31 Fun Alternatives to Candy for Halloween
(Perfect for Libraries, Classrooms, and Community Events!)
Halloween doesn’t have to mean sugar overload! Especially when you may have many kids with special dietary needs. Non-food treats are not only allergy-friendly—they also make your event more inclusive, creative, and memorable. Plus, you can choose items that tie into reading, learning, or just plain fun. Whether you’re planning a library program, community trunk-or-treat, or classroom celebration, there are plenty of fun, budget-friendly alternatives to candy that kids (and parents) will still love.
Check out 31 great alternatives to candy for Halloween below!:
Spooky Stationery & School Supplies
Always a hit — and useful after the holiday too!
Mini notepads or sticky notes - THESE, THESE, and THESE are all fun options!
Halloween paper clips or bookmarks - THESE jumbo paper clips are kids friendly and can double as a bookmark!
Crayons or mini coloring packs - You can’t go wrong with THESE!
Invisible ink pens - When I tell you THESE are my kids favorite toy as of late, I’m not exaggerating.
Small Toys or Trinkets
Perfect for prize bins or trick-or-treat tables — these small surprises bring big smiles.
Bouncy balls - THESE glow in the dark!
Mini bubbles - Like THESE Halloween versions
Slime! - THESE individual slimes are perfect for giveaways.
Monster finger puppets - THESE are not even a little bit scary and THESE glow-in-the-dark
Temporary tattoos - We did THESE glow in the dark tattoos last year and they were a hit!
Glow sticks or glow bracelets - THIS bulk party pack is perfect for a program!
Reading & Creativity Themed
DIY comic books - THESE already have panels drawn in and make it easy for kids to create their own comics!
Halloween bookmarks - THESE are fun for all ages or you could even make your own with Halloween jokes and riddles on the back!
Halloween activity sheets - Mad Libs like THESE and THESE are fan favorites with the school aged kids!
DIY craft kits - THESE, THESE, and THESE are a few of many options kids will love!
Spooky puzzles - THESE fun puzzles are a little pricey to give away for everyone but would be such a fun contest prize!
Crafty Giveaways
Scratch art kits - THESE are great for giveaways or for a program to help decorate the library!
Foam craft kits - THESE and THESE are just a couple of the many different options and styles you can get!
Glow-in-the-dark googly eyes for decorating - Just like THESE!
Halloween sticker sheets for decorating pumpkins - THIS PACK has a variety of styles!
Mini playdough - THESE are the perfect size to make a mini pumpkin or ghost.
Games & Prizes
Little interactive items that feel like a treat without the sugar.
Mini puzzles or Rubik’s cubes - THESE are so perfect for school aged kids to keep in their backpack or fidget with!
Small collectible card packs - Pokemon has Halloween packs like THESE that my kids are dying for me to get!
Mini brick building sets - THESE are fun and creative and every time I’ve gotten them all the kids love them!
Halloween stamps or stamper sets - I don’t know any kids who don’t love stamps like THESE!
Mini card games - THESE are the perfect size to fit in a pocket and take anywhere to play!
Mini plushies - You can get Halloween themed plushies or a variety of animals like THESE
Comfort & Cozy Items
Because who says Halloween can’t be practical and fun?
Fun socks (pumpkin, cat, or bat designs) - something like THESE would be great for a teen or adult activity!
Mini hand sanitizers or scented soaps - THESE are such fun backpack sanitizers that would be great for handing out.
Lip balm or scented lotion - Is there anything you can’t get in a Halloween theme? THESE lib balms make me think no.
Stress balls or fidget spinners - THESE stress balls are a fun star shape and even have positive messages on them!
Bonus Idea:
Put together “Spooky Surprise Bags” with 3–4 small items from different categories. Add a cute tag like:
“No Tricks — Just Treats from Your Library!”
These are fantastic for library trick-or-treat events or community fairs where you want something easy to grab and go.
We all already know libraries are for everyone and by offering fun, allergy-friendly, and purposeful alternatives, you’re making Halloween inclusive for your whole community — and giving kids something they’ll actually use (and remember).
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