Understanding the Teal Pumpkin Project: Making Halloween Inclusive for Every Kid

Teal Pumpkin Project participation is a simple way to create an inclusive Halloween for children with food allergies and dietary restrictions in Bryan and College Station. Our team at Around BCS believes local holidays should be fun and safe for every family. There are lots of kids in Bryan and College Station with severe food allergies, celiac disease, or dietary restrictions. Traditional trick-or-treat candy can present real health risks for these kids, and the Teal Pumpkin Project offers a simple solution to let every kid have fun on Halloween.

What Is the Teal Pumpkin Project?

Launched nationally by Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), the initiative is simple: it encourages households to offer non-food trinkets alongside or instead of candy. Placing a teal-painted pumpkin on your front porch signals to local families that your home provides safe options for children with severe food allergies and dietary restrictions.

The movement began in 2012 when Becky Basalone, a mother in East Tennessee, painted a pumpkin teal (the official color of food allergy awareness) to help her son trick-or-treat safely without missing out. The Food Allergy Community of East Tennessee, which she was part of, popularized the idea before FARE adopted it nationally in 2014. Today, the project spans all 50 states and over a dozen countries, representing tens of thousands of homes.

Great Non-Food Treat Alternatives

Giving out non-food goodies is affordable, simple, and can be as exciting for kids as candy bars. Putting these out separately from the candy helps prevent cross-contact with food allergens. Popular trinkets include glow sticks, bracelets, mini bubbles, Halloween erasers, spider rings, temporary tattoos, and festive bookmarks.

How to Participate

Joining the movement takes only a few minutes of preparation before trick-or-treaters arrive. Any household, local business, or community organization can participate.

Just display a teal pumpkin on your stoop or hang a printable sign near your front door. Then add your home to FARE’s official online Teal Pumpkin Project map so local parents can easily plan safe trick-or-treating routes. On Halloween night, keep your non-food items in a separate container and ask trick-or-treaters which they would prefer.

Becoming a Community Captain

For residents who want to lead the charge locally, FARE offers a Community Captain framework to organize neighborhood-wide participation. Taking on this role helps expand safe trick-or-treating opportunities across your subdivision or school district.

Community Captains are local ambassadors. They share downloadable flyers, organize group sign-ups on the national map, and coordinate with local HOAs or school groups. You can also partner with local businesses in Bryan and College Station to host allergy-friendly trunk-or-treat events or fall festivals.

Quick Halloween Tips for Local Hosts

A little preparation goes a long way toward making your porch welcoming for every trick-or-treater.

• Keep Bowls Separate: Keep candy and non-food treats in two different containers to prevent cross-contact.
• Shop Dollar Stores Early: Multi-packs of small toys, glow items, and Halloween stationery sell out quickly as Halloween gets closer.
• Tag Around BCS: Snap a photo of your teal pumpkin on Halloween night and tag @AroundBCS on Instagram to help us highlight inclusive homes!

Did your neighborhood participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project last year? Send us a message and share! Follow @AroundBCS on Instagram to stay updated on all things local events, family resources, and community guides across the Brazos Valley.