Halloween doesn't have to be all tricks. Sometimes, it's just a really good excuse to do something unexpectedly nice for a neighbor.
If you've ever opened your front door in October to discover a mysterious basket of Halloween treats waiting for you, there's a good chance you've been Boo'd!
The idea is simple: put together a small bag or basket of goodies, secretly leave it on someone's doorstep, and invite them to keep the fun going by “Booing” another neighbor.
Part surprise, part neighborhood game, and part excuse to buy entirely too much Halloween candy—we're in.
And to make it ridiculously easy to start, we've created a free You've Been Boo'd printable kit with everything you need.
How does You've Been Boo'd work?
There's really no wrong way to do it, which is part of the fun.
1. Put together a treat basket.
Fill a bag, bucket, or basket with a few Halloween treats, small goodies, or non-candy surprises. It doesn't need to be elaborate or expensive.
2. Choose someone to Boo.
Pick a neighbor, friend, or family member who hasn't already been Boo'd.
3. Deliver it secretly.
Leave your surprise on their doorstep, ring the doorbell if you'd like, and make your getaway before you're spotted. This part becomes considerably more entertaining when children are involved and suddenly believe they're on a covert mission. 😂
4. They display their sign.
Your recipient hangs the included “We've Been Boo'd!” sign on their door or in a window. That lets other neighbors know they've already received a surprise.
5. Keep the fun going.
Now it's their turn to choose someone new and continue spreading a little Halloween joy around the neighborhood.
What should you put in a Boo basket?
This is where you can have some fun, and you absolutely do not need to build a Pinterest-worthy gift basket.
A few inexpensive goodies are plenty. Try Halloween candy, microwave popcorn, glow sticks, stickers, temporary tattoos, pencils, mini activity books, small toys, packaged cookies, or a Halloween cup.
For a family, you could turn it into a movie-night basket with popcorn, candy, hot cocoa, and a favorite Halloween movie suggestion.
Booing an adult? We're fully in favor of abandoning the plastic spider rings and adding coffee, a candle, cozy socks, or another little fall treat instead.
Candy isn't required
You can also create a completely candy-free Boo basket.
Small crafts, coloring supplies, bubbles, books, puzzles, glow necklaces, Halloween socks, or other inexpensive surprises work just as well. If you're unsure about allergies or dietary restrictions in a household, non-food goodies are an easy option.
The point isn't what's inside the basket. It's opening the front door and realizing somebody thought of you.
We made the rest easy
All you need to worry about is the treats because we've taken care of everything else.
Our FREE You've Been Boo'd Kit includes:
- A You've Been Boo'd page
- Simple instructions for keeping the tradition going
- A We've Been Boo'd door/window sign
- Printable Halloween gift tags
- A Halloween neighborhood scavenger hunt
Print the pages you want, put together your surprise, and you're ready to go.
Ready to Boo your neighborhood?
Choose a neighbor, gather a few goodies, and see how far you can get the tradition to spread before Halloween.
And while you're making your secret delivery, bring along the scavenger hunt from the kit and see how many Halloween decorations you can spot along the way.
Because sometimes being a good neighbor can be as simple as leaving a pumpkin full of candy on someone's porch and running away before they catch you. 👻
No tricks, just treats, and happy neighbors!
