Teal Pumpkin Project Halloween

Join the Teal Pumpkin Project This Halloween

If you spot a teal pumpkin on a porch this Halloween, it means that house has non-food treats for trick-or-treaters. That small signal lets kids with food allergies join the fun safely. Our founder, Denise started Partake so her daughter would never feel left out of moments like these, so the Teal Pumpkin Project is close to our hearts.

FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education), the nonprofit that runs the Teal Pumpkin Project, has amazing resources on their website. Here's more about the program, how to take part, and where to find FARE's free resources.

What is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

The Teal Pumpkin Project asks households to offer non-food trinkets and toys, in a separate bowl from any candy, so Halloween is safer and more fun for every trick-or-treater. A teal pumpkin or sign out front tells families which homes are taking part.

Why it matters: with a food allergy, the immune system reacts to a food protein that should be harmless. FARE notes that a reaction can be as serious as life-threatening anaphylaxis, so some kids and their families skip trick-or-treating because the risk at each door is too high. Non-food treats mean more children can go door to door with their friends, without fear. FARE says 33 million people in the U.S. are impacted by food allergy.

New to food allergies? FARE's Food Allergy 101 and Common Allergens pages are good places to start.

How Teal Pumpkin Project started

The project began with one family in East Tennessee. Becky Basalone's son has a severe food allergy, and she wanted him to enjoy trick-or-treating without refusing candy or explaining his allergy at every door. Her family handed out non-food treats and set a teal-painted pumpkin outside as a signal. She shared the idea through the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee, and FARE adopted it nationally in 2014.

It has grown fast. In 2024, the Teal Pumpkin Project map listed more than 12,500 locations and 91 events across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., plus 13 other countries. FARE's Teal Pumpkin Project FAQ answers more questions about its history and goals.

How to join in three steps

Anyone can be a teal pumpkin house, and FARE makes it easy:

  1. Get on the map. Add your address or event to the Teal Pumpkin Project map so families can plan their trick-or-treat routes.
  2. Show it. Put out a teal pumpkin or one of FARE's free printable signs. You can also invite neighbors with FARE's flyer.
  3. Stock up. Have non-food treats ready for trick-or-treaters on Halloween.

Want to do more? FARE is inviting people to become Teal Pumpkin Project Community Captains. Its toolkit includes ready-to-use emails and social posts, outreach tips and a digital badge to help you bring more neighbors in.

What to hand out

FARE's Ideas for Non-Food Treats list is full of cheap, fun options you can find at dollar stores, party supply stores or online, many in Halloween themes. A few favorites:

  • Glow sticks, bracelets or necklaces
  • Bubbles
  • Stickers and stencils
  • Spider rings and vampire fangs
  • Mini Slinkies and bouncy balls
  • Pencils, crayons, markers and Halloween erasers

Handing out candy, too? FARE recommends keeping the non-food treats in a separate bowl. For more on candy and food allergy, FARE's Candy Facts page is worth a look.

For food allergy families

If your child has a food allergy, FARE has resources to help you plan a safer Halloween:

Pass it on

One teal pumpkin can make a whole street feel safer for a kid with food allergies. If you hand out candy every year, consider adding a bowl of non-food treats and putting your home on the map. Then share our carousel, or this post, with a neighbor who does the same.

Everything here comes from FARE. Visit the Teal Pumpkin Project page for the map, printables and more, or support FARE's work in food allergy research, education and advocacy.

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