Halloween free meals, discounts, deals and special promotions for kids and adults.  Save money with all the best free Halloween goodies to help your family celebrate.

Costume Military Discounts

HalloweenCostumes.com
HalloweenCostumes.com offers a military discount to all personnel with a valid military email address. Save $10 off $50 on costumes, accessories, and everything else.

SpiritHalloween.com
Offers a 10% military discount in stores. Simply show your ID at checkout. Also, get 20% off of 1 item at Spirit Halloween with promo code 18SPIRITA. Ends November 1.

Wholesale Halloween Costumes
All active and inactive members of the United States Military, and their families, get a special 10% discount on all items.

Crafts & DIY Supplies Military Discounts

A.C. Moore
Getting crafty? Save 15% on your entire purchase on regular and sale price items when you present a valid military ID so you can get everything you need for creating all your Halloween crafts and costumes.

Home Depot
Get a 10% military discount at Home Depot when you show your military ID and get everything you need for your Halloween projects. Home Depot carries a variety of Halloween-themed lawn decorations plus all the supplies for your DIYs.

Jo-Ann Fabrics
For your DIY costumes, sign up as a military member through Joann’s Rewards program and receive 15% off your purchase. Show your ID to a member in store for more information on how to enroll.

Lowe’s 
Build the best Haunted House in the neighborhood with Lowe’s 10% military discount. All active and retired military members and immediate family members are eligible.

Michael’s
Stock up on Halloween decorations and everything you need for creating your own costumes and decor with Michael’s every day 15% off military discount. Offer is valid in store only with a valid military ID card.

Sherwin Williams
Save 15% on your purchases with Sherwin Williams’ every day military discount and get all your paints, stains, and supplies to create your spookiest Halloween scene. A valid ID is required and all active and retired military, reservists, and spouses are eligible.

2019 Restaurants with Halloween Free Meals & Deals

We will update 2019 as the day gets closer and offers are announced. Below are last years offers many of which are repeated.

2018 Restaurants with Halloween Free Meals & Deals

We will update 2018 as the day gets closer and offers are announced. Below are last years offers many of which are repeated.

Applebee’s
Trick-or-treat yourself to this electric-blue-colored drink topped with a gummy brain for just $1 during the month of October.

Baskin-Robbins
Celebrate 31 with discounted scoops on Wednesday, 10/31/18. The offer varies in Houston TX, Fresno CA, San Jose CA, and Detroit, MI.

Bass Pro Shops Halloween Events
Great Pumpkin Celebration free event on Saturday & Sunday, October 21-22 & October 28-29 (NOON-5pm) | Friday, October 26, Monday, October 29, & Tuesday, October 30 (5-7pm) | Halloween Night Only, October 31 (4-8pm).

Bertucci’s
Halloween Specials for party packages in October that include 2 party pizzas and a salad for $39.99 and 5 party pizzas and salad for $79.99.

Boston Market
Coupon for a discount on a Family Meal through Wednesday, October 31, 2018. If ordering online use promo code 33714.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Free kids meal with an order of adult entree with a limit of one per table.

Cheesecake Factory
Monday, October 29, through Wednesday, October 31, guests can receive a free slice of The Cheesecake Factory’s  Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake or Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cheesecake with their delivery order of $30 or more through DoorDash by using promo code “TREATORTREAT” at checkout.

Chipotle Boorito
Just go to any Chipotle in costume from 3pm to close, and you’ll get a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos for only $4. You can also use code BOORITO in their app for this offer.

Chuck E Cheese’s
Come in costume during the month of October and get 50 free tickets.

DAVIDsTEA
Decked out in costume for Halloween? Stop by a store on Oct. 31 for a free tea of the day!

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Guests can purchase a Family Pack with $5 off at participating Dickey’s locations in-store on October 31st.

Dunkin’ Donuts
Guests can support “Community Cups” which is the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins through October 31 with a $1 donation. Participants will receive a special coupon that can be redeemed for $1 off the purchase of a dozen donuts, which expires December 31, 2018.

