McDonald's Returns To The 1980s With Halloween Pail Relaunch

CHICAGO – If the Halloween season doesn’t conjure up memories of childhood for a generation of trick-or-treaters who may be too old to go door-to-door anymore, McDonald’s is making sure that current candy seekers have a taste of the past to collect their sugared treasures in this year.

The fast-food giant on Thursday announced that it will bring back its Halloween pails, which were first introduced in 1986. The three colorful pails — each of which comes with its own names, McBoo, McPunk’n and McGoblin — will be making a return starting on Oct. 18, McDonald's announced in a news release.

Each of the plastic pails can double as a candy collection vessel for Halloween, but will first be filled with a Happy Meal. The pails will be offered by McDonald’s through Oct. 31, the fast-food retailer said. The announcement comes on the heels of McDonald’s recently announcing they would be releasing adult-themed Happy Meals that include a figurine made for grown-ups.

"They may have vanished for a while... but that didn’t stop you from finding clever ways to keep their spooky spirit alive — from potting plants in them to using them as OOTD accessories," McDonald’s said in a news release. :So, in honor of the return of one of your fave Happy Meals, we’re serving up five fan-inspired ways to reuse your Halloween Pail after you’ve enjoyed the delicious eats inside.: