Everyone’s in the spirit (thanks to Desiree for the recent photo of decorations seen on Seattle Fire’s Junction-based Ladder 11). With 11 days to go until Halloween, we’re approaching the first of two Hallo-weekends, so our seasonal guide – all the events, from trick-or-treating to nightlife – is launched, featuring decoration spotlights too. We’ll continue to add to it as we get announcements (and decoration photos), so keep checking back. It’s at westseattleblog.com/halloween. Have something to add? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Two weeks until Halloween! Our decoration spotlights continue with the “spooky swamp” set up by Meagan and Matt. She explains:

My husband and I are excited to roll out our spooky swamp this Halloween at the intersection of 19th Ave SW and SW Austin St. Watch your step in the fog, we spotted a few gators and snakes in the area!

We are also participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, an awareness campaign for kids with food allergies. We will have non-food treats available in a separate bowl from candy so the kiddos with allergies get to enjoy themselves as much as anyone else!

There is more information available as well as a map of participating households (here). I hope more people will join and parents/guardians of kids with allergies find this helpful in their trick-or-treat planning.

Anybody else participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project is welcome to send their location for our forthcoming Halloween Guide. We’re still loving the decoration pics, too – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Businesses in The Admiral District have changed the previously announced date of this year’s trick-or-treating. Dan Jacobs of the Admiral Neighborhood Association sent word today that the new date is the Friday before Halloween, October 28th, still 3-6 pm. He says the decision was made to “provide the most business participation possible.” The event is centered at the Admiral Junction – California/Admiral – but other businesses often participate too.

The photos are from Yma:

Come out to Gatewood: 4116 SW Portland Street, off California- South of Morgan Junction.

Mid block we’ve got dragons & black cats & Mariners’ fans! Our neighbors have ghosts & pumpkins!

Decoration photos/suggestions welcome at westseattleblog@gmail.com. The ones we showcase will also be linked in the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, due out by weekend’s end.

That’s the trailer for one of West Seattle’s spookiest Halloween shows, “Nightfall Orphanage.” It’s back this year, but at a new location, and its run soft-opens tonight. Here’s the announcement:

THE NIGHT IS DARK AND FULL OF WONDER

The Halloween season is at hand, and the veil between this world and the Radiant Twilight grows thin as the ethereal echos of Nightfall Orphanage materialize in its NEW WEST SEATTLE LOCATION.

Admission is free and Nightfall Orphanage will be accepting non-perishable food donations for West Seattle Food Bank and monetary contributions for Washington’s National Park Fund. As Nightfall Orphanage is a neighborhood home haunt for charity; we ask that you please be respectful of the community.

Please check the website before attending for information and to explore the lore of Nightfall Orphanage. Dates, times, and realities are subject to change.

All are welcome who would welcome others.
Please give generously to our charities.

Nightfall Orphanage may be too intense for some younger guests. Parental discretion is advised.

New Location:
4544 51st Place SW

THERE IS NO HAUNT PARKING ON 51st PLACE. Please park on a nearby side street.

October 14,15 (Soft Open*)
October 21,22,28,29,30
7 pm-10 pm

October 31st HALLOWEEN
7 pm-10:30 pm

*The table is set and dinner is served but some things might still be in the oven.

This will be in our calendar and the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide (which will launch this weekend).

(Photo by Jason Enevoldsen)

By Alice Enevoldsen
Special to West Seattle Blog

Think about a recent time you were excluded from something:

Your friends spent the evening out without you; you didn’t have time to watch that movie everyone said was so good; or, you weren’t invited to an important meeting, even though your coworker at the same level was. You know that feeling? It isn’t fun, but as adults we’re able to deal with it appropriately most of the time. Celebrating Halloween with food allergies means being left out over and over again, which is particularly difficult for children.

Enter the Teal Pumpkin Project! It’s simple:

1. (optional) Sign up at http://www.foodallergy.org/teal-pumpkin-project.
2. Display a teal pumpkin at your door, or a picture of one, to show that you’re participating.
3. Give trick-or-treaters a non-food treat, either instead of candy or in addition to candy.

The Teal Pumpkin Project is not an attempt to eliminate candy from Halloween. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started to promote the inclusion and safety of, and respect for, people with food allergies. As a happy circumstance, this also promotes the inclusion and safety of, and respect for, people who also cannot have candy for reasons besides food allergies.

I don’t have food allergies, why would I participate?

Empathy and inclusion.

Halloween today is one of many social occasions with an emphasis on food. For someone like me, with food allergies, these occasions mean being excluded or partly excluded. That’s not fun. It’s not fun that it is absolutely necessary that I use my willpower to resist eating a delicious-looking cookie that might have nuts, or a caramel candy bar (my favorite) because the brand has mixed peanuts into the caramel. I’m an adult though: I have both the willpower to resist the candy bar and the emotional resiliency to cope with the exclusion. Children are still learning these things.

There are already 18 households signed up on the West Seattle peninsula, including White Center. You can find a map of some of them on the Teal Pumpkin Project website.

I know there are more planning to participate as well.

Do kids really like non-food treats?

Yes. Not every kid likes every treat, and that’s true for candy too, but non-food treats can be even more fun, and are less likely to be subject to the “parent tax” (you know the one: the portion of kids’ candy eaten by the parents after bedtime?). I’m sure you can get even more creative, but stickers and glowsticks are usually a hit. I’ll be making slime. Are you down to the wire on time? A dollar store is going to have a variety of things that might work for you.

If I’m handing out candy and non-food treats, how do I determine which treat to give to each trick-or-treater?

I advocate giving out both to each kid, but the Food Allergy Research and Education organization recommends that “you can either ask trick-or-treaters if they have any food allergies, or give every visitor a choice of which treat they’d like: candy or a non-food item.” Keep your candy and non-food treats in separate bowls.

I/My Child Has Food Allergies

Please stay safe on Halloween. Bring your epinephrine and allergy medications while you trick-or-treat and to Halloween parties. Wait until you get home to eat any treats. Check every label and ingredients – “fun-size” candies can have different ingredients than full-size. If you can’t find the ingredients, swap it for something safe. Bring extra safe treats along with you to parties.

Have a Happy Halloween!

RESOURCES

FARE: Food Allergy Research and Education
FAACT: Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Connection Team
WA-FEAST: Washington Food Allergy, Eczema, and Asthma Support Team—this is our local active support group.
Sea-FAC: Seattle Food Allergy Consortium—local research being done into causes and cures for food allergies.

EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re adding the Teal Pumpkin Project map to the WSB West Seattle Halloween Guide, so you can find it again easily.