Halloween is here! Let’s get to boo’ing! Need some new boo basket ideas- we’ve got you covered. Plus enjoy our free You’ve been Booed Printable!
Halloween is that time of year when we start to decorate our homes in colorful and creepy lights, skeletons, and creative jack o lanterns. We all find ourselves thinking about our costumes and what we plan to do for the big night. Usually, we dress up as something scary or funny and go around the neighborhood trick-or-treating on Halloween night!
It’s a time of year where we get to be something we’re not and have a lot of fun doing it. Kids especially find this time of year to be a blast! We love going from house to house and seeing what kind of candy people will give us.
Before or even on this fun day, there is a tradition in the neighborhood called Getting Booed! This Halloween boo is just a fun way to show your community that you are thinking about them during this time.
So what does it mean to get booEd on Halloween?
Kids or adults in the neighborhood usually go around placing boo baskets and treats on their neighbor’s or friends’ front steps or porch with a note. The note usually says that you’ve been boo’d and are asked to carry on the tradition to the next house if possible! It’s a fun tradition we have in our community that my kids look forward to each year.
In the days of old, people came from far and wide to attend a festival of sorts. This celebration took place in late October and was known as Samhain (pronounced saw-in). The Celts left food on their doorsteps for the spirits of all those who had passed before them.
These tribes believed that on the night of October 31st, the spirits would come down from their home in the spirit world and make mischief on Earth. This was all done for good fun, but it also served as a way to honor loved ones who had passed before them.
The origin of trick-or-treating and leaving boo baskets comes from this spirit celebration.
What is a Boo Basket?
A boo basket is just a fun way to say, “I have been thinking about you!” It’s an easy Halloween tradition to do with your family. To create your boo basket all you need is a bag, basket or box of goodies and the printables. Kids especially love this as they secretly go around the neighborhood and make deliveries!
What to put in a Boo Basket:
Stickers, candies, candles, small toys, Halloween crafts, yummy food, bath bombs, gum balls, etc. The ideas are endless and customizable depending on your recipient.
Free printable boo basket tags are below!
These are free for you and friends for personal use. Print out as many as you need! Link to pdf is below. Be sure to print landscape so they come out correctly. If you want to use these as tags, I use a heavy weight paper stock for printing on- makes them stiff and hang better!
Download: You’ve Been Booed Tags Here
Save them to your computer to print out as many times as you need. Your family will love doing this fun Halloween tradition.
20 Boo Basket Ideas that are sure to get you booEd this Halloween!
1. Coloring and Crayon Basket
Grab a fun Halloween themed bucket or bag and fill it with coloring sheets and pages along with some cool pens r crayons. Your kids can create a fun craft where you can spell out your neighbor’s name with crayons. Also, instead of leaving the boo basket on the front steps, hang it up on their door knob or place it somewhere they will be sure to be surprised! You can add in a few treats or small toys as well. Don’t forget your Booed Tags.
2. Glitter Jar Craft Basket
Maybe you have a friend who loves glitter as much as me? This boo basket is so simple and easy to make. Just take a variety of jars, fill them with water, and add a few drops of food coloring in each one. Then- add some glitter! I also add to the basket a few glittery cards, barrettes and trinkets for my friend and off we go to secretly boo her.
The mason jars are great to use as party favors or decorations at a Halloween Party you may be hosting! You can grab some scary jar labels as well and wrap them around the glitter jars and watch people delight in the creepy and cool!
3. Boo Basket Idea: Witch’s Brew
This boo basket idea is perfect for kids because it’s a great craft! Get some construction paper, crayons, and markers, and let the kids make their own witch’s hat. Leave enough crafting materials in the basket for those receiving the gift to make their own if they wish to as well. Leave the ones your kids made as examples if they like or print out instructions. Add in some caramel apples, pretzel sticks and cheese and witches brew (tea, hot cocoa, charcoal lemonade, Wine for the parents, etc) and you have the perfect Boo Basket for a family.
4. A Cheesy Boo Basket
Perhaps you have some awesome grown up neighbors or folks that would prefer slightly more grown up foods and treats! Cheese is almost always a winner. Around Halloween time you can find some really cool and unique cheese from Cabernet wine cheese to black charcoal cheese that is actually awesome! Throw in some cool crackers and a few pieces of fruit and you have the ultimate cheesy boo basket!
5. Fun Halloween Gift Basket
Grab some fun Halloween toys from your local dollar store. Glow sticks, vampire ice cube tray, skeleton glasses, Halloween crafts and yummy treats make for an easy and fun basket. Place all your treats in a cute basket or box with some fun and decorative ribbons. Don’t forget the tags! You can add some paint or markers to give it your own personal touch.
6. Cookie Boo Basket
Who doesn’t like cookies? There are so many different variations of this boo basket idea, but the simplest one is to bake your neighbor their favorite kind of cookies!
