UPDATE: Some Chipotle customers have had issues trying to redeem the online Boorito offer but company officials said Wednesday night the promotion was not changed. However, the promo code was removed from the website and social media posts advertising the Halloween deal. Chipotle's Boorito is back with a few changes. Costume-wearing fans can still score discounted burritos, tacos, salads and more during the Halloween day promotion from 3 p.m to closing as in past years. This year, the meal deal is $4, up from $3 last year, and it's available without a costume, too. With promo code BOORITO, app and website customers can order $4 entrees Wednesday. Delivery orders also are eligible for the discount where available. But Chipotle is offering some motivation to dress up. The fast-casual chain is hosting an Instagram costume contest where a year of free burritos is up for grabs. More:Halloween food deals offer freaky freebies, spooky specials. Here's where to find them. More:These are the most popular Halloween costumes in every state More:Your Halloween forecast: Spooky storms from Texas to Ohio, scary good in East, Southwest "Boorito is a longstanding Chipotle tradition that's beloved by our fans," Chris Brandt, chief marketing officer at Chipotle, said in a statement. "We love contributing to the Halloween spirit and seeing our customers show off their fun, creative costumes to celebrate Halloween and enjoy some of their favorite food." To enter, fans need to post a photo of themselves in costume at a Chipotle restaurant on their Instagram profile or Instagram Story and tag @Chipotle. Chipotle will select eight finalists and post their photos on the brand's Instagram story. Fans will have the chance to vote for the "Boorito Champion" by "liking" their favorite costume from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Thursday. The winner will be announced around 6 p.m. ET Thursday on Chipotle's Instagram account. Find the rules at www.chipotle.com/boorito. Strong demand with online offer Customers ran into issues redeeming the online version of Boorito Wednesday, which has happened with recent promotions. "Due to strong demand of our BOOrito promotion, we had some sporadic issues where the app and web responses were slow," Chipotle spokeswoman Laurie Schalow said in a statement to USA TODAY Wednesday night. "Our teams are working to ensure that our customers have the best possible experience." Company officials have said recent promotions have been more popular than anticipated and "record breaking." In July, the Chipotle website and app crashed during a National Avocado Day free guacamole offer from the volume of customers trying to cash in save a little green: A side of guac is $2.05 at most locations. Chipotle said July 31 was the "highest recorded digital sales day in company history," and a second day of free guac was added. Then, on Aug. 18, Chipotle offered a buy-one-get-one free deal aimed at students. The back-to-school promotion was scheduled to be available for online and in-store offers but was switched to in-store only. “Due to such strong demand, the online code had some hiccups mid-day Saturday, but we continued the promotion for in-store customers only,” Schalow said in a statement in August, adding it was the busiest weekend in company history. Schalow said in August the company was "working to ensure our systems can handle the level of demand we’ve been seeing in recent months.” Kelly Tyko is a consumer columnist and retail reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Read her Bargainista tips at TCPalm.com/Bargainista, follow her on Twitter @KellyTyko and email her at kelly.tyko@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her weekly newsletter at www.tcpalm.com/newsletters.<doc-sep>A Halloween costume is the ticket to freebies and discounts for kids of all ages. Besides the candy for the young ones, Wednesday is one of the best days of the year for discounts. A costume isn't needed to score all the special treats. Brad Plothow, vice president of brand and communications for Womply, said the small business software provider analyzed more than 26,000 restaurants and in 2017, Halloween ranked in the bottom 15 percent of revenue days. “If you’re not in the mood for parties or trick-or-treating, Halloween is a great day to go out to eat,” Plothow said. “It’s one of the slowest sales days of the year, with visits down about 20 percent, so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a table at your favorite local haunt.” And there's another freebie Thursday, the day after Halloween. Thanks to Mookie Betts from the Red Sox stealing a base during the first inning of Game 1 of the World Series, Taco Bell is giving away free Doritos Locos tacos from 2 to 6 p.m. More:Chipotle Halloween promotion: $4 Boorito special and a costume contest for free year of meals More:Tech or treat! Here are 5 apps to download on Halloween More:What those teal pumpkins mean, plus non-candy treats to pass out on Halloween Free for all No purchase is required for these freebies but a costume is required. Available at participating locations and while supplies last. BurgerFi: Wear a costume to participating locations Wednesday and get a free small custard or small fries. One freebie per guest and no substitutions. In-store orders only and no purchase is necessary. DavidsTea: Visit your local store wearing a costume Wednesday and get a free Tea of the Day. Insomnia Cookies: Visit one of the chain's more than 100 locations wearing a costume on Halloween and get a free traditional cookie. A Facebook post says “‪determination of whether a ‘costume’ qualifies for the offer is at the sole discretion of insomnia cookies personnel.” Jeremiah's Ice: Wear a costume to get a free small menu item from 6 p.m. to close Halloween. For a chance to win gift cards, enter Jeremiah’s Coolest Costume Contest at www.jeremiahsice.com/costumes. Krispy Kreme: Wear a costume to participating locations on Halloween and get a free doughnut of your choice. The chain also has several Halloween special doughnuts including the Trick-or-Treat Doughnut, Monster Batter Doughnut and Jack-O-Lantern Doughnut. Main Event Entertainment: Come dressed in costume and receive a free $10 arcade game play card. Locations also will have costume contest and other treats. Learn more about what local centers are doing at www.mainevent.com. Snarf’s Sandwiches: Come dressed Wednesday as one of the restaurant’s mascots and get a free seven-inch sandwich. More:Burger King says its new Halloween creation 'Nightmare King' can induce nightmares More:Starbucks scares up new 'Witch's Brew Frappuccino' for Halloween More:IHOP launches special holiday menu with green Grinch pancakes and a kids eat free deal Kids' deals and freebies Applebee's: Kids eat free at select locations across the country. Check with your closest location. Bass Pro Shops: The mega outdoor store has its annual Great Pumpkin Celebration with free kids' activities and photos for Halloween. The event is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and on Wednesday it's from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. with trick-or-treating starting at 5 p.m. and a costume parade at 6 p.m. Hours and participation may vary by location. Costume parade participants also get a freebie while supplies last. Learn more and find a full schedule of events at www.basspro.com/halloween. Beef 'O' Brady's: Kids in costume eat free Wednesday with the purchase of an adult meal at participating locations. One free kids meal per adult entrée purchase. Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Kids eat free on Halloween with the purchase of an adult entrée. Limit one free kid’s meal per table. Learn more at www.bubbagump.com. Burgerim: Kids dine for 99 cents with the purchase of a regular menu-priced meal on Halloween. Captain D's: This Halloween deal runs through Nov. 6. With the purchase of an adult meal and a coupon that will be posted on social media, get a kids meal for $1.99. Chuck E. Cheese's: October is Chucktober and kids who wear a Halloween costume any day of the month get 50 free tickets. Sign up for the More Cheese Rewards program at www.chuckecheese.com/rewards for other discounts and rewards. Cicis: Kids wearing costumes get a free kid’s buffet meal with the purchase of an adult buffet and regular size drink on Halloween. Limit one child meal per adult purchase. Cotton Patch Café: Kids in costume get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée on Halloween. Country Buffet: Kids 11 years old and younger in costume eat free from 4 p.m. to closing Halloween with the purchase of a regular-priced adult or senior meal. Up to two kids meals per regular adult or senior meal. Furr's Fresh Buffet: Kids 12 years old and younger in costume eat free from 4 p.m. to closing Halloween with the purchase of a regular-priced adult or senior meal. Up to two kids meals per regular adult or senior meal. HomeTown Buffet: Kids 11 years old and younger in costume eat free all-day Halloween. One child per regular-priced paying adult or senior. IHOP: From 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday at participating restaurants, children 12 years old and younger get a free Scary Face Pancake, which is a plain pancake they can decorate with strawberries, whipped cream, mini Oreo cookies and candy corn. Joe’s Crab Shack: Get a free kids meal with purchase of an adult entrée on Halloween with a coupon posted at www.joescrabshack.com/halloween. Not valid with any other discount and dine-in only. Logan’s Roadhouse: At participating locations, kids eat free all-day Wednesday and there’s a costume contest from 7 to 9 p.m. McAlister’s Deli: Kids in costume Wednesday get a free meal from the newly updated kid’s menu with the purchase of a full-price adult meal. Up to two kids meals with the purchase of an adult entrée. Mimi’s Cafe: Kids eat free on Halloween with the purchase of an adult entrée. MOD Pizza: Kids 12 years old and younger in costume get a free mini pizza with an adult purchase of a MOD-size pizza or salad. Valid on in-store orders only. Limit one per customer. Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub: Kids 10 years old and younger eat free with purchase of an adult entrée on Halloween. One free kids meal for every adult meal purchased. Kids also eat free Sunday. Old Country Buffet: Kids 11 years old and younger in costume eat free from 4 p.m. to closing Halloween with the purchase of a regular-priced adult or senior meal. Up to two kids meals per regular adult or senior meal. Rainforest Café: Kids in costume get a free kid’s meal with purchase of an adult’s meal Wednesday. Show coupon on the Rainforest website to get this deal. Ruby’s Diner: Through Halloween, kids get a free kids meal with purchase of one adult entrée when they dine-in at participating locations from 4 p.m. to close. Ryan's: Kids 11 years old and younger in costume eat free from 4 p.m. to closing Halloween with the purchase of a regular-priced adult or senior meal. Up to two kids meals per regular adult or senior meal. Sizzler: Through Halloween, kids dressed in their Halloween costume get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée and beverage purchase. One free kid’s meal per adult entrée and beverage purchase. Sonny's BBQ: Get one free kids meal per adult entrée purchase on Halloween at participating locations. Dine-in only. Texas Steakhouse & Saloon: Through Halloween, kids in costume eat free from the kids menu with an adult entree purchase. Plus, every child receives a bag of goodies, while supplies last. Limit one free kids meal per adult entrée purchase. TooJay's: Through Sunday, kids 12 years old and younger eat free from the kids' menu with purchase of one adult entrée and a coupon. Halloween specials Here are the best deals available at participating locations. To be on the safe side, check with your closest location before heading out. ​​​​7-Eleven: With the convenience store chain’s 7Reward mobile app, get a free pizza when you buy one from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Halloween. Baskin-Robbins: Get any regular or kids-sized scoop of ice cream for $1.50 on Wednesday at participating locations. Also this month, the chain’s lineup includes the Fang-Tastic Monster Cake, Flavor of the Month Trick Oreo Treat and seasonal flavors Pumpkin Pie, Caramel Praline Cheesecake and Banana Nut. BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Through Halloween, the chain's Pizookie dessert will be $3 each, which is more than half off the regular price. No minimum purchase is required. New members of the chain's rewards program also get a coupon for a free Pizookie for signing up www.bjsrestaurants.com. Burger King: Through Thursday, the chain has a special Halloween sandwich, the Nightmare King. Cheesecake Factory: From Monday through Wednesday, place a $30 or more Cheesecake Factory delivery order through DoorDash and get a free slice of Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake or Hershey’s Chocolate Bar Cheesecake with promo code TREATORTREAT. Chipotle: From 3 p.m. to close Halloween, it's Boorito time. Go to any participating Chipotle in costume and you'll get a burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos for $4. Chipotle also will hold an Instagram costume contest on Halloween where one winner will get a year of free burritos. Learn more at www.chipotle.com/boorito. Dairy Queen: For a limited time, download the Dairy Queen app and register for an account and get a free small Blizzard treat at participating locations. Limit one offer per person per visit. Not valid in Texas. There also are weekly exclusives through the app. Dickey's Barbecue Pit: Get $5 off a Family Pack Wednesday and find other coupons at www.dickeys.com/promos/current-deals. DoorDash: The meal delivery service has a deal available in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Denver, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and San Francisco. Starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, place a DoorDash order and add a free "spooktacular treat" from the DoorDash “Dash-oween Store” to your cart “for a scary-good surprise!” Dunkin': Enter Dunkin’s contest by dressing up in a Dunkin'-inspired costume and posting a photo on Instagram with the hashtag #DunkinDressUpContest for a chance to win a $1,000 and a year's supply of Dunkin' coffee. Plus, check out the special Halloween doughnuts. Freebirds World Burrito: With the purchase of a Monster-size burrito or larger on Halloween, the chain is giving away free bottles of its house made Death Sauce. Grubhub/Seamless: Now through Nov. 5, the food delivery services and Venmo are offering college students $10 off any order $15 or more. Visit http://lp.grubhub.com/campus/venmo or https://lp.seamless.com/campus/venmo/ and enter your .edu email in the field. Each college student will receive a unique promotional code that’s automatically applied at checkout when they pay using Venmo on the Grubhub or Seamless app. McDonald's: Halloween is the last day of McDonald’s “Trick. Treat. Win!” game. Enter for a chance to win free food and other prizes. Learn more at www.tricktreatwin.com. Morton’s The Steakhouse: A special three-course menu will be available Tuesday and Wednesday for $36. Mr. Gatti’s Pizza: The chain has take-and-bake pizzas at participating locations, featuring either a Jack-o-Lantern or Frankenstein shape available through Sunday. Papa John's: The chain has several Halloween specials through Wednesday including a Jack-o'-Lantern pizza. Find the deals and options at www.papajohns.com. Papa Murphy's: Through Halloween, participating locations have Jack-O-Lantern pizzas. P.F. Chang's: Get 20 percent takeout and catering orders through Halloween with promo code 20TOGO. Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Potbelly Perks members get a free cookie or ice cream sandwich with entrée sandwich or salad purchase on Halloween as part of Potbelly’s Week of Perks running through Sunday. Quiznos: Get free classic tots with purchase of an 8-inch sub on Halloween. Red Robin: Get 20 percent off to-go orders at participating locations with promo code YUMMM20 Wednesday. Also at some location, kids eat free Wednesdays when dining in. Smoothie King: Through Wednesday, text TRICK to 91681 to get a coupon for a free pumpkin smoothie with the purchase of any smoothie. Sonic Drive-In: Get 50-cent corn dogs Wednesday at participating locations while supplies last.<doc-sep>
We live in a depressingly materialist society. So why not defer the existential pain of our culture’s ever-increasing vapidity/demise and cash in? Every day, it seems, there’s a new holiday made up by some brand or public relations company. National cookie day! National hot dog day! National bean day! The list goes on. But today is a realer holiday than these others: It’s Halloween. You know, the day where you’re either a child dressed up in a costume and collecting candy from strangers or an adult dressed up in a costume questioning some or all of your life choices. But even if this isn’t a fake holiday, that isn’t stopping the brands. Oh no, they want in. They always want in. In fact, many are having specials just for today, because that’s how capitalism works (spooky scary). If you want some free, or discounted, or just weird food today (and, let’s be honest, who doesn’t? ), here are some of the places you can go to for Halloween deals. Chipotle: The Tex-Mex fast-casual restaurant that has been working tirelessly to get you to forget about its myriad health scares is having a “BOORITO” promo. If you go to a location in costume, you can get a burrito, bowl, salad, or tacos for just $4. And perhaps the goblin getup can scare away the E. coli too. The Tex-Mex fast-casual restaurant that has been working tirelessly to get you to forget about its myriad health scares is having a “BOORITO” promo. If you go to a location in costume, you can get a burrito, bowl, salad, or tacos for just $4. And perhaps the goblin getup can scare away the E. coli too. Applebee’s: The self-proclaimed “eating good in the neighborhood” restaurant has been having a drink deal all month. Where have you been?? In honor of both Halloween–as well as the chain’s love of sickeningly sweet alcoholic beverages–it has been offering $1 zombie cocktails. Today is your last day, so drink up–and be sure to note where the closest bathroom is. The self-proclaimed “eating good in the neighborhood” restaurant has been having a drink deal all month. Where have you been?? In honor of both Halloween–as well as the chain’s love of sickeningly sweet alcoholic beverages–it has been offering $1 zombie cocktails. Today is your last day, so drink up–and be sure to note where the closest bathroom is. Krispy Kreme: If you just go to the beloved donut shop today in costume, you get a free donut. Why not. If you just go to the beloved donut shop today in costume, you get a free donut. Why not. 7-Eleven: This one requires more than just showing up in costume, so bear with me. If you download the 7Reward app you can get a two-for-one pizza deal. But you have to order it between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. today. What does this have to do with Halloween? I don’t know! This one requires more than just showing up in costume, so bear with me. If you download the 7Reward app you can get a two-for-one pizza deal. But you have to order it between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. today. What does this have to do with Halloween? I don’t know! IHOP: After failing to make everyone buy burgers, the pancake chain is trying to gin up more interest. Today, if you’re 12 or under, you can go to the restaurant and get a free “scary face pancake” between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. After failing to make everyone buy burgers, the pancake chain is trying to gin up more interest. Today, if you’re 12 or under, you can go to the restaurant and get a free “scary face pancake” between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Burger King: This isn’t a deal, but the fast-food chain is offering a special sandwich called the Nightmare King. It has fried chicken, grilled beef, bacon, cheese, and is housed in two disturbingly green buns. If green bread is what you’re craving, for some reason, then by all means run don’t walk to your closest BK. This isn’t a deal, but the fast-food chain is offering a special sandwich called the Nightmare King. It has fried chicken, grilled beef, bacon, cheese, and is housed in two disturbingly green buns. If green bread is what you’re craving, for some reason, then by all means run don’t walk to your closest BK.