When Halloween lands on a Saturday, the sales opportunities don’t have to wait until the sun goes down. From college football and pre-trick-or-treat family dinners to late-night bites and next-day recovery brunch, restaurants have a full weekend to turn spooky season into serious sales.
And pizza? It’s practically made for the occasion. It feeds a crowd, travels well, plays nicely with add-ons, and can be dressed up for just about any daypart. With a little planning, one Halloween menu can work overtime from Thursday kickoff through Sunday brunch.
Terrifying Thursdays & Frightful Fridays
For many, the weekend gets going with thirsty Thursday nights. Throw in a pro football game, and there's even more reason to celebrate Thursday. Crank up the all-hallows spirit with a football costume contest — guests can come dressed as their fave football zombies, regardless of team! — while you feature a DJ mixing tunes or some live patio music. Whatever works for your concept, make sure the public knows Halloween starts at your place on Thursday night.
And keep the party going all day Friday! (Don't scare their bosses, but) people are likely taking this particular Friday off. Offer up a Boo Brunch, made extra special with Fri-date specials for couples. Encourage guests to post brunchy pics with their boo on social.
Next, level up with Friday Family deals for parents that might feel too stressed to order carryout on Saturday with all the activities going on but would love to be able to serve up leftovers to their own hungry trick-or-treaters. Finally, bring the DJ back for a little Fright Night Friday revelry if you have the space to par-tay!
Kickoff the Morning
Halloween isn't the only thing scoring on Saturday — it's college football day baby. Instead of waiting for the dinner rush, start the festivities as early as 10 a.m. to promote gameday specials on pitchers of mimosas, breakfast pizzas, and sides while setting those TVs up for the big games.
You could even incorporate a fun crossover promotion — like a "trick-or-treat" drawing every time a touchdown is scored. It keeps crowds engaged while giving servers a chance to suggest another round of drinks or apps.
Early Bird Gets the Candy
As football gives way to trick-or-treating, convenience becomes the name of the game. Families have costumes to wrangle, candy bowls to fill, and places to be, so dinner needs to be one less thing to think about.
Since many communities hold trick-or-treating before dark, think about plugging a dinner special that starts as early as 4:00 p.m., so families can feed their troops before the big event. Include your famous apps, drinks, and maybe even a dessert pie with gummy worms and candy eyeballs for the full package.
A bundle deal offers convenience, fewer decisions busy parents need to make, and the opportunity for you to sell items you might not have if they had been a la carte. For the families staying home to hand out candy, it’s an easy dinner that keeps them out of the kitchen and close to the front door.
Dress Up Food, Dress Up Profits
Your guests aren’t the only ones who can wear costumes. Feature a Halloween-themed, kid-friendly appetizer option, that's a no brainer add-on, like Mummified Mozzarella Breadsticks. Use Roma® Specialty Doughballs (go for garlic to keep the vampires away!) or Ultimo!® Doughballs for easy kitchen prep. Cut and roll into breadsticks, then drape with Roma Fresh Mozzarella Logs cut into "bandages". Finish off with tiny black olives for eyes and serve with Roma Marinara Cups for easy dipping, and you're on your way to higher ticket prices.
Get in the Spirit
Offer special treat bags to diners who dress up for the occasion. Include candy and swag, like West Creek® Assorted Candies, but also a coupon for them to come back another time or coupons for a percentage off your merch.
For families dining in, offer an option for kids to build their own monster pizza using 7-inch self-rising par-baked pizza crusts from Ultimo! Just present a couple sauce options and simple sliced toppings for photo-worthy pizzas that will keep kids occupied and parents happy.
Start with a heap of the meltiest Bacio® Cheese, sliced meats cut into triangles for teeth, sausage for a nose, and Roma Cup-N-Char Pepperoni eyes for the crispiest, most delicious monsters of the season. Not only are the kids getting fed, but they're getting a full-on, memorable family experience — something parents will want to jump on for sure.
Bring It Back Home with Brunch
Halloween may technically end at midnight, but the opportunity doesn’t. Bring patrons back Sunday morning with a breakfast pizza and mimosa brunch for those recovering from the previous night's party.
Turn the football back on and serve your menu buffet style, so diners can have a sampling of whatever they'd like, and you can clear out a variety of toppings from your shelves with a variety of pizzas. Try Perfectly Southern® Country Sausage Gravy as the base, and top with scrambled eggs, bacon, and cheddar. Or, go south of the border with a huevos rancheros pizza, layering refried beans, chorizo, eggs, and salsa.
The key strategy this Halloween weekend is to take advantage of an entire weekend's worth of specials — and the cross-promotion between two beloved American pastimes — to maximize your revenue.