Blue pumpkins bring awareness and inclusion to Halloween fun

ConnectWell offers autism support and services through its teams in Brockville and Carleton Place, helping families access speech, occupational, and behavioural therapies

With Halloween approaching, families are getting ready for a night of costumes, candy and fun.

But one special pumpkin is standing out this year — the blue pumpkin.

The idea began as a grassroots movement to help parents share their child’s needs with others and encourage understanding within the community. 

The calming blue colour adds a gentle message of inclusion, reminding people that everyone deserves to enjoy Halloween, no matter their abilities. 

Anna Gooding, from ConnectWell, explains what blue pumpkins or blue buckets represent. 

Gooding said a blue pumpkin or bucket doesn’t always mean a person has autism but may indicate they function differently. 

Gooding also shares what she does when she sees a blue pumpkin. 

Other coloured pumpkins also carry special meanings — teal for food allergies, purple for epilepsy awareness, and pink for breast cancer awareness. 

Together, these colours encourage compassion, inclusion and understanding throughout Halloween.

ConnectWell offers autism support and services through its teams in Brockville and Carleton Place, helping families access speech, occupational, and behavioural therapies.

Story by Evan Gibb