For most kids, Halloween isn't about getting the highest-quality candy or taking the time to savor each bite—it's about getting your hands on the largest pile of sweets your parents will allow and inhaling it as fast as you can. Well, that's what it was all about for me, anyway.
Fortunately, vegan kids around the country don't have to miss out on one of the few times of the year that it's OK to eat candy to the point of illness. Vegan candies are now easier to find than ever before, and many of the sweets on your local grocery store's shelves are even "accidentally vegan." Check out this list to learn more about them.
To help fuel this year's upcoming sugar buzz, I am giving away three Halloween candy prize packs courtesy of Pangea. The Halloween prize pack features VeganSweets Caramels (the first vegan caramels to hit the market), "Vampire's Lunch" Gummy Candies (ooh, creepy!), orange Candy Tree lollipops, and an Endangered Species chocolate bar.
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below telling me whom, or what, you'll be for Halloween, and the three most creative answers, as determined by me, win!
And now for the legal stuff: The contest ends on October 13, and three winners will be selected and notified by October 14. You should also be sure to read the contest terms and conditions and PETA's privacy policy before you comment—you're acknowledging that you have read and agree to both by leaving a comment.
Good luck!
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Comments ( 495 )
My husband and I have five four rescued dachshunds. We are going to be The Village People for Halloween. Strudel will be the policeman, Logan is the Indian, Oreo is the cowboy, Max is the construction worker, I will be the Navy Officer and my husband is going to be the biker. I've been working on our costumes for quite awhile. We are going to a doggie trick or treat party. Should be lots of fun!!!
Posted by Kaimi Blaha | October 3, 2008 6:59 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 18:59
I haven't picked my costume yet (I'm leaning toward marilyn monroe from the seven year itch) but I am helping my friend make a really awesome Quail-Man (from the cartoon Doug) costume. :) Regardless, this candy looks super delicious!
Posted by Jamie | October 3, 2008 7:33 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 19:33
Hi there! I love your site! I'm a longtime lurker (:
This year for Halloween, I'm going as Anais Nin, and my fiance will be Henry Miller (author of Death of a Salesman). They had a long affair, back in the day...
Posted by Sonia | October 3, 2008 8:04 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 20:04
I just love candy,,,
We don't celebrate Halloween...
So I won;t be dressing up.. but where can I find the vegan caramels? mmm they look so mmm good!
Peace&love...
Posted by bri'gette | October 3, 2008 8:05 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 20:05
i'm going to be Tippi Hedren from the alfred hitchcock film 'the birds'. i'll even have the blonde wig with a crow stuck in it and a trickle of blood down my forehead. maybe a cage with 2 fake love birds in it.
Posted by Jennifer D | October 3, 2008 8:25 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 20:25
I am going to be a piece of gum on the bottom of a shoe. I'm going to wear all pink clothes and attatch a shoe to my head :)
Posted by Mary West | October 3, 2008 11:13 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 23:13
Hello there. Never tried vegan halloween candy, except for the endangered species chocolate.
Posted by Shanna Alley | October 3, 2008 11:16 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 23:16
i'm actually going to be a 30 second bunny (http://www.angryalien.com/).
they are cute, creative, and vegan!
Posted by andrea | October 3, 2008 11:35 PM
Posted on October 3, 2008 23:35
I just want to say that joining PETA and actively taking action for animals has been such a rewarding experience!!
Posted by candice | October 4, 2008 1:18 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 01:18
I am going to be Sassy Little Red Riding Hood!
Happy Halloween!
Posted by Stacy | October 4, 2008 3:26 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 03:26
For Halloween, I plan on being Cass Elliot of The Mamas and The Papas.
Posted by Sasha | October 4, 2008 3:43 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 03:43
My boyfriend and I will be dressing up as a Spy and Engineer from Team Fortress 2, respectively. He'll be blue team, I'll be red. He's also going to be wearing an Engineer mask and a nametag that says "Hello, my name is VLyandra, I'm an engineer."
It's really nerdy, I know. ^^;;
Posted by Vlyandra | October 4, 2008 5:37 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 05:37
did smeone say cookies!!!!!!!!
