Hey Raha blog · School life

Halloween at school: costume days, class parties, treats and what to send in

By Marie Adly · 22 October 2026

Halloween at school usually means three things: a costume or dress-up day, a class party with food, and a school email with rules about both. Read that email for the date, the costume rules (no masks, no weapons, nothing too scary), whether food is allowed, and any donation. Send a costume your child can sit, eat and use the toilet in, label everything, and choose non-food or allergy-safe treats. If your family doesn't celebrate, tell the teacher early and ask what your child can do instead.

Last updated: 22 October 2026

Halloween 2026 at a glance

Because Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, the date in your school's email matters more than the date on the calendar.

Read the school email twice: the five things to look for

Halloween notes tend to be short and easy to skim past. Look for these five details, and put each one where it belongs:

1. The day. Which day is dress-up, and is it the whole school or certain year groups?
2. The rules. What is and isn't allowed: masks, face paint, props, "scary" costumes, shoes.
3. Food. Is there a class party? Are you asked to send something, and is it nut-free, shop-bought only, or no food at all?
4. Money. Some schools pair dress-up days with a small charity donation. Note the amount and how to pay.
5. What stays the same. PE kit, swimming, clubs and pick-up times usually still run. The costume doesn't replace the swim bag.

If the details arrive in the class WhatsApp group rather than an email, check with the teacher or class rep which version is right. Our class WhatsApp group guide has a system for this, and too many school emails? shows how to get the date into one family calendar the day it arrives.

Costume rules most schools use

Every school sets its own rules, but these come up again and again in school letters and handbooks:

• No masks or full-face coverings. Teachers need to see who is who, and masks limit vision on stairs and in the playground.
• No weapons or realistic props. Swords, guns, wands with hard ends and toy knives usually stay at home.
• Nothing gory or very frightening, especially where younger children share the building.
• Respectful costumes only. Most schools rule out costumes that mock a religion, culture, nationality or disability.
• Practical shoes. School or trainers, not heels, wellies or character slippers.
• Can sit, eat, play and use the toilet alone. A good test for under-sevens: can they take it off and put it back on without help?
• Makeup limits. Some schools allow light face paint, others allow none. UAE public schools, for example, enforce a no-makeup appearance rule, so check before you paint a face.

If the email says "dress up" without detail, it's fine to ask the teacher. One short message on Tuesday saves a costume change at the school gate on Friday.

Costume ideas that pass the rules (and cost little)

You don't need a bought costume. Most of these come from what's already in the wardrobe:

Swap the cape, broom or tail for something that won't catch in doors or under chairs, and put your child's name on every removable piece.

Costume safety: what the safety regulators say

Costume safety advice is consistent across countries. In the UK, the Office for Product Safety and Standards tested 128 children's costumes bought from online marketplaces in 2024, and more than 80 per cent failed basic safety tests, including flammability and cords. Its advice and that of the London Fire Brigade and the US Consumer Product Safety Commission comes down to:

• Buy from a seller you can trace. In the UK, look for a UKCA or CE mark and a UK manufacturer or importer name and address on the packaging.
• Keep costumes away from flames. Use battery candles or glow sticks in pumpkins. Wear ordinary clothes under the costume for a layer of protection.
• Teach stop, drop and roll, with hands over the face, and practise it once.
• Avoid long cords, drawstrings and trailing fabric, which can catch or strangle.
• Check it fits. Overly long or baggy costumes cause trips and falls. Masks, if allowed outside school, need full visibility and good airflow.
• Homemade isn't automatically safer. Cotton, netting, felt and some synthetic fabrics can all burn quickly. The US regulator suggests polyester or nylon over sheer cotton or rayon, and notes that any fabric can burn.

The US Food and Drug Administration also suggests testing Halloween makeup on a small area of skin 24 to 48 hours ahead to check for a reaction, and warns that decorative coloured contact lenses sold without a prescription are illegal in the US and can cause harm.

The class party: what to send in

When a school asks for party contributions, it usually wants one of these:

• A labelled, shop-bought item with the full ingredients list on the packet, so staff can check allergens.
• Non-food items for a lucky dip or goody bag: stickers, pencils, erasers, mini notepads.
• A small cash donation to the class rep or the school instead of food.
• Nothing at all, where the school has a no-food or no-shared-food policy. In the UAE, the national school food guide bans sweets, chocolate, fried food, sugary drinks and nuts in schools, so a sweets-based party is off the table there.

