A Monster Mash-Up of Spooky Spud Traditions

While many Americans may think of spuds as a Thanksgiving staple, real potato enthusiasts know you don’t have to wait until November to enjoy your favorite vegetable. This year, the tradition of celebrating the spud in true Halloween fashion continues. From curated boards featuring potatoes—a savory balance to Halloween candy—to the classic “trick-or-tater,” the possibilities to surprise and delight with potatoes this Halloween are endless.

Curated Potato Boards

This year, consumers are encouraged to try out the perfect party trick — a deliciously curated board featuring America’s favorite vegetable. These can include a variety of potato-based snacks like crispy tots, roasted potato poppers, or mini potato skins. These savory bites can be paired with cheeses, spicy salami, and Halloween-themed extras like pimento-stuffed olives and crinkle-cut potato chips for added crunch.

“Potatoes are the perfect balance to all the Halloween sweets,” says RJ Harvey, director of culinary at Potatoes USA. “They’re hearty, delicious, and bring an element of surprise to your Halloween spread.”

Trick-or-Tater

A classic twist on trick-or-treating, trick-or-tater involves handing out whole potatoes or potato chips to surprised and delighted kids when they come knocking at Halloween. This tradition was heavily promoted beginning two Halloweens ago after hearing from potato enthusiasts around the country who have been keeping the tradition alive for years.

“The potato trick started with a giant basket of candy. I just put one potato in the middle as something unexpected that they could grab instead,” said Matt Schutz, a pastor at Anchorage First Presbyterian Church in Alaska.  “I was shocked how many kids were just delighted by the idea – they would grab the potato and hold it over their head like a trophy. That first year, I gave away at least 20 pounds of potatoes.”

Spooky Spud Crafts

There’s no need to stop at snacks! Potatoes make great Halloween crafts, too. You can revive the old Irish tradition of carving potato jack-o’-lanterns, or get the kids involved by making spooky potato stamps. Potatoes are easy to carve, sturdy, and provide an affordable, mess-free alternative to pumpkins.

Halloween Loves Potatoes

Halloween is a great time of year to promote potatoes’ versatility and fun. Since dedicated consumer-facing Halloween campaigns began, related stories have appeared in over 560 news outlets around the country. It turns out, Halloween loves potatoes!