Home Inclusive Holidays Inclusive Halloween Teal Pumpkin Project Guide

The Complete Guide to the Teal Pumpkin Project

A teal pumpkin means non-food treats are available. To participate, display a teal pumpkin or sign, offer non-food treats, and keep them separate from candy.

How to ParticipateShop non-food treats

In This Guide

What Is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

The Teal Pumpkin Project is a worldwide food allergy awareness initiative led by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). It was inspired by a local activity created by the Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee and grew into a broader movement for a safer, more inclusive Halloween.

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A Teal Pumpkin Halloween treat basket filled with non-candy treats like stickers, pencils, glow sticks, and toys, placed on a front porch next to a sign reading 'We Have Candy & Non-Food Treats!' and a small jack-o'-lantern and a striped gourd.

What Does a Teal Pumpkin Mean?

A teal pumpkin on a porch, in a window, or on a sign means that the household offers non-food Halloween treats such as glow sticks, pencils, stickers, or small toys.

It does not mean:

  • every piece of candy at the home is safe for every allergy
  • the home itself is allergen-free
  • children must explain a diagnosis or dietary need to receive a non-food treat
  • the household cannot also hand out candy

The simplest, most welcoming approach is to let every child choose between the food and non-food options without asking why.

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Why the Teal Pumpkin Project Matters

For many children, Halloween candy is not a simple choice. A food allergy can cause a serious and potentially life-threatening reaction. Ingredient labels, cross-contact, missing packaging, and unfamiliar treats can make a typical candy bowl difficult to navigate.

Offering a non-food choice gives children with food allergies a way to participate in the same doorstep ritual as their friends. It can reduce the disappointment of receiving something they cannot keep and ease some of the planning and anxiety families carry through Halloween night.

The benefits can reach beyond food allergies, too. A non-food option may be useful for children who:

  • have diabetes or another condition that affects how food is managed;
  • receive nutrition through a feeding tube;
  • follow a medically necessary diet;
  • have sensory, oral-motor, or feeding differences;
  • cannot safely eat by mouth; or
  • simply prefer a toy or activity to candy.

Not every child with one of these conditions avoids candy, and families manage medical needs differently. The goal is not to make assumptions. It is to offer a choice.

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How to Participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project

You don’t need an elaborate setup. A few thoughtful details are enough.

1. Choose Non-Food Treats

Pick small items that are fun, age-appropriate, and easy to hand out. A mix of active, creative, and sensory options gives children a real choice.

Shop non-food Halloween treats

2. Display a Teal Pumpkin or Sign

Paint a real or craft pumpkin teal, buy a reusable teal pumpkin, or hang one of FARE’s free printable signs. Place it where families can see it from the sidewalk.

Download a free Teal Pumpkin Project sign from FARE

3. Keep Candy & Non-Food Treats Separate

If you are also handing out candy, use two clearly labeled bowls. Keeping the options separate helps prevent wrappers or food residue from mixing with the non-food items.

4. Let Children Choose

Try: "Would you like candy or a non-food treat?" There is no need to ask a child about allergies, disability, or diet.

5. Help Families Find You

Visit FARE’s current Teal Pumpkin Project page for the latest map and participation resources. If the current map is open, add your home or event so families can plan their route.

Visit the official Teal Pumpkin Project page

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The Best Non-Food Halloween Treats

The best non-food treats are fun, easy to carry, and appealing to a range of ages and interests. Use the notes below to compare popular options and identify anything that may require extra care.

This guide contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

  • Orange, green, and purple glow-stick bracelets and necklaces with two children in Halloween costumes

    Glow sticks and light-up toys

    Best for: Nighttime visibility and broad appeal

    Buying tip: Connectors often come separately. Pre-attach them or place them beside the glow sticks for easy grab-and-go use.

    Shop Halloween Glow Sticks 
  • A circular arrangement of multiple Halloween-themed sticker sheets on a white background, featuring pumpkins, ghosts, witches, bats, and cartoon faces in orange, purple, green, black, and white.

    Stickers and temporary tattoos

    Best for: Affordable bulk handouts

    Age note: Tattoos require adult help for younger children

    Buying tip: Offer regular stickers as an alternative for children with sensitive skin.

    Shop Halloween Stickers 
  • A set of Halloween-themed pencils and erasers in a clear cup, shown alongside loose erasers and pencils on a white background. The erasers and pencils feature pumpkins, ghosts, spiders, and other spooky designs in orange, purple, black, and green.

    Pencils and erasers

    Best for: School-age children and practical favors

    Buying tip: Choose full-size pencils, crayons, or larger erasers if children of mixed ages will use the bucket

    Shop Halloween Pencils 
  • Colorful Halloween mini bubble wands with a haunted-house package

    Bubbles

    Best for: Outdoor play

    Age note: Follow package guidance

    Buying tip: Look for securely sealed containers that won’t leak into the treat bucket.

