But for some youths, the reality is much different.

Some children have food allergies and can’t enjoy candy passed out during the holiday.

A Tonganoxie High School class is trying to spread the word on how to make the holiday enjoyable for those youths as well.

Tara George’s event planning class will be visiting businesses this week asking them to consider having alternative items available for youths.

Residents also are encouraged to paint pumpkins teal and put them near their front doors, a nationwide indicator that the home offers alternatives to candy for youths with food allergies.

“Our teacher was given the flier for it, and she wanted to get the word out around town,” said THS senior Christian Grube, who is enrolled in the class this year. “We’ve so far called the Tonganoxie Recreation Commission and they were very interested in getting stuff out about it.”

Grube suggested several inexpensive items that could be handed out to youths: keychains, pencils, erasers, stickers, bead necklaces and spider rings.

Food Allergy Research and Education started the Teal Pumpkin Project. According to FARE’s website, foodallergy.org, the project is “designed to promote safety, inclusion and respect of individuals managing food allergies — and to keep Halloween a fun, positive experience for all.”

Additional information about allergies themselves can be found at foodallergy.com.

For more about the event planning class’ efforts, contact George at the high school, 913-845-2654.