Posted by marley | October 4, 2008 10:09 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 10:09
This year my girlfriend and I made the choice to live 'car-free' for a year, riding our bikes or taking the bus wherever we need to go, so we wanted to incorporate that into our Halloween costumes. So we're both going as two members of the "Bicycle Enthusiast Club"-Lance Armstrong and the Wicked Witch of the West (aka Miss Gulch), making sure we can wear our costumes while riding:-)
Posted by Wendy | October 4, 2008 10:15 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 10:15
My name is Jessie, I am a 16 year old girl and i still love holloween. I have been a vegatarion for i while now and have decided to become a vegan. For Holloween i am going to be a hippie. I chose to be a hippie because that time era (60s) was the starting point of standing up for peace to everyone, and everything, including animals.
Posted by Jessie Costello | October 4, 2008 11:18 AM
Posted on October 4, 2008 11:18
For this upcoming spooky Halloween, I'm going to be a candy corn witch! I love sugar, especially candy corn in the month of October! And i thought witches and candy corn was a very appropriate combination for a perfect costume. Recently, since becoming vegan, i was worried about trick-or-treating and not being able to eat the candy that I usually get by the bags full.
But this delish candy you're giving out sounds amazing! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and my birthday is October 13, when contest ends, so this would definately be a sweet treat!
Posted by Meghan Gill | October 4, 2008 12:11 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 12:11
By using a little tape and putting wire in my hair, I will transform into a person in a wind storm... without the wind.
Posted by Lauren | October 4, 2008 12:25 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 12:25
I have two Vegan sons who love to go trick or treating, but most of the candy they get they give away because they can't eat it. They would love to try these awesome vegan treats.
Posted by tonya morris | October 4, 2008 12:30 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 12:30
I convinced my whole sorority to be bunnies!!
Posted by myra | October 4, 2008 1:05 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 13:05
this halloween i am hoing to be a unicorn
But not just any unicorn the one from the last unicorn
and i am making my costume too
Posted by gina moscarella | October 4, 2008 3:11 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 15:11
Hi! I am going to be Pamela Anderson for Halloween! And I haven't ate meat in 11 years, and I've been vegan for a little over a year!
Thank You!, Tara Simpson
Posted by Tara Simpson | October 4, 2008 3:24 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 15:24
I am going to be a skeleton with a scary clown face hehe
Posted by Erin | October 4, 2008 3:28 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 15:28
I am going to be a skeleton with a scary clown face hehe
Posted by Erin | October 4, 2008 3:28 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 15:28
I plan to dress up my dog in a monkey costume with wings, and I will be the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz!
Posted by Leslie McNabb | October 4, 2008 3:31 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 15:31
I'm a vegetarian Witch, and I love halloween, when me and my daughter can go out on the town, in our ritual garb and no one blinks an eye, I'd love to the first in our area, to hand out veggie treats to all the litte sweets...
Posted by claudia jura | October 4, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 15:50
This Halloween, I'm "Going Green"--no, not environmentally friendly (though I try to do that, too), but literally GREEN: GREEN organic cotton leggings, GREEN organic cotton hoodie, Glow-in-the-Dark GREEN No Miss nail polish (from Pangea!)... and whatever else I can find within the next few weeks!
Posted by Allison | October 4, 2008 4:05 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 16:05
im going as a veggie burger
Posted by Kyle anderson | October 4, 2008 4:37 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 16:37
Im not exactly sure what Ill be for halloween yet.But Im thinking of being something dead and creepy.Ooo maybe a dead cheerleader.Yeah,I like that.=)
Posted by Jasmine Soto | October 4, 2008 4:58 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 16:58
I'm afraid I don't usually come up with super-creative, unique Halloween costumes. I tend to do the old school traditional ones (witch, vampire, etc.), but I do it up right and on the cheap by using stuff I already have and, in lieu of masks, I put my makeup skills to work and really paint on a scary face!
Posted by Kelli | October 4, 2008 6:04 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 18:04
I'm going to be (Where's) Waldo for Halloween this year! =)
Posted by Lauren Li | October 4, 2008 6:36 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 18:36
For halloween i have had so many great idea's, although i can't affored to buy a brand new costum i will be trying to buy one from a used store. I am hoping to be a 70's disco Dancer becuase i can really feel amazing out on a dance floor WITHOUT wearing Animals, & that makes me feel Amazing :)
Posted by Melanie Gray | October 4, 2008 6:36 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 18:36
I am a vegetarian trying to become vegan, and am a total sweet fiend! Finding veggie sweets can be difficult.
