Running Out of Candy on Halloween Night - Creative Ways to Handle It

The Dilemma of Running Out of Candy on Halloween

Halloween is one of the most beloved holidays, especially for kids. They look forward to dressing up in creative costumes and going door to door in their neighborhoods saying “Trick or treat!” in hopes of scoring tasty candy. As a homeowner, you want to be prepared for the swarms of little ghosts, superheroes, and princesses that will soon be at your doorstep. However, no matter how much candy you buy, there’s always a chance you could run out before the end of the night. This leaves you with an uncomfortable situation trying to turn away disappointed children with the dreaded phrase “Sorry, I’m out of candy.”

The Popularity of Trick or Treating

Trick or treating has been a Halloween tradition for centuries. It originated in medieval times as “souling” where the poor would go door to door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for food. Over time it evolved into modern day trick or treating. It’s estimated that over 40 million children aged 5-14 go trick or treating every year in the United States. That’s a lot of witches, superheroes, and ghosts expecting treats!

Halloween is the second biggest commercial holiday after Christmas. Americans spend over $2.5 billion annually on Halloween candy alone. The most popular treats handed out are chocolate candy bars, lollipops, gummy bears, and candy corns. Homeowners want to have plenty on hand for the streams of eager trick or treaters.

Trying to Estimate How Much Candy to Buy

Estimating how much candy to purchase for Halloween is part science and part guesswork. Looking at numbers from past years can give you a baseline. Take notes on how many trick or treaters you had last Halloween and how quickly you ran out of treats. This will help you gauge if you need a little more or less.

There are some simple guidelines you can follow if you’re new to handing out candy:

• Plan for 5-10 pieces of candy per child
• Expect 40 or more trick or treaters if you live in a bustling neighborhood
• Add extra if your house is elaborate, popular, or known for handing out full-size bars
• Have at least 200-300 pieces just to be safe

Buying in bulk bags at wholesale stores like Costco a week or two before Halloween helps maximize savings on large quantities. You want enough variety to please different tastes. Having the most popular name-brand candies when possible prevents disappointment. Kids do notice quality!

Running Low at the Wrong Time

Despite your meticulous planning and candy buying, you look at your stash an hour into trick or treating and realize you badly miscalculated how fast your treats would disappear. You see groups of kids heading your way but your bowl is nearly empty. What do you do?

You don’t want to disappoint dozens of adorable kids in creative costumes who got all excited seeing your house. But you also realistically can’t afford to keep giving out candy you don’t have. It’s a tricky situation many homeowners find themselves in.

Depending on how early in the night it is, you may have some options if you act fast:

• Quickly drive to the nearest store to replenish candy supplies
• Supplement with backup bags of snacks like pretzels or chips
• Apologize and gently explain you’re all out for the night
• Promise kids who come later they’ll be first next year

If it's past 8:30pm or so however, you may just have to reluctantly close up shop for the night. You can soften the blow and avoid making kids upset by thanking them for coming and wishing them well as they head back out into the night. They’ll appreciate your polite honesty.

Strategies to Avoid Running Out Next Year

Once the night is over, it’s smart to reflect on what went well and what you can improve on for next Halloween. Here are some tips to avoid running out of candy prematurely again:

• Look at how much candy you bought versus how fast you ran out - and adjust up or down accordingly for next year
• If you buy the same amount, get extra bags so you can replenish if needed
• Mix in non-candy items like stickers, pencils or temporary tattoos in case you run low on sweets
• Consider pre-packing treat bags or setting up a candy bowl on the porch so you don't over-give out precious candy
• Buy extra bags in the days leading up to Halloween once you have a feel for the weather and neighborhood excitement level

Taking notes and tweaking your plan year to year will eventually result in buying the perfect Halloween candy amount. You’ll be able to handle all the witches, superheroes and ghosts with no worries or empty candy bowl panics.

Being Creative When You Run Out of Candy

Uh oh. That last mini Snickers bar has been snatched up and you still see a steady stream of kids marching up your sidewalk. Now what? Running out of Halloween candy before the trick or treating is over poses a dilemma. You don’t want to disappoint all those adorable kids in creative costumes who got excited seeing your house. At the same time, you likely can’t afford to keep giving away candy you don’t have. It’s a situation many well-meaning homeowners find themselves in every Halloween.

Depending on variables like what time it is or if you live near a store, you may have some options to save the rest of the night:

• Quickly drive to replenish candy supplies from a nearby gas station or pharmacy
• Supplement with backup items like juice boxes, granola bars, or pretzels
• Get creative by letting kids take their pick from a bowl of Halloween themed stickers, pencils or temporary tattoos
• Apologize politely and explain you ran out but hope they had fun trick or treating

However if it’s late and stores are closed, you may just need to call it quits for the night. As long as you handle it graciously, most kids will understand.