7. Jack o Lantern Boo
This is a fun way to use a pumpkin instead of a basket! If you love making Jack o lanterns, then this one is awesome and you can be as creative as like! Create magic on your pumpkin and then put candy and other goodies inside! You can even attach a glow stick through the lid of the pumpkin to make it easier for your neighbor to see at night.
8. Bath Salt Halloween Basket
Everyone loves to be pampered a bit! Find some lovely bath salts or bath bombs and put them together in a fun Halloween basket with some pretty ribbon. You can also create your own bath salts.
All you need is some Epsom salt, food coloring, and anything else you would like to add is up to you(lavender seeds, dried flowers, or even a little toy or plastic spider! You can even print out some instructions or funny little sayings to place in the basket as a little guide for your friend to use. A creative and relaxing way to share this Halloween.
9. Pet Treats Boo Basket Idea
If your neighbor or friend has a house full of pets then a pet treat basket is perfect! You can make your own pet treats or buy some. Put a few different types into colored plastic bags and place into a basket. You can add a cute toy as well or colored rope if they have pups that love to play tug of war.
10. Candy Jar Basket
This is a great idea for adults or kids. All you need is a glass jar and some candy of your choice. You can even get creative and print out some funny little sayings or quotes and tape them to the jar! The jar can be reused for a number of things afterward!
11. Monster Candy Hands
This is another great activity for kids to make for their friends boo basket. All you need are some plastic gloves and fake nails or a black marker. Put candy inside the gloves to fill it all up. Tie a ribbon around the base so nothing falls out. At the tips of the gloves you can glue fake nails to make them super creepy or you cna just use black marker and make fingernails. This is super creepy hanging out of a basket on a porch!
12. Monster Bath Bombs
These are so much fun for little kids to receive and the parent love them too. All you need are some bath bombs (of your choice), googly eyes and markers. Glue the googly eyes onto the bath bombs, add some funny smiles and place them into a basket. Toss in a few treats or small wash cloths and you are good to go boo’ing!
13. Boo Basket Ghost Lollipops
These ghost lollipops are really easy to make- you just need lollipop sticks, marshmallows (one for each lollipop), frosting, food coloring, and mini chocolate chips. Frost the marshmallow and cover it with the chocolate chips- then roll it in the frosting to look like a ghost! Wrap these up and add to a bag or basket and leave for your neighbor.
14. Pumpkin Sugar Scrub
This is another fun craft you can make for boo’ing. You will need pumpkin puree, brown sugar, coconut oil and cinnamon. Pumpkin is a fantastic exfoliator for your face and body. If you have a neighbor that loves the pumpkin spice season and could use a bit of pampering, then this gift is ideal for them! Grab the recipe here.
15. Ghost Pancake Basket
Halloween ghosts for breakfast? Yes please! All you need for this one is pancake mix, food coloring, white frosting, and a piping bag. Place enough pancake mix for several pancakes into a Ziploc bag. If eggs or milk is needed- you can add those put the mixes with just water is ideal. Include a cookie cutter in the shape of a ghost.
Add in some yummy frosting in a piping bag for the ghost outline and few chocolate chips for the eyes in a little jar. Be sure to include instructions for the pancake ghosts!
16. The Pretty Manicure Boo Basket
If you have a neighbor that always has their nails done, then a pretty manicure kit is ideal! You can stop at the store and grab a few simple items that will make them smile. A nail file, some cool nail polish, a nail buffer, nail clips, and some cuticle cuticle care. Toss into a basket with a few Halloween candy treats and you have a wonderful basket!
17. The Fruit Basket
If your neighbors are not fans of candy but still love the sweet stuff, then a beautiful basket of fruit is a terrific idea! Bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, and any other fruit you can locally find works well!
18. The Baby Boo
New babies still deserve a good boo basket! Fun Halloween baby socks, a baby rattler or little toy, and a fun Halloween book is perfect for folks with a new little one. If you are good pals with the ones you are boo’ing you could also add a sweet note about babysitting for them for a short while! I am sure the parents will be thrilled!
19. The Teen Boo Basket
Teens might like candy and treats but they might also appreciate some items that a bit more mature. A cool craft kit, book or painting is super fun. I like the ones where you can paint your own plant vase. Or a cool paint by number made for adults. It encourages creativity and fun.
20. Coloring Kit Basket
If your neighborhood is filled with small kids, then you can’t go wrong with a coloring kit! A few different types of coloring books, Halloween coloring pages, crayons, pens, and pencils will surely make them smile. If the neighbor has lots of kids in one house then you can be sure each one gets their own.
Don’t forget to leave the ‘I’ve been Booed’ sign for your neighbor to display in their front window, so they don’t get Booed a second time by another neighbor – we want everyone to have a turn!