Posted by Rebecca Waddell | October 4, 2008 7:29 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 19:29
weather permitting, I will be taking my 6 yr old to trick or treat this year. There is a certain area of town where they get hit up with HUNDREDS of trick or treaters and the police even close the streets down. Luckily, most of the residents take it in stride and get into it as well. My daughter is going to be a ballerina this year, me-a walking, talking, breathing zombie-night of the living dead deal. Lucky me, we get to dress up for Halloween at work too! I am trying to eat healthy, and while I do eat meat, I am expanding my horizons a bit to eat more veggies and experiment with new things.
Posted by Michele P. | October 4, 2008 8:06 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 20:06
I'm so excited to have found this information on vegan candies. At age 50, I have been vegan for two years -- and a reading tutor for K-2 students for a few weeks! I have been agonizing over what to do for my kids for Halloween, one of the great celebrations. I am going to be Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and teaching this year for our school's Halloween parade. (My reading room mascot is a Great Horned Owl puppet named Athena.) I hope to inspire my students to love reading, to want to learn about history and culture -- and to understand the vegan point of view and think about animals in a new way. I already mention what I can, when I can, to help introduce them to new ideas (I recently surprised one little girl by telling her that humans are also animals, which made her eyes get as big and round as Athena the Owl's!) When we talk about favorite foods, I mention that I don't eat meat myself. Getting back to the issue of candy, I have been torn between wanting to give them treats and not wanting to encourage them to eat unhealthy and/or non-vegan sweets. Now I know I don't have to choose! I can give them candy-with-a-conscience and maybe sneak in a comment or two about vegan values with it. Hooray! Or as Minerva would say (in Latin), "Eugepae!"
Posted by Leah-Ariadne Ray | October 4, 2008 9:12 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 21:12
The Halloween prize pack sounds great!
This year, I decided to dress up as Buster Keaton.
Posted by Megan | October 4, 2008 11:19 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 23:19
Ziggy Stardust! (David Bowie)
Posted by Heather | October 4, 2008 11:23 PM
Posted on October 4, 2008 23:23
Sexy bride.
Posted by Maja | October 5, 2008 9:11 AM
Posted on October 5, 2008 09:11
A punk witch of my own design using my own clothes since Halloween designers seem to think "punk" means "slut". (>.>) I admit that I wore it last year, but everyone said they liked it better than the usual witch costume, and this year I intend to add on to improve.
Posted by J. | October 5, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted on October 5, 2008 09:25
I am going to be a Vampiress.
Posted by Linda | October 5, 2008 10:15 AM
Posted on October 5, 2008 10:15
I'll be a meat-eater, the scariest creatures of all.
Posted by Julie Moe | October 5, 2008 10:47 AM
Posted on October 5, 2008 10:47
I'm going to be a ghost for Halloween. :)
:) Thank you for the great giveaway! :)
Posted by TERESA NELSON | October 5, 2008 11:09 AM
Posted on October 5, 2008 11:09
I want to be a sexy witch. Years ago when I was young I was an ugly wicked witch. This time I want to be a sexy one!
Posted by Carey | October 5, 2008 11:56 AM
Posted on October 5, 2008 11:56
I am going as a nerd in a lab jacket. Not very exciting but it will fit where I work.
Posted by Amy Tucker | October 5, 2008 12:16 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 12:16
Always a vampire.
Posted by Kim M | October 5, 2008 12:23 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 12:23
For Halloween I am going to go as the Black Dahlia.
Posted by Silvya | October 5, 2008 12:39 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 12:39
I am going to be she-ra and my boyfriend is going to be He-man.
Posted by Caitlin Anderson | October 5, 2008 12:40 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 12:40
A nudist on Strike.
Posted by Steven Schnell | October 5, 2008 12:53 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 12:53
I'm being Sarah Palin.
Posted by Carol | October 5, 2008 1:19 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 13:19
evil mary
Posted by susan varney | October 5, 2008 1:32 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 13:32
I'm dressing up as a 60's hippy!
Posted by Mya Brooks | October 5, 2008 1:47 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 13:47
My two roommates and I are going to be the three blind mice =)
Posted by Krysta McKee | October 5, 2008 1:48 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 13:48
I'm going to go as the scary american woman that is taking too long to realize she ACTUALLY prefers her vegan meals over the meat eating days. :) Admitting it is the first step to recovery, right?
Posted by Jamie | October 5, 2008 1:56 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 13:56
For Halloween I'll be a mother. I'll be dressed in usual mother-of-a-toddler garb, pants that need an good ironing, a shirt with some random dried bits of food and probably a mis matched pair of socks and some old tattered tennis shoes.
