How to Boo Someone for Halloween + Free Printable
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Wondering what booing is on Halloween? Halloween booing is a fun neighborhood tradition in which you secretly leave a bag or bucket filled with treats at someone’s door. The recipient displays a “We’ve Been Booed” sign and continues the fun by surprising someone else.
I had never heard of booing until we moved to New England. Once our family was booed for the first time, I was hooked! My four kids loved choosing friends, filling their boo bags, sneaking up to the doors, and trying to get away without being spotted.
Over the years, I learned that boo bags don’t need to be elaborate or expensive. A few pieces of candy, an activity, and a small Halloween surprise are plenty. Below, I’ll show you exactly how to boo someone for Halloween, share inexpensive boo bag ideas, and give you a free printable sign and instruction sheet.
What is Boo-ing on Halloween?
Booing is a Halloween tradition in which you secretly deliver a small bag or bucket of treats to a friend, family member, or neighbor. The surprise usually includes a “We’ve Been Booed” sign and instructions encouraging the recipient to boo one or two more families.
It’s similar to a Halloween chain of kindness. As more families participate, the signs begin appearing on doors and windows throughout the neighborhood.
What Happens When You Get Booed?
Getting booed means someone has left a surprise Halloween gift at your door. After bringing the treats inside, hang the “We’ve Been Booed” sign where neighbors can see it. This lets everyone know that your home has already received a surprise.
Then, within the next couple of days, make two boo bags and secretly deliver them to two homes that have not been booed yet.
Get the Free We’ve Been Booed Printable
Supplies for Halloween Booing
You’ll need:
- A Halloween gift bag, basket, or bucket
- A few inexpensive treats and activities
- Two copies of the We’ve Been Booed printable
- Tissue paper or crinkle paper, if desired
Your container doesn’t need to be fancy. I made this Frankenstein boo bucket with a green plastic bucket and a black permanent marker. The uneven face is part of its homemade charm!
Inexpensive Ideas to put in Your Boo Bag
You can usually find everything you need at a dollar store or in the seasonal section of a grocery store. Choose a few age-appropriate items for each child in the family.
Easy boo bag fillers include:
- Halloween candy
- Pencils and erasers
- Stickers
- Spider rings
- Glow sticks
- Small activity or coloring books
- Crayons
- Temporary tattoos
- Halloween straws
- Mini craft kits
- Play dough
- A small pumpkin with stickers for decorating
You don’t need to include everything on the list. A couple of activities and a few treats are enough to create an exciting surprise.
How to Make a Boo Bag
Fill a Halloween bag or bucket with candy, small toys, activities, or craft supplies.
Print the We’ve Been Booed page. Cut it along the dotted line so the recipient has both the sign and the instructions.
Place the printable inside the bag where it will be easy to find.
Choose a friend, relative, or neighbor who has not already displayed a We’ve Been Booed sign.
Watch my Video on Making a Boo Bag
How to Boo Someone for Halloween
After dark, take the filled boo bag to your friend’s or neighbor’s house. Park a short distance away if you want to make the delivery more mysterious.
Quietly place the bag near the front door, knock or ring the doorbell, and hurry out of sight. If you can do so safely, hide nearby and watch the family discover its Halloween surprise.
The recipients can hang their sign and continue the tradition by booing two more families. Before long, the fun may spread throughout the neighborhood!.
Another Fun Idea for Boo-ing
To add to our fun, we like to hide and watch the kids get all excited about the surprise on their doorstep.
Melissa’s Safety Tip
Let the parents know ahead of time that a safe Halloween surprise may be arriving, especially if children will be answering the door.
I learned this after one parent worried that an unknown person had left something in a bag on their porch and initially wouldn’t allow the children to open it. A discreet heads-up keeps the surprise fun for the kids while helping the adults feel comfortable. They also get the enjoyment of being “in” on the fun surprise!
FAQs about Booing Friends
Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. I have so enjoyed this holiday with the kids. From making Halloween fun foods like melting witch bark or monster eye cookies , making fun Halloween crafts like this Styrofoam mummy ball, and playing Halloween themed games like pumpkin ring toss.
~Melissa – KidFriendlyThingsToDo.Com
