For a child with a food allergy, trick-or-treating can be stressful. Most of the treats in the bag are off-limits, and some could be dangerous. A Teal Pumpkin on the doorstep sends a simple, welcoming message: this house has non-food treats, so every child can join in. This printable sign makes your teal pumpkin impossible to miss, even after dark.
What the Teal Pumpkin Means
The teal pumpkin idea was popularised by the Teal Pumpkin Project, an awareness campaign by the food allergy organisation FARE. Teal is the colour of food allergy awareness. Families who place a teal pumpkin or a teal pumpkin sign outside are signalling that they offer non-food treats, such as stickers, glow sticks, or small toys, alongside or instead of sweets. Children with allergies, coeliac disease, diabetes, feeding tubes, or other dietary needs can collect something fun without any risk.
The Sign at a Glance
The sign is US Letter size, 8.5 x 11 inches, with a deep teal background. THIS IS AN runs across the top in pale aqua capitals, followed by Allergy-Friendly House in white Fredoka One, a rounded, friendly Google font. In the centre, a big pumpkin is drawn in layered shades of teal and aqua, with a green stem and a leaf. Across the pumpkin, NON-FOOD TREATS HERE is printed in large white letters.
Below the pumpkin, a white rounded card reads Ask for the teal bowl! We have: and lists eight non-food treats in two columns, each with a teal dot: glow sticks, stickers, pencils and erasers, bubbles, bouncy balls, temporary tattoos, mini notebooks and spider rings. A line at the bottom explains that every child can trick-or-treat here, including kids with food allergies, and the OTO logo sits at the foot.
Non-Food Treat Ideas by Budget
| Budget | Treat ideas |
|---|---|
| Very low | Stickers, temporary tattoos, Halloween pencils, erasers |
| Low | Glow sticks, spider rings, vampire teeth, mini bubbles |
| Medium | Bouncy balls, mini notebooks, slap bracelets, crayons |
| Higher | Mini puzzles, small figures, bookmarks, play dough tubs |
Buying in bulk in September, or after Halloween for next year, keeps costs down.
Editing the Treat List
The list on the white card is made of separate text lines, so double-click any item to change it to what you actually have. If you only offer four items, delete the extras. If your house has a twist, such as books from a local library sale or packets of seeds, add them to the list. Keep the line Ask for the teal bowl! If you offer both sweets and non-food treats, so children with allergies know to ask.
Two Bowls, No Mix-Ups
Many houses offer two bowls: one with sweets and one with non-food treats. Keep them clearly separate, ideally in different coloured containers, so allergens from sweets do not get onto the non-food items. Let every child choose freely; plenty of children without allergies love a glow stick or a spider ring. Some families choose to offer only non-food treats, which avoids mix-ups altogether.
Where the Teal Sign Is Seen After Dark
- Print the sign and slip it into a plastic sleeve or laminate it to protect it from damp.
- Tape it to your front door, a window next to the door, or a porch post at child height.
- Place a painted or plastic teal pumpkin nearby as well.
- Light the sign with your porch light or a battery lantern so it can be seen after dark.
- Add a second copy at the end of your driveway if your door is far from the pavement.
Painting a Real Teal Pumpkin
The sign pairs perfectly with a real teal pumpkin on the doorstep. Use a craft pumpkin or a real one, wipe it clean, and let it dry. Paint it with two coats of teal acrylic paint, letting the first coat dry fully. Add a matte varnish if it will sit outside. Children enjoy helping, and painted pumpkins last much longer than carved ones. Some families also add a little sign on a stick in the pumpkin that echoes the Non-food treats here message.
Adding Your Family Name to the Teal Sign
The teal colour is the point of the sign, so keep it. You can still personalise it: add your family name under the title, change Allergy-Friendly House to Teal Pumpkin House or Allergy-Friendly Classroom, or translate the sign for a bilingual neighbourhood. The pumpkin is built from simple shapes grouped, so it stays crisp at any size. Fonts are Fredoka One and Montserrat, both free Google Fonts.
Teal Pumpkins at Schools and Festivals
The sign also works at school Halloween parties, trunk-or-treat events, church fall festivals, offices that host trick-or-treating for staff children, and shops that welcome costumed kids. Teachers often display it on the classroom door during party week to remind families that non-food treats are welcome. Event organisers can place it at a dedicated allergy-friendly trunk or table.
Sharing the Idea with Neighbours
The more teal pumpkins on a street, the easier trick-or-treating becomes for children with allergies. Share a PNG of the sign in your neighbourhood group with a short explanation, and offer to print copies for neighbours who would like to join in. Some streets coordinate so that at least a few houses on every block have a teal pumpkin, making the evening easier for families who need it.
Laminating the Teal Pumpkin Sign
Download the PDF and print in colour on bright white paper or card. Teal prints best on a smooth surface. For outdoor use, laminate it or print on weatherproof paper. You can also print a smaller version, half-letter size, for windows.
Teal Pumpkin Questions
Do I have to stop giving out sweets?
No. Many houses offer both, in separate bowls, so every child can choose.
Are non-food treats popular with kids?
Very. Glow sticks and spider rings are often the most talked-about treats of the night.
Is the teal pumpkin only for food allergies?
It welcomes any child who cannot have sweets, including those with diabetes or other dietary needs.
Can I use the sign at a school event?
Yes. Change the title to Allergy-Friendly Table or Allergy-Friendly Classroom.
Print the sign, fill the teal bowl, and turn on your porch light. Every child deserves a happy Halloween.