I may not have time to apply my entire costume of hair and makeup, but that's all part of the theme. Chances are I'll scare more little kiddies if I leave the house sans makeup.
The best part of my costume will include a toddler dressed as a monkey and a teenager dressed as, well, a teenager who's too cool for dressing up. (But of course he's never too old for candy.)
Happy Halloween!
Posted by Kristie | October 5, 2008 2:02 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 14:02
Probably a witch
gkstratos@yahoo.com
Posted by Gina Stratos | October 5, 2008 2:52 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 14:52
candy looks great
Posted by kathleen haas | October 5, 2008 3:05 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 15:05
I Wanna Win!!!
Posted by Angie | October 5, 2008 3:13 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 15:13
For Halloween i will be dressed up as a "dead" zombie Snow White.
Posted by Kelly | October 5, 2008 3:13 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 15:13
Hey!
For my family, Halloween is always a huge deal! Last Halloween we were living in a maisonette, but because we moved to a house, we have a whole lawn to decorate! This year our garage will be opened for children to wander inside. It will be a witch’s domain, with my mother as the witch, lol. She will have fake ‘finger’ cookies (vegan sugar cookies made into a cylinder then flatted with an almond for the finger nail and red food colouring for the blood) in front of her for treats. As for the goodies, it isn’t as simple as asking ‘trick or treat.’ The children have to stick their hands into a large pot to find the candy. One pot out of three will be the candy. Another pot will be grapes with the skin peeled off (that will make them feel like eyes) and the other will be cooked Soba noodles (which will feel like intestines). Hopefully we can find enough fake white comb webs at the local store to put in every nook and cranny of the garage, along with our traditional material bats that will hang from the comb webs and the 6 feet picture of a window with a werewolf howling to the moon. In addition to all of this, the lights won’t be the normal lights; they will be the black lights to give the garage the perfect atmosphere. I hope the children on our street get a good scare this Halloween. Muhahahahahaha..
Posted by Sarah Gilbert | October 5, 2008 3:23 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 15:23
A witch's dad.
Posted by Dan | October 5, 2008 3:40 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 15:40
i turn into a candy eatin' vampire
Posted by jffryclough | October 5, 2008 4:12 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 16:12
I had a friend in high school who was a vegan and Ive actually tried some of this candy and its not half bad!
Posted by Eric Melch | October 5, 2008 4:29 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 16:29
I am going to be the same thing I am every year, a stressed out, harried, overworked mom of three who is freaking out because she needs to convince her three daughters to wear jackets over their princess costumes to go trick-or-treating since it is freezing in Oct. in northern WI!
Posted by Tonya Froemel | October 5, 2008 4:55 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 16:55
i'm going as a veggie wrap
Posted by Adrienne Gordon | October 5, 2008 5:08 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 17:08
I'm dressing up as a lady bug. Thanks for this contest.
Posted by Margaret Smith | October 5, 2008 5:19 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 17:19
I usually dont dress up, so i guess i'll just be me.
Posted by Rebecca Snodgrass | October 5, 2008 5:33 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 17:33
Thank this will be great.
Posted by Nora | October 5, 2008 5:58 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 17:58
I am going to be a pound puppy with a sign that says mutts are cuter...adopt!
Posted by Sarah Sanders | October 5, 2008 6:22 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 18:22
Being some what of a beginner to Peta I decided for the first time on Halloween to dress as an animal. I love vintage and polka dots so what not better to dress as MInnie Mouse. I was not aware of vegan candy and if you can't taste the difference its even better. Looks like this mouse needs to stock up for Old Hallows Eve!
Posted by Melodie | October 5, 2008 6:39 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 18:39
The village idiot....aka GW Bush
Posted by Brian N. | October 5, 2008 7:16 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 19:16
When I was seven years old, I discovered where the milk on my cereal came from. It was a very tramatic experience! Every other year or so, I'd dress up as a Cow for Halloween. I always made sure every person that gave me candy knew they were drinking another animal's milk! Years later, I find out that that delicious candy, is also made with milk. Horrified again. Since then I can only seem to satisfy my sweet tooth with twizzlers and sweet tarts. It's so wonderful to see a product line of vegan candy!
Posted by Kelley Petit | October 5, 2008 7:21 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 19:21
What a fun contest! Thanks so much for offering it. :)
I'm planning to be Jem for Halloween (of the cartoon Jem and The Holograms), because I already have her hair! It's not a creative costume, it's more that I'm just reverting to my childhood, when I'd dress up as whatever cartoon I liked best at the time.