IHOP Free Scary Face Pancakes
Trick or treat, give kids something free to eat this Halloween! On Wednesday, October 31st, from 7:00AM-10:00PM, all kids 12 and under receive a free Scary Face Pancake! One per child. Dine in only. Available at participating restaurants.

Joe’s Crab Shack
Kids 13 and under get a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée dine-in only with the coupon.

Krispy Kreme Free Doughnut
On October 31st, come in in your costume and get one free doughnut of your choice at any participating Krispy Kreme US and Canadian location.

McAlister’s Deli
On Halloween, kids 12 and under in costume receive a free kids meal at participating locations for up to two kids meal with purchase of an adult entrée. Beverage not included and dine-in only.

McCormick & Schmick’s 
Order a $1 Shrimp & Shuck special on Halloween that starts at 5 pm in the bar and lounge area.

Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub
Kids eat free all day long on Halloween–with or without a costume with a purchase of an adult entrée. This offer is available all day.

Outback Steakhouse
Locations have different offers from kids activities to free candy, drinks and desserts. Please contact your nearest restaurant for further detail and reservations.

PF Chang’s 
20% off takeout orders with a promo code good today through Thursday, November 1, 2018 with promo code “20TOGO” when you order online or reference the promo code when ordering by phone.

Shakey’s Pizza
Treat yourself to a 15” large thin-crust pepperoni pizza for just $10.99 plus tax only on October 31, 2018. Limit 10 and not valid with any other discounts or fundraisers.

Sonic Drive-In
Corn dogs are 50 cents each all-day Wednesday at participating locations.

Texas Steakhouse & Saloon
Kids in costume eat free from the kids menu October 29-31 with each adult entree purchase.

Tijuana Flats
Dress up as a Tijuana Flats menu item through Wednesday, October 31st, tag us and share your costume with #HalloFlats for your chance to win $50 in Flats Cash. The will be announced Thursday, November 1st.

Wendy’s
Purchase Boo Books and you’ll receive 5 coupons for a free Jr. Frosty for only $1. Proceeds from your purchase are donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

The Disney Store and DisneyStore.com offer a 25% off Friends and Family promotion several times a year. Typically these promotions occur in July, during the holiday season in November and sporadic times throughout the year.

Black Friday sales at Shop Disney is now.

The Disney store will also be having Cyber Monday promotions.

We will update once the Disney Friends and Family promotion is back on.

How the Disney Promotion works:

1. A coupon can be found online.

2. The coupon can be redeemed by Friends and Family at any Disney Store in North America or apply the coupon promo code DISNEYPAL to online purchases at DisneyStore.com*.

3. Online the promotion is applied, if eligible and will be applied at checkout.

4. Don’t forget to share this deal with friends and family.

See coupon for complete guidelines.

Disney Promo Code for DisneyStore.com*: DISNEYPAL

Previous Disney Friends & Family Promotions

• February 14, 2019 (12:01 am PST) through February 18, 2019 (11:59 pm PST)
• July 12, 2018 (12:01 am PST) through July 16, 2018 (11:59 pm PST)
• February 15, 2018 (12:01 am PST) through February 19, 2018 (11:59 pm PST)
• November 9, 2017 (12:01 am PST) through November 12, 2017 (11:59 pm PST)

Here’s how to redeem your 25% Off Friends & Family Promotion:

1. Place at least one eligible item into your Bag
2. Type the Promotion Code DISNEYPAL into the Add Promotion Code area.
3. The promotion will be applied, if eligible
4. Continue shopping or begin Checkout.

Are you a newbie or an old pro at using the Exchange? Either way, you’ll learn a few extra ways to save money and utilize all the benefits that it has to offer. The Military Exchange is a retail mega store, similar to a strip mall, that offers the brands and products that you would find in department stores or malls, all in one convenient (and cheaper) location. While other services are included in the Exchange, often times there will be a uniform shop, food court, and specialty shops, as well as an online military exchange.

Who can use the Exchange?