Getting Creative with Non-Candy Treats

Handing out something fun besides candy when you run low is a creative way to pivot. Kids appreciate the variety. You can find some great non-candy treats at Target, Oriental Trading Company and other party supply stores. Here are some crowd-pleasing ideas:

• Glow sticks
• Halloween pencils, erasers or temporary tattoos
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Mini playdough containers
• Halloween-themed bookmarks
• Ring pops
• Mini boxes of raisins
• Vampire fangs
• Spider rings

Get creative and think fun rather than just focusing on candy. Kids will appreciate the uniqueness of getting something different and you’ll still make their Halloween magical.

Being Honest Yet Positive

When all else fails and you truly have nothing left to give out, honesty is the best policy. Politely explain to the remaining trick or treaters that you ran out of candy but wish them the happiest rest of Halloween. Your kindness and sincerity will go a long way, even if you can’t give them a treat. Here are some positive ways to handle the situation:

• Thank them for stopping by and compliment their costumes
• Apologize for running out but let them know they were one of the first houses you visited
• Tell them you hope they had a great time and collected lots of candy
• Promise them they'll be first in line for treats next year
• If it's late, remind them to get home safely

Kids will appreciate your polite explanation and upbeat attitude, even if they're bummed you don't have anything for them. Wishing them well goes a long way and they'll remember your house fondly for next Halloween.

Creative Ways to Avoid Running Out of Candy Next Halloween

Uh oh, your Halloween candy stash is dangerously low and you still see groups of kids making their way up your sidewalk. After the flurry of early trick or treaters, you realize you drastically underestimated how many treats you would need. Now you're reluctantly turning away disappointed princesses, superheroes and ghosts with the dreaded phrase “Sorry, I ran out of candy.” Avoid finding yourself in that stressful situation next year with these creative solutions.

Buy in Bulk Earlier

First, buy more bulk candy earlier from wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. Buying candy bags in early October versus a day or two before Halloween ensures you’ll get the best selection at the lowest prices. While it may seem excessive to buy hundreds of pieces, you want more than enough on hand.

Have Backup Treats Ready

Second, have backup non-candy treats ready to supplement once your candy stash starts running low. Fun mini toys like temporary tattoos, glow sticks, and spider rings keep kids happy. You can also hand out pre-packaged snacks like popcorn, pretzels, crackers or raisins. It’s a creative way to stretch your treats longer.

Set Up a Self-Serve Station

Third, set up a self-serve station so kids can take just a couple pieces themselves. Position a few bowls on a table at the edge of your driveway or sidewalk. Have signage letting kids know to just take 1-2 pieces. This prevents you from over-giving early in the night or needing to replenish bowls.

Plan for More Kids

Fourth, plan for added trick or treaters. Check if your neighborhood press, NextDoor or social media sites mention expecting record numbers. Factor that into how much candy you buy. Also consider if Halloween falls on a weekend or optimal weather is forecasted which draws bigger crowds.

Buy Backup Bags

Fifth, buy a few extra backup bags of candy to have on hand in case you start running low. Don’t open them unless needed. You can easily return unopened surplus candy the day after Halloween. Having an emergency stash prevents you from running out too early.

With the right preparation, you can handle hundreds of ghosts, superheroes and witches without panicking. Use these creative tips so you’ll never need to turn kids away on Halloween with the disappointing news that you’re out of treats.

FAQs

How much candy should I buy for Halloween trick-or-treating?

Plan for 5-10 pieces of candy per expected trick-or-treater. In busy neighborhoods, expect at least 40 or more. Buy 200-300 pieces to be safe. Purchase extra bags in the days leading up to Halloween to replenish if needed.

What should I do if I run out of candy before Halloween is over?

Quickly drive to the nearest store to buy more candy if possible. Have backup non-candy treats ready like stickers, temporary tattoos or juice boxes. If it's late, politely explain to kids you ran out and wish them a happy rest of their night.

What are some good non-candy treats to hand out?

Fun non-candy treats include glow sticks, Halloween pencils, temporary tattoos, bubbles, spider rings, vampire fangs, stickers, Halloween bookmarks, and raisins or pretzels. Get creative!

How can I avoid running out of candy next year?

Buy extra candy earlier at bulk stores. Have backup non-candy treats ready to supplement. Set up a self-serve candy station. Plan for more trick-or-treaters than last year. Buy a few extra bags to have on hand in case you start running low.

What should I say if I completely run out of treats?

Politely apologize for running out and thank kids for coming by. Wish them a happy rest of their night and remind them to get home safely. Promise them they'll be first in line for treats next year!