FreakinIndia, Blinkit, Cadbury: Meet the brands that showed up for Halloween

With Diwali and Halloween falling on the same day this year, Gen Z faces a festive dilemma—should they stick to traditional Diwali diyas and sweets or dive into Halloween's costume-clad, candy-filled allure? Brands are feeling the pressure too, as they craft ad campaigns to balance this dual celebration and capture the attention of a younger audience seeking novelty and tradition in equal measure. 

This alignment has led to a surge in festive ad spending, with AdEx data showing an approximate 20% year-over-year increase, driven largely by influencer-led campaigns that seamlessly blend Halloween’s thrill with Diwali’s warmth. Let’s explore how some of the biggest brands are capturing this unique crossover moment.

Cadbury Choclairs  

Cadbury Choclairs India made a big splash this Halloween with its interactive Monster Maze game, where consumers can scan a QR code on Choclairs Gold packs to navigate a digital maze and collect virtual candies. Scores come with a chance to win Bluetooth speakers, adding a rewarding twist to the spooky fun. To maximize reach, Cadbury roped in notable influencers, including Aparshakti Khurana (3.8M followers) known for his humor, Yuvraj Dua (850K followers), who’s known for relatable content, and musician Mayur Jumani (1.1M followers). Each influencer shared their experiences with the maze in their signature style, urging followers to participate with the hashtag #ChoclairsMonsterMaze. The campaign’s combination of interactive gaming and influencer engagement hit the mark with Gen Z, tapping into the Halloween excitement through immersive storytelling and digital rewards.

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A post shared by Aparshakti Khurana (@aparshakti_khurana)

Sunfeast Dark Fantasy

In the spirit of the season, Sunfeast Dark Fantasy debuted its first-ever Limited-Edition Halloween Pack, showcasing their signature cookie adorned with a pumpkin-shaped choco-disk. Available on Swiggy Instamart and Zepto for Rs 45, the product hit the market just in time for Halloween, hoping to appeal to Indian consumers who are embracing this growing celebration with greater enthusiasm each year. Ali Harris Shere, COO of ITC’s Biscuits and Cakes division, highlighted the brand’s excitement, saying, “The exclusive design of our cookies has been crafted to reflect the essence of the festival, adding an extra layer of delight to the celebrations.” The seasonal pack blends Halloween novelty with a familiar snack, targeting consumers looking to add a unique twist to their Diwali spreads or Halloween gatherings.

McDonald

McDonald’s leaned into nostalgia by reintroducing the limited-edition Happy Meal Boo Buckets, a throwback to its iconic Halloween pails, now with fresh designs in colors like white, orange, green, and, for the first time, blue. Known for their utility as trick-or-treat containers, these pails also come with themed stickers for a customized, “monster-ized” look. By blending nostalgic branding with collectible items, McDonald’s tapped into a Halloween spirit that appeals to younger audiences and longtime fans alike. As festive memorabilia, the Boo Buckets not only appeal to Gen Z’s nostalgia but also offer a Halloween experience that crosses into traditional Diwali gatherings, appealing to families as well.

FreakinIndia

FreakinIndia, a popular fashion brand, joined the Halloween excitement with a midnight sale offering discounts of up to 90% on select collections. With the tagline “Outfits so good, they’ll give you chills,” FreakinIndia encouraged Gen Z to “own Halloween” through fashionable looks suited for both Diwali and Halloween celebrations. The campaign made shopping part of the celebration, offering an affordable, festive fashion fix that resonated with Gen Z’s love for unique, style-forward pieces. 

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A post shared by Freakins | Denim Fashion (@freakinsindia)

Blinkit

Even Blinkit, an online delivery service, found a way to capture the festive overlap with a humorous social media post captioning Happy happy Diwalloween, encouraging customers to dress up in “ghost” costumes using white blankets and black sunglasses—along with props like soan papdi and Coca-Cola bottles for added effect. Coca-Cola jumped into the conversation, commenting, “Mixing Diwali lights with Halloween frights—#JustAddCoke.” This lighthearted crossover between Diwali and Halloween memes struck a chord with Gen Z’s affinity for relatable, shareable content, successfully tapping into the internet’s favorite “festival of memes.”

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A post shared by Blinkit (@letsblinkit)

PVR

PVR INOX amped up the scare factor with a Halloween Film Festival, running from October 23–31, featuring horror classics like The Conjuring, Bhoot, Stree, and IT. The festival invited movie buffs and horror fans to dive into a world of on-screen terror, turning Halloween into an event for horror enthusiasts across India. With advance bookings promoted on social media, PVR’s campaign effectively captured the spirit of Halloween in a way that bridged the global tradition with local tastes. 

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A post shared by PVR Cinemas (@pvrcinemas_official)

Bacardi

Bacardi hosted the country’s largest Halloween party, partnering with influencers to share the festive excitement. Collaborating with Chef Saloni Kukreja (932K followers), Bacardi inspired a Coconut Rum Panna Cotta recipe modeled after a cocktail served at the event, adding a culinary twist to Halloween drinks. Additionally, influencer Geet Thakur (142K followers) shared a GRWM (Get Ready With Me) reel for the event, showcasing the Halloween setup and inviting followers to celebrate in style. By combining lifestyle-driven content with Halloween-themed promotions, Bacardi aligned the celebration with Gen Z’s preference for lifestyle experiences, blending Diwali’s warmth with Halloween’s edge.

Insta link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBtKckBoq6S/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This Diwali-Halloween overlap has brought creative ad campaigns from brands eager to capture the spirit of both. With ad spending on the rise, brands are exploring new ways to connect with Gen Z.