A Smart Halloween Marketing Checklist for Bars, Cafés & Restaurants

 October isn’t just costumes and candy.

For cafés, bars, and restaurants, Halloween is a chance to turn your place into the go-to spot in town.

But while everyone else is putting up plastic skeletons, you can take smarter steps that actually put bums on seats and money in the till.

Here’s your checklist to dominate Halloween 2025.

Why Focus on Halloween?

• Seasonal events make people actively search for “where to go.” If you’re not visible, you’re invisible.

• Limited-time menus and offers let you charge a premium without backlash.

• Your competitors usually stop at decorations — meaning you can leapfrog them with a few smarter moves.

Halloween Marketing Domination Checklist

1️⃣ Update Your Google Business Profile – Add your Halloween specials, themed events, and photos directly to your profile. People searching “Halloween cocktails near me” or “pumpkin spice latte [your city]” will see you first.

2️⃣ Add a Seasonal Menu Tab Online – Even if it’s just a PDF on your website, having a “Halloween Menu” page helps you rank locally and gives customers something to share.

3️⃣ Change Your Wi-Fi Name for the Month – Rename it to “FreePumpkinSpiceWiFi” or “Witch’s Brew WiFi.” It gets a laugh, people remember you, and it’s a free branding touchpoint.

4️⃣ Tease on Social Early – Start posting sneak peeks of drinks, décor, or events in mid-September (or right now). The early bird gets the bookings.

5️⃣ Create a Signature Photo Moment – A small corner with a pumpkin wall, neon sign, or quirky prop (like a coffin-shaped chair) gets guests posting. That’s free advertising.

6️⃣ Play the Playlist Card – Don’t just stick on “Monster Mash.” Curate a Halloween playlist and drop a Spotify QR code on menus. Guests take it home = brand recall.

7️⃣ Use Time-Limited Booking Perks – “Book before Oct 15 and get a free spooky cocktail.” This locks in covers early and reduces no-shows.

8️⃣ Partner Locally – Work with a local costume shop, tattoo studio, or escape room. Swap discounts or flyers so you tap into each other’s audience.

9️⃣ Highlight Dietary Options – A vegan “bloody beet burger” or gluten-free “spooky brownie” makes you stand out in Google searches (people DO look for this).

1️⃣0️⃣ Collect Data While It’s Busy – Run a “Win a free meal in November” raffle for anyone who drops their email on Halloween night. That’s your list for future promos.

1️⃣1️⃣ Reply Fast to Reviews – Loads of seasonal visitors = reviews flood in. Respond the next day (even to negatives). Quick replies signal you’re on top of things, boosting trust.

1️⃣2️⃣ Put It On AWOL – if you truly want to attract a new audience, make sure you put an offer out on AWOL's application to start attracting our fun-loving users.

The Vibe

Halloween is about energy, fun, and a bit of theatre. Customers don’t expect you to go Hollywood — they want a place that feels alive, different, and worth talking about. With just a few clever touches, you’ll be the venue they recommend, not the one they forget.

Wrap-Up

Halloween is a gift to the hospitality industry if you use it correctly...and it's perfect for testing ideas that can also roll into Christmas. Don’t just decorate. Dominate.

👉 Pick at least three items from this checklist and put them into play today. You’ll be ahead of 90% of the competition.

Got any more tips on Halloween restaurant marketing, café Halloween ideas, bar Halloween promotions? LET US KNOW!!! info@awolapp.com