theming, real-time promotions, and interactive customer engagement.
Start your free trial today and discover how easy it is to transform your regular menu into a Halloween sensation that attracts crowds and maximizes seasonal revenue.