Send it in a bag with your child's name and class on it, and tell your child it's for the class, not their lunch.

Allergy-safe treats and non-food swaps

Allergy groups in the US and Australia give very similar advice for school celebrations:

• Non-food treats are the safest choice. Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), which runs the Teal Pumpkin Project, suggests glow sticks, pencils, crayons, bubbles, stickers, bouncy balls, spider rings, mini notepads and playing cards.
• Read every label, every time. FARE notes that "mini" versions of sweets may have different ingredients from the full-size bar, and some have no label at all.
• There is no such thing as allergy-free candy. Treat any food as a possible risk for a child with a food allergy.
• Watch the non-food items too. Some moulding clays contain wheat, and some face paints contain food allergens.
• Children with food allergies shouldn't eat food brought in by others, even if it looks safe. Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia suggests parents of allergic children send a labelled "treat box" of safe snacks, kept at school.
• Keep food and non-food treats in separate bowls, if both are offered.

If your child has a food allergy, speak to the teacher before the party about what's planned and whether you can send the class a safe treat so your child isn't the only one eating something different.

If your family doesn't celebrate Halloween

Plenty of families don't mark Halloween, for religious, cultural or personal reasons. Schools deal with this every year, and you don't need to explain more than you want to.

• Tell the teacher early, by email, so it's on record and nobody is surprised on the day.
• Ask what the alternative is. Many schools offer an "autumn", "harvest" or "favourite character" option, or your child can wear their own clothes or uniform.
• Ask about the party separately. Some families are happy for children to join a class party but not wear a costume, or the other way round.
• Prepare your child. A simple line helps: "Our family doesn't do Halloween, so I'll wear my scientist coat."
• If your child will be at home that day, check how the school records the absence. Rules on term-time absence differ by country and school.

If you're on the other side of this as a class rep, keep invitations and treats inclusive and never make a costume a condition of joining in.

Country notes: UK, US, Australia, UAE

UK. Halloween events at primary schools are usually optional dress-up days or after-school discos run by the PTA, often with a small charity donation. In 2026, half-term falls on 26 to 30 October in many council areas (Kent and Lancashire, for example), so check whether your school's event is before half-term, after it, or not happening this year. Academies and independent schools can set different dates.

US. Many elementary schools hold a costume parade or class party on or near 31 October; some schools have swapped costumes for a "fall festival" or dropped the parade. In 2026, the nearest school day is Friday 30 October. Clark County School District in Nevada is closed that day for Nevada Day, so check your district calendar. Food-allergy policies often limit class treats to shop-bought, labelled items or non-food goody bags.

Australia. Halloween is less of a school fixture than in the US or UK, and many schools don't mark it. Where they do, it's usually a dress-up day or a lunchtime activity during Term 4. Expect allergy-aware rules in line with ASCIA guidance: non-food rewards, label checks and no food sharing.

UAE. It's school by school. Some international schools list a Halloween costume in their supply lists and hold a costume day; others don't celebrate it, and Ministry of Education schools follow strict uniform and appearance rules. Costumes should be modest and respectful. The national school food guide bans sweets, chocolate, fried food, sugary drinks and nuts in schools, so expect non-food treats or a healthy snack table rather than a bag of sweets. Dubai schools have also reminded parents not to photograph or share images of other children without consent, which applies to costume parades too. In 2026, Halloween is Saturday 31 October, so a school event is most likely on Thursday 29 or Friday 30 October; check the Friday finish time too. If you're coming back from the October mid-term break, check the school email for the date. Flag Day is Tuesday 3 November, so the next dress-up day may follow within days: see the Flag Day and National Day school guide. Our Dubai schools this month page keeps the October and November dates in one place.

What your nanny or helper needs to know

If someone else dresses your child or does the school run, the costume day only works if they know about it. Share:

• The day and the costume, and where the costume is kept.
• What not to send, such as masks, props or face paint if the school says no.
• Food: what to pack for the party, if anything, and what your child can't eat.
• What stays the same: PE kit, swimming, the usual lunchbox and pick-up time. Our what to pack for a UAE school day list and the KG packing checklist help here.
• After school: whether there's a disco or event, who goes, and the new pick-up time.