Active-duty, retired personnel, National Guard members, Medal of Honor recipients, honorably discharged veterans, authorized family members and any military member of foreign nations are allowed to use the Exchange. The Exchange is available on most bases and online.

Effective January 1, 2020, the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the pool of eligible exchange, commissary shoppers to include all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and primary veteran caregivers. The benefit will also extend to MWR “revenue generating facilities.

At shopmyexchange.com has daily specials and shows the current savings and offers. The convenience of online shopping is matched only by using a Military Star Card for your purchases. Military Star promotions, specials and weekly ads, daily deals, and limited promotions are a few of excellent perks that shopping online offers. No matter where you are, the Exchange is available for you.

Military Star Card

One of the biggest benefits of the exchange is the Military Star Card. The card allows any reservists, retired or active duty service member to make purchases from the Exchange tax, overage, late, and annual fee free. When you sign up for the card, you receive a 10% discount on your first purchase, which is perfect for new service members that need to buy thousands of dollars’ worth of gear their first day at a new assignment. The Star Card can be used at the Marine Corps, Navy or Coast Guard Exchanges as well as AAFES.

When using a Star Card, you receive gift cards for the Exchange, restaurants, entertainment and travel. You also get 2% cash back rewards at Express Fuel Stations, MilExch.com, the Exchange, the commissary and MWR Merchants. When you acquire $20 you can start to transfer your funds for use. One of the biggest benefits is to those who live outside of the United States, doing business abroad, or traveling. There are no foreign transaction fees which can save a lot of money. The Armed Services save a lot of money themselves when you use your card. Millions of dollars in processing fees are saved by not paying their competitors. This revenue is put to better use in the morale, welfare and recreation programs.

What are the Exchange options?

More than 2,400 facilities are operated by the Army and Air Force Exchange in over 30 foreign countries. If you are eligible to shop at one Exchange you are allowed to visit them all, as long as you have the proper ID. Each branch has their own name, they are:

• All Services Exchange Online Store
• Army & Air Force Exchange (AAFES) – aka “The Exchange”
• Coast Guard Exchange (CGX)
• Marine Corps Exchange (MCX)
• Navy Exchange (NEXCOM)
• Veterans Canteen Service

Savings and services

The main goal of the Exchange is to offer a variety of service, both home and abroad, to the service men and women working hard for our country, along with their families that work just as hard to support them. Prices at the Exchange are generally cheaper than anywhere else and the convenience of centralized shopping makes getting everything you need for any occasion a breeze. There is no sales tax which ensures that you are paying for quality with your money, not all of the extra tax associated with the items you’re wanting. If the Exchange doesn’t have the lowest price, they are happy to ad match with any business that sells it cheaper in town. Fine jewelry and gasoline are excluded for ad matching.

Most Exchanges have a uniform shop for all uniform needs. There will be someone that can help you navigate all the pins and bars that you or your soldier will need. All major credit cards along with the Star Card making shopping online in one spot a safer alternative to putting all your information into various sites. Dry cleaning services are offered on base, with a specialty in military uniform care, can be a great way to get your dress uniforms in tip top shape with no worrying about mistakes. Calling cards can also be purchased for a discounted price to family members that have a soldier that is stationed overseas, helping to ease the burden of high priced minutes.

Along with saving the military community immense time and money, they also give back to the community. The Exchange provides funds for installation activities and employment for the military family members. The MWR activities that are utilized by thousands of soldiers and their families are reason enough to take your business to the Exchange. Even without knowing it, you have probably benefited from the profits of the Exchange. Have you ever gone bowling, watched a movie, or used the gym on base? If so, thank the Exchange for providing the funding for the entertainment that we have all grown to love.

Have you ever considered using your local commissary or are you an old pro with on base shopping? No matter what your shopper status you will soon learn how to use the commissary and how to save money doing it. Commissaries are a military installations grocery store, essentially. You can buy groceries and other household items, often at a reduced price. Commissaries worldwide are operated by the Defense Commissary Agency. The United States Armed Forces have been shopping in commissaries since 1867, and the benefits have only gotten better. The items are sold at cost with a 5% surcharge that benefits new and updated commissaries. It is estimated that a savings of 30% can be achieved over the local options in any given shopping trip.

