13 Fun Halloween Advent Calendars That Are All Treats, No Tricks
There’s still time if you act fast!
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
When I was growing up, Halloween and Christmas were extremely distinct. Pumpkins and candy buckets were only around in October, and then they gave way for decorated trees and advent calendars in December.
Now, the line isn't so clear. White pumpkins make their way into festive Christmas scenes, there are decorated trees for Halloween, and families can buy treat-a-day activities for Halloween that sure look a lot like advent calendars (although they're usually called countdown calendars, since they have nothing to do with the season of advent). And why not? If something brings joy to a family, there's no reason to confine it to just one slice of the year.
Our top picks:
- Best toy calendar: Disney Halloween Countdown Calendar Figurine Set
- Best candy calendar: Williams Sonoma Halloween Candy Calendar
- Best reusable calendar: Crate & Kids Haunted House Halloween Calendar
- Best book calendar: Disney Halloween Countdown Library
For families who love to celebrate in all the ways for all the holidays, these are the best Halloween countdown calendars for 2026. Like advent calendars, they're filled with everything from toys to candy to beauty products. Pick one up, and make the wait for trick-or-treating seem less endless.
Best Deal
From old favorites like the brooms from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" to newer favorites like Stitch and Angel, the figures in Disney's countdown calendar are sure to get everyone in the Halloween spirit! Each PVC figure is between 1.5 and 3 inches tall. There's also a plush Winnie-the-Pooh calendar that counts down the days, but without the collectibles (kids just move a bumblebee from one day to the next). Ages 3+
For some families, Halloween is about one thing: candy! If they can't wait until October 31 for a sweet treat, gift them this calendar, which has 13 days of goodies like crème pumpkins, candy corn taffy, sour pumpkins, and witch lollipops, among others. No age recommendation given
This is Halloween...collectibles! This calendar is filled with Halloween decorations, mini books, themed recipe cards, and other ways to relive memorable moments from The Nightmare Before Christmas. It comes from Insight Editions, which also has Halloween countdown calendars for Disney Villains, Hocus Pocus, and Beetlejuice. No age recommendation given
The Simpsons’ Treehouse of Horror episodes are a Halloween tradition unto themselves, so it just makes sense to do a Simpsons countdown calendar. Adding Funko into the mix is just icing on the cake. This calendar has 13 pocket pops of Simpsons characters as they appeared in the Halloween specials throughout the years. Ages 3+
Those who literally just want to count down the days until Halloween—no extra candy or toys needed—can look to this reusable calendar from Crate & Kids. There are 31 decorated pockets on this hanging calendar, and kids can move a plush pumpkin from pocket to pocket to mark the days. (The Rifle Paper Company has a similar calendar with a darker color palette, if that's of interest.) No age recommendation given
For D&D kids, they can mark the days until Halloween with sets of dice they can use the rest of the year. In addition to spooky dice, there’s a werewolf-themed bag to keep everything in. No age recommendation given
Kids will never argue about adding more Squishmallows to their collections, no matter the size. This comes stuffed with 2.5-inch micro plush in the shape of their favorite Squishmallows. The 13 days include some accessories and seasonal favorite characters, like Livingston the Potion and Alva the Coffin, among others. And for even tinier delights, there's also the Squishmallows Squish-a-Longs calendar with 1-inch squishy toys ($18). Ages 6+
For families who want just a little something silly to open every day, this one comes with 31 rubber ducks decked out in Halloween garb. You can also get a version that's a mix of ducks and Halloween squishies. Ages 3+
For tweens and teens who are into nail art, this calendar will help them accessorize for spooky season. Created in collaboration with nail influencer Kelli Marissa, this comes with nail polishes, stickers, and tools with Halloween-but-cute vibes. No age recommendation given
When horror fans think of Halloween, they think of the Universal monsters. This calendar celebrates those iconic characters with two-inch "Pocket Pops" of the classic villains, like Frankenstein's monster and Dracula, plus newer favorites like The Grabber from The Black Phone. In addition, Funko also has Halloween countdown calendars for The Nightmare Before Christmas, classic horror franchises, and more recent favorite horror movies. Ages 3+
Kids can celebrate Halloween around the world without having to leave their homes. With this calendar, every day focuses on a different country, and each door holds a figure plus a craft or activity inspired by that country. Ages 4+
This is a countdown calendar and an activity all rolled into one: Each day for 13 days, families will get a new Halloween story that features their favorite Disney characters. In addition, this comes with 80 Halloween stickers to keep the fun going after storytime is over. Ages 4+
This one is a countdown calendar and an activity at the same time (if you can stand the slime). Each slime comes with a Halloween theme and spooky mix-ins. No age recommendation given
Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; previously, she wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother. She lives with her toy-collecting husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found helping out her team at bar trivia or posting about movies on Twitter and Bluesky.
Readers Also Read
Why Halloween Is Extra Special This Year
The Best Toy Advent Calendars for Kids
What to Do If You Can’t Find NeeDoh’s Calendars
31 Scary-Good Halloween Appetizers