The nanny briefing template and our guide to briefing your helper on the school week show how to put it on one page.

A Halloween week checklist

• Find the Halloween email and note the day, rules, food and donation.
• Put the dress-up day in the family calendar, with "costume" in the title.
• Check the costume fits, passes the rules and has your child's name in it.
• Buy or set aside party contributions: labelled, shop-bought or non-food.
• Tell the teacher about any allergy, or that your family won't be taking part.
• Brief your nanny, helper or whoever does the morning.
• Pack the normal kit too (PE, swimming, library book).
• Note any after-school event and the changed pick-up time.

Let Raha catch the costume-day email

Dress-up days are exactly the kind of thing that hides in paragraph four of a newsletter, which is why I built Hey Raha. She reads your school emails, read-only, picks out the dress-up day, the party food rule and the donation, and puts them on the right day in one family plan, for the right child.

If the school moves the day, she spots the change and tells you on WhatsApp. Your nanny or helper gets her own version of the plan, so she knows to grab the costume, not just the PE kit. Try Hey Raha free for 14 days, no card needed.

Next on the school calendar: the Thanksgiving school break for US families. For a system that covers every school message, see the school emails survival guide.

Halloween at school FAQ

When will my child's school celebrate Halloween in 2026?
Halloween 2026 is Saturday 31 October, so most schools that mark it will choose Thursday 29 or Friday 30 October. Many English schools are on half-term from 26 to 30 October, so their events may move. Your school's email has the actual date.

What costumes are usually not allowed at school?
Masks and full-face coverings, weapons and realistic props, gory or very frightening costumes, and anything that mocks a religion, culture or disability. Many schools also ask for practical shoes and limit face paint or makeup.

What should I send in for a school Halloween party?
Only what the school asks for. That's usually a labelled, shop-bought item with the ingredients list, non-food treats such as stickers or pencils, or a small donation. Some schools allow no shared food at all.

What are good allergy-safe Halloween treats for a class?
Non-food treats are the safest: glow sticks, pencils, stickers, bubbles, bouncy balls, spider rings and mini notepads. If food is allowed, choose labelled items and remember that mini sweets can have different ingredients from full-size ones.

What if our family doesn't celebrate Halloween?
Tell the teacher early and ask about the alternative, such as an autumn or favourite-character outfit, or ordinary clothes. You can choose separately whether your child joins the party. You don't need to explain your reasons in detail.

Do UAE schools celebrate Halloween?
Some international schools in the UAE hold a costume day and others don't mark Halloween at all. It's a school decision, so check your school's email or calendar. Costumes should be modest and respectful, and the national school food guide bans sweets, chocolate and nuts in schools.

Sources

• Office for Product Safety and Standards (GOV.UK), 22 October 2024, OPSS issues children's Halloween costume warning
• London Fire Brigade, Fancy dress costumes
• US Consumer Product Safety Commission, 2023, CPSC Offers Safety Tips to Keep Hazards from Haunting Your Halloween
• US Food and Drug Administration, Halloween Safety Tips: Costumes, Candy, and Colored Contact Lenses
• US Food and Drug Administration, Halloween Food Safety Tips for Parents
• FARE, Ideas for Non-Food Treats
• FARE, About the Teal Pumpkin Project
• Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia, Childcare, pre-school and school activities during celebrations
• ASCIA Allergy Aware, Manage anaphylaxis risk (schools)
• Kent County Council, School term dates (half-term 26 to 30 October 2026)
• Lancashire County Council, School term and holiday dates (half-term 26 to 30 October 2026)
• Clark County School District, 2026-2027 student calendar (Friday 30 October, Nevada Day observed, no school)
• Gulf News, UAE bans junk food and sugary drinks in schools under new health guide
• Gulf News, UAE public schools enforce stricter uniform and appearance rules for new academic year
• Dunecrest American School, 2025-26 KG2 supply list (Halloween costume listed)
• The National, 5 October 2026, Dubai schools tighten photo and video rules to protect pupil privacy

Related: Thanksgiving school break 2026 · Flag Day and National Day · the school emails survival guide

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