Who can shop at commissaries?

• Medal of Honor recipients
• Retired uniformed personnel
• Any uniformed personnel
• DoD civilian employees overseas
• Authorized family members
• 100% disabled veterans
• All disabled veterans (Eligible Jan. 1, 2020)
• Primary Veteran Caregivers (Eligible Jan. 1, 2020)
• Purple Heart Recipients (Eligible Jan. 1, 2020)
• Former Prisoners of War (Eligible Jan. 1, 2020)

Effective January 1, 2020, the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the pool of eligible exchange, commissary shoppers to include all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and primary veteran caregivers. The benefit will also extend to MWR “revenue generating facilities.

Reserve and National Guard families can also partake in some of the commissary benefits. If there is a host commissary with units that have at least 150 members and offers certain items to them at a sale price. Certain commissaries allow products to be pre-ordered and shipped to the site, however, unless you live close to a commissary it’s not really worth the hassle. If you want to take advantage of military shopping discounts when you’re nowhere near a base, try the Exchange online. The Exchange is the department store on base. Like the commissary, the Exchange is meant to be an extension of the benefits offered to the soldiers and their families. Both facilities offer discounted goods and services to all those with a valid military ID.

Currently veterans cannot shop at commissaries (they can at the Exchanges) but the DoD is currently considering allowing veterans to shop the commissaries.

What is it and how does it work?

The commissary is just like any other grocery store with the exception of its location. You need your military ID to be eligible to shop but other than that, there is nothing special that you need to do to receive your benefits. Commissaries are incredibly convenient, not only for their ability to help you stay on a tight budget, but as an alternative to leaving base and seeking out a commercial store in a new area. If you choose to consistently shop at your local commissary, the savings will add up to approximately $4,500 for a family of four over the course of the year, and it’s closer to home! The stores are operated as a part of the military incentive package, not for their own profit, this insures that they will often have the cheapest prices and the best quality around (and in my opinion as a military wife, most of the time meat at the commissary will beat the taste and price of any butcher you can find.) The biggest selling point for commissaries, at least the ones that are operated overseas, would be that they offer the soldiers and family a “bit of home,” away from home. They offer familiar products and familiar faces at a time when everything can be a bit foreign. Service members and their families can enjoy tax free shopping, exclusive access, payment options, basic uniform floor plan so you can find everything you need anywhere you go and priority checkout for those in uniform. Shopping in a commissary can provide a sense of comfort when you are in a new place. While most places that you will be stationed will be perfectly safe, but at others you may not want to venture to far from home. Being surrounded by familiar uniforms, accents and products will make the transition to a new place as easy as possible. The floor plan of every commissary is basically the same so you should be able to find the items you easily.

Tips for stretching your dollar

1. Use coupons whenever possible.
2. Buy food that is in season, it is often cheaper since it is easier to come by.
3. Look for the signs, the “Savings You’ve Earned” signs in the commissary, they’ll alert you to unadvertised sales.
4. Get in the loop – sign up for the commissary newsletter and they will send you links to savings, contests and more.
5. Wait for sales and use your coupons according to the sale of the week

The best piece of advice that I can give you is to watch the sales. Things go on sale approximately every 12 weeks. When you watch the sales, shop at the commissary, ad match and use coupons, you are doing everything in your power to save the most on your families grocery needs. You will also be saving on time and gas by shopping on your home base. Another helpful suggestion would be to join a “Fort/Base/Army/Navy/Air force etc. Wives,” group on Facebook. Insert your fort and you are sure to get a few groups around your area. While some of these groups are just drama filled cat fights, some people actually use them to let each other know about the deals that are going on at the commissary. If you want to be in the know, join a group of spouses that will gladly brag about the excellent price they got while shopping at your local commissary.