    Shop Halloween Bubbles 
  • Colorful textured Halloween worm fidget toys held in two hands

    Fidget and sensory toys

    Best for: Tactile and sensory play

    Age note: Follow the package’s age guidance

    Buying tip: For a mixed-age bucket, choose larger items without detachable parts

    Shop Halloween Fidgets 
  • A set of 12 different colored Halloween coloring books arranged in a 3x4 grid on a white background, with one open book in the center showing black-and-white pumpkin illustrations. A central orange badge reads '60 pcs'.

    Mini coloring and activity books

    Best for: Quiet, creative play

    Buying tip: Choose activities that work without extra supplies, or include crayons when needed

    Shop Halloween Activities 
  • Bag of individually sized Halloween Play-Doh containers

    Play-Doh

    Best for: Creative and sensory play

    Age note: Follow package guidance

    Buying tip: Play-Doh contains wheat, so keep it sealed and offer another choice.

    Shop Play-Doh 
  • Black, orange, purple, and green plastic spider rings displayed on a hand

    Costume accessories

    Best for: Dress-up and imaginative play

    Buying tip: Choose larger accessories for a mixed-age bucket; keep small items in a separate older-kids selection

    Shop Halloween Accessories 
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Choose Non-Food Treats Thoughtfully

“Non-food” does not automatically mean “allergen-free” or appropriate for every child. A few quick checks can make your selection more inclusive.

  • Avoid latex when possible. FARE specifically recommends considering latex-free items because some children have latex allergies. Rubber bouncy balls, balloons, and some stretchy toys may contain natural rubber latex.
  • Check modeling compounds. Some doughs and clays contain wheat or other ingredients of concern. Keep them sealed and offer an alternative.
  • Choose for the ages you expect. If children of different ages will use the same bucket, favor larger items or provide a separate older-kids selection for small favors.
  • Consider sensitive skin. Fragranced slime, makeup, stamps, and temporary tattoos may not work for everyone.
  • Skip sharp or weapon-like items. Choose soft, simple favors that are easy to carry in the dark.
  • Offer variety. No option will suit every child. Two or three distinct choices work better than one large bin of the same toy.

When in doubt, pencils, larger stickers, bookmarks, and glow sticks are easy starting points.

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How many non-food treats should I buy?

Start with the number of trick-or-treaters your home typically receives. If you also offer candy, you may not need one non-food item for every visitor; but, it is better to have extras than to run out early. At our home, we usually prepare 100–150 individual items.

Many unopened non-food favors can be stored for the following year, donated, or reused at another event.

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How to Set Up an Inclusive Treat Station

Use a designated container. Place non-food treats in a reusable teal bucket or clearly labeled bowl.

Make it visible from the sidewalk. Display the teal pumpkin and sign where families can see them before approaching.

Add a printable sign. FARE offers signs that explain that non-food treats are available.

Keep food and non-food items separate. Use different bowls to reduce food residue and confusion.

Offer step-free access when possible. Set up near the sidewalk or at the bottom of steps so children using mobility devices can reach the treats.

Let children choose without explaining why. Offer the same choice to every trick-or-treater.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I still hand out candy if I display a teal pumpkin?

Yes. Keep candy and non-food treats in separate, clearly labeled bowls. The teal pumpkin means a non-food choice is available; it does not mean you must stop offering candy.

Are non-food treats allergy-free?

Not necessarily. Some toys or activity materials can contain latex, wheat, nickel, dyes, fragrances, or other ingredients of concern. “Non-food” is the accurate term. Offer more than one choice and keep items in their original packaging when practical.

Do non-food treats have to go inside the teal pumpkin?

No. The teal pumpkin is a visual signal. You can hand out non-food treats from a separate bowl or container.

What if I do not have a teal pumpkin?

Display a printable Teal Pumpkin Project sign in a visible place. You can also paint a pumpkin teal or buy a reusable one.

Who can choose a non-food treat?

Anyone. Letting every trick-or-treater choose protects privacy and keeps children from having to disclose a medical condition.

Is the Teal Pumpkin Project only for children with food allergies?

The project centers food allergy awareness and inclusion, but non-food treats may also benefit other children for whom candy is not an option. The shared principle is simple: more choices make Halloween more welcoming.

A Small Choice That Makes Halloween Bigger

The Teal Pumpkin Project does not require a candy-free porch or a perfect selection of toys. It asks us to add one more choice—one that lets more children take part in the fun.

Put out a teal pumpkin. Keep a separate bowl of non-food treats. Let every child choose. That small gesture can turn a stressful stop into a joyful one.

Shop Non-Food Halloween Treats →

Explore the inclusive Halloween Hub →

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