Posted by Beeb Ashcroft | October 5, 2008 7:25 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 19:25
I will be a big carrot that's ready to gobble down any person that eats meat. Go Veggies!!
Posted by Stephanie London | October 5, 2008 7:29 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 19:29
nothing probably
Posted by Sandy | October 5, 2008 8:34 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 20:34
yummmm! I love vegan candy for Halloween!
Posted by Roxie | October 5, 2008 8:38 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 20:38
Oh and I am going to be Alice in Wonderland this year!
Posted by Roxie | October 5, 2008 8:39 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 20:39
I hadn't heard of this brand before, everything looks so yummy, super excited it is vegan.
Posted by Becca | October 5, 2008 8:50 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 20:50
Since I work as a teacher, I will be at work on Halloween, which is always fun because the kids have such a good time. I always thought of Halloween as a type of wish-fullfillment, so this year I will be going as a punk rocker, complete with fake facial piercings, a fauxhawk, and fake arm sleeve tattoos. I can't wait to see the look on my kids' faces! :)
Posted by Leah Townsend | October 5, 2008 9:03 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 21:03
For Halloween I am going to be a waitress, cook, taxi driver, teen advisor, cheerleader, sports coach, mother... (I plan to dress in my usual clothes, in other words.)
My daughter is a vegan. I think she'd really enjoy trying these tricky Halloween treats.
Posted by Randa Morris | October 5, 2008 9:09 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 21:09
I will be a Klingon ;-)!!!!
Posted by Kathy Mullins | October 5, 2008 9:18 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 21:18
I'll be dressing up as the Trollsen twins. I haven't decided yet if I want to be Hairy Kate or Trashley. :)
Posted by Tracy | October 5, 2008 9:28 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 21:28
My three-year-old daughter is going as a marinated tofu stick, my two-year-old son is a combination of a Duck and a pirate (his two favorite obsessions), and my 7 mo old will be a cherry tomato. As the mother and costume maker for the above three, I am too stinkin' tired to dress up for Halloween myself.
Alicia Webster
5webs@comcast.net
Posted by Alicia Webster | October 5, 2008 9:35 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 21:35
In real life I am a library director. I run a small rural library. We are very liad back. The library is more like a small community center or meeting place for local patrons. I usually dress business casual fro work but for Hallowwen I would love to be the stereo typical librarian: my hair in a bun, a skirt business suit, horn brimmed glasses, and I will always be shushung people. At the library we pass out candy So I will get to see all the children come into the library in their costumes and will be ready to shush them.
Posted by Lori Weaver | October 5, 2008 9:37 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 21:37
I am going to be my dog Irie. I'll "borrow" her collar and have a "Bitch" tag made.
Posted by Sandra | October 5, 2008 10:06 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 22:06
The wolfman.
Posted by Randall Curran | October 5, 2008 10:40 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 22:40
Elvira
Posted by Hil'Lesha | October 5, 2008 10:45 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 22:45
the two of us are being a puppeteer and a marionette
Posted by patrick and damien | October 5, 2008 10:51 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 22:51
my daughter is making a moose costume for a community theatre play and she wants to borrow it to wear for Holloween
Posted by Vicki Andrew | October 5, 2008 11:04 PM
Posted on October 5, 2008 23:04
I'm going to go as Richard Simmons and my friends are going to be my fat workout buddies.
Posted by Alecia Gibson | October 6, 2008 12:03 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 00:03
I'm going as a peta fairy!I will wear fairy wings and walk around stores and hand out peta sticks on Halloween.
Posted by Krissy | October 6, 2008 12:07 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 00:07
I'm going to be the silliest woman in America, Sarah Palin.
Posted by Queen of the Click | October 6, 2008 2:08 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 02:08
IM gonna be a fat girl, i already got the suit!
Posted by C. Clemens | October 6, 2008 2:44 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 02:44
the Kentucky Fried Killer
Posted by Ray Watkins | October 6, 2008 3:38 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 03:38
I'll be at home with a devil and an angle.
Posted by Cindy J | October 6, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 09:25
I don't know. Probably nothing, though Zoe from Firefly might be fun.
Posted by Carrie | October 6, 2008 10:01 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 10:01
I'll be a Chocolate bar and my boyfriend will be a Chocolate bar with Nuts ;)
Posted by Le T | October 6, 2008 10:44 AM
Posted on October 6, 2008 10:44
I will be what I usually am for Halloween - a Mommy! The kids will be dressed for it though.
Posted by