Commissary’s Scholarships for Military Children Program

The Scholarships for Military Children Program is what the name implies a scholarship for military children or about 700 to be exact at $2,000 each. There will be at least one recipient selected at every commissary location where qualified applications are received, and additional recipients will be selected based on a prorate basis, so more applicants will be selected from those commissaries with larger numbers of applicants.

The Deadline for applications is typically Mid-February.

Who Can Apply:

• Dependent unmarried children under age 23 of active-duty, Reserve, Guard and retired service members.
• Survivors of service members who died on active duty.
• Survivors of those who died while receiving military retired pay.

For additional scholarship opportunities for military children visit the Fisher House Foundation’s Scholarships for Service search tool

Jenny Summit its a free lance writer and an English Education major at the University of Fort Smith. Jenny is the wife of Sergeant Matthew Summitt and has spent the last year at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. They now reside in Arkansas with their wonderful son Zayden.

The military’s Morale, Welfare, and Recreation centers are responsible for most activities that are offered on almost all military installments.  A few of the services that the MWR are in charge of include:

The vision of the MWR Benefits is to create and be a team of professionals who provide soldiers and their families excellent quality programs and services aimed to boost morale and resiliency, while strengthening our troops and those who support them. The Family and MWR staff at the headquarters is made up of more than 500 professionals who have made it their goal to support and assist service members and their families in every possible manner. The workforce worldwide is also supported by the headquarters, over 33,000 jobs are created by the recreation activities that are offered to the troops as part of their benefit package.

The MWR was officially organized in the early 20th century but prior to that, numerous civilians offered meals, laundry, clothing and trading posts for the men who served their country. When the Post Exchange or “PX” was created in 1895 and it was decided that the profits from those businesses would go to fund recreational activities for the troops and their families. The U.S. Army states it “…is committed to the well-being of the community of people who serve and stand ready to defend the nation, to enhance the lives of Soldiers, their families, civilian employees, and military retirees.”

Who can use MWR?

Any active, retired, National Guard or reservist and their families are welcome to take part in the activities that your base has to offer, and are encouraged to do so. The more people that can find some use for the benefits, the greater the chance of more benefits being offered to your location in the future. There are events catered to everyone, families, children, and single soldiers. The MWR isn’t all fun, it offers valuable life skills to soldiers who need a little help in certain areas of their lives. Transitioning from combat back to home can be rough and the MWR makes everything as easy as possible. Soldiers who are currently serving overseas get the most out of these programs. One of the most useful and entertaining things that can be sent to the troops come from one of the best benefits of the MWR, libraries.

Effective January 1, 2020, the fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the pool of eligible exchange, commissary shoppers to include all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war and primary veteran caregivers. The benefit will also extend to MWR “revenue generating facilities.

Why take advantage of MWR?

Most soldiers work long hours and the thought of getting ready to go out isn’t a pleasant one. MWR benefits offer an alternative to traveling and making reservations off of base. Most of the activities and services that the MWR offers require very little travel time, they are generally located on base and easily accessible to anyone with a military ID. Going to a movie on post is an easy treat for those of us that have very little time for themselves.

The entertainment activities that are offered are also offered at a discounted price making them even more appealing to the military family budget. Weekend events for children are also frequently attended. The MWR is here to help everyone in their personal lives succeed as much as the servicemembers have helped the United States Armed Forces succeed.

As an Army wife I appreciated having free events to go to on post during the weekend. They are good for meeting other spouses with similar backgrounds as yourself. No one will be able to understand your journey like a fellow military spouse. Movies, Bowling, and fitness centers are a few options of MWR events that are open almost daily and that are most frequently used by soldiers and their families. Sometimes I feel like we live in a strict routine with very little free time so having options such as these and even more help me schedule fun time into our busy schedule and greatly improve our quality of life.

If you’re new in town looking into the MWR events in your area would be the first place to start looking for new friends. Pick an event that catches your interest and get going. Moving around the world to serve your country is hard enough, the main point of MWR is to make that transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible, so enjoy the benefits you’ve worked so hard for, you’ve earned it!