Houston Halloween Freebies and Deals: A Guide to No-Cost Offers and Promotional Treats in 2017

Halloween in Houston offers a variety of promotional opportunities for consumers seeking free food, meals, and entertainment. Based on local reports from the time, several establishments provided specific deals and complimentary items for the holiday, often contingent on costume participation or age eligibility. The following guide details the verified no-cost offers and festive events available to Houston residents and visitors during the 2017 Halloween season.

Food and Beverage Freebies

A significant portion of the Halloween freebies reported in Houston centered on food and beverages, with major chains and local restaurants offering complimentary items to costumed patrons and children.

Chain Restaurant Offers

National and regional chains provided some of the most accessible freebies for the holiday. IHOP offered a specific promotional item for children. According to local reporting, children 12 and under could receive a free scary-face pancake from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Halloween. The pancake was described as being decorated with strawberries, Oreo cookies, whipped topping, and candy corn.

Another major chain, Chili’s, presented a "Boo-rito" for $3. This deal was available to guests in costume, with the option to choose a salad, bowl, or tacos. The offer was limited to one per person. Additionally, Chili’s promoted a "Dollarita" deal for adults, featuring $1 margaritas.

Denny’s also participated in Halloween promotions, allowing kids 13 and under in costume to eat for free on Halloween. This offer was in addition to a general promotion where kids 12 and under could eat free on both the day before and the day of Halloween.

Krispy Kreme offered a straightforward no-purchase-necessary incentive: any customer in costume received one free doughnut at participating locations.

For ice cream enthusiasts, Baskin-Robbins offered a "Celebrate 31" deal, providing regular and kid-sized ice cream scoops for just $1.31. While this deal is available on the 31st of every month, it was highlighted as a fitting Halloween treat.

Local and Independent Restaurant Offers

Local Houston eateries also joined the Halloween spirit with unique offers. Willie’s Grill & Icehouse provided free meals for kids in costume. This offer was valid on Wednesday, October 30, and Thursday, October 31, but required the purchase of an adult meal.

Phat Eatery, a Malaysian restaurant, offered a free order of buttery roti canai with any food purchase per table, provided diners were wearing costumes. This promotion was valid at both the Katy and Woodlands locations on Halloween.

Soma Sushi held an annual Halloween fundraiser from Friday, October 25 to Sunday, October 27. While not entirely free, the event offered special drinks and "treats" with 10% of proceeds going to the Houston Food Bank, and included a photo booth and other festive surprises.

Specialty Treats

For those seeking sweet treats, Cinnaholic, a vegan cinnamon roll chain, sold a Cemetery Box for the season. The box contained four rolls topped with chocolate frosting, pretzels, Oreos, sprinkles, and decorative tombstone toppers.

Houston TX Hot Chicken offered a savory twist on treats with a Spooky Sandwich featuring a black bun and a Halloween pumpkin spice milkshake.

Costume-Based and Age-Specific Incentives

Many Halloween freebies in Houston were tied to specific eligibility criteria, primarily involving costumes and age.

Costume Requirements

Costume participation was a common requirement for securing freebies. The most widespread offer was the free doughnut at Krispy Kreme, available to any customer in costume with no purchase necessary. Similarly, the Chili’s Boo-rito deal was priced at $3 only for guests in costume. Phat Eatery’s free roti canai was also conditional on diners wearing costumes. Willie’s Grill & Icehouse required kids to be in costume to receive their free meal, though an adult purchase was also necessary.

Age-Based Offers

Several deals were specifically designed for children. IHOP’s free scary-face pancake was strictly for children 12 and under. Denny’s offered free meals for kids 13 and under in costume, and also promoted a broader "kids eat free" period for those 12 and under on the days surrounding Halloween. Willie’s Grill & Icehouse’s offer was also for "the kiddos," implying a child-focused promotion.

Festive Events and Activities

Beyond direct food freebies, Houston offered various Halloween-themed events and activities, some of which included complimentary elements or low-cost entry.

The Orange Show and Smither Park

The Orange Show hosted a Halloween event at Smither Park. This event featured expert pumpkin carvers sharing their secrets and tips. Trick-or-treating began at dusk, and the event ran from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendees were encouraged to bring their own pumpkins.

Color Factory

The Color Factory in Upper Kirby hosted a "Trick or Treat Night." This event was described as an immersive art venue where attendees could dress up and collect candy from six trick-or-treat stations. It also featured a "Haunted Hues" experience offering Black Coconut and pumpkin spice vegan ice cream, multi-colored fortune cookies, and other festive sweets. The event took place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 27.

Camp Trick Or Treat

For a more extensive experience, "Camp Trick Or Treat" was an adult summer camp event held in Trinity, Texas, from October 27-30. Free buses were available from Houston, Austin, and Dallas. The event included a costume contest, theme party, haunted movie night, and zombie-themed outdoor escape room games. Activities featured water sports, field games, zip lines, ropes courses, and archery. Accommodations in cabins were available.

Bar and Restaurant Pop-Ups

Various bars and restaurants hosted Halloween-themed pop-ups and parties. The Cursed Cauldron took over the space at Aero Cocktail Co., offering themed cocktails and a witchy, energetic vibe with two-story decorations. Star Sailor hosted several days of events, including "Treehouse of Horror" themed trivia, karaoke, a pop-up market, and a Halloween party. Trash Panda Drinking Club brought back Emo Tiki Night, serving special tiki cocktails in horror movie tiki mugs.

Downtown Houston

Downtown Houston was highlighted as a prime location for Halloween due to its walkability and high density of bars and restaurants. The area offered a diversity of concepts for costumed revelers.

Conclusion

The Halloween season in 2017 provided Houston residents with a diverse range of free and promotional offers. The primary opportunities involved free food items from major chains like IHOP, Denny’s, and Krispy Kreme, often requiring a costume or age eligibility. Local restaurants like Willie’s Grill & Icehouse and Phat Eatery also participated with specific purchase or costume-based offers. Beyond dining, the city offered various festive events, from trick-or-treating at the Color Factory to adult-oriented Halloween parties at local bars and pop-ups. Consumers were able to take advantage of these deals by adhering to specific timeframes and eligibility rules.