Ask any kid about their favorite holiday, and Halloween is probably on their Mount Rushmore. Friends! Costumes! Candy!

• But many adults also love Halloween — because it's the one day a year we get an excuse to wander around town and knock on our neighbors' doors.

Why it matters: Only about a quarter of U.S. adults say they know "all or most" of their neighbors, a 2025 Pew Research Center survey found.

• 62% know some neighbors. But another 12% say they don't know a single one.

The big picture: Knowing your neighbors is better for your mental health, longevity and happiness levels, studies have shown.

• And the casual relationships we have with people nearby — the folks we wave to or chat with at the mailbox — are what keep communities strong and connected.

Reality check: A little more neighborliness can't solve everything straining American society right now.

• But it certainly couldn't hurt to at least be on a first-name basis with a few folks on your block or in your building.
• You never know when you might need some help shoveling your sidewalk or jumping your car, and communities can rally together in times of need.

Yes, but: You don't have to wait for Halloween to meet your neighbors.

• Spend some time out in your front yard, say hi to folks doing yard work or washing their car as you walk around, or go to your community yard sales and other events.

The bottom line: Making a few neighborhood friends is sweeter than any Snickers.

Mississippi, Nebraska and Kentucky residents order the most candy corn compared to the national average, per Instacart data shared with Axios.

• Folks in Hawai'i; Washington, D.C. and Florida, meanwhile, want pretty much nothing to do with the stuff.

How it works: That's based on the difference in the share of Instacart orders containing candy corn in each state versus the national average last October.

Zoom in: Per the Instacart data, candy corn is the most uniquely popular candy in Alabama, where it's ordered 20.1% more than the national average.

Go deeper: There's an argument over whether candy corn is any good. Do you like it?

• Another question remains: If you eat the stuff, which end do you start with?

Tattoo shops nationwide are doing Halloween flash events this month, with holiday-themed offerings often available at a discount.

Why it matters: Like Friday the 13th flash deals, Halloween events are a way for tattoo shops to attract new customers.

• Get someone in for an affordable little ghost, skeleton or black cat, the thinking goes, and they might come back later for more.
• They're a loss leader, basically.

What they're saying: "It's such a saturated market right now, the competition is stiffer than it's ever been," says David C. Lane, an associate professor at Illinois State University and author who researches the intersection of tattooing and capitalism.

• Tattoo artists "have to do something to recruit clientele," Lane says.

🥩 Steakhouse chain The Chop House is coming to Town Madison, breaking ground Oct. 29 across from BJ's Wholesale for its first Alabama location. (AL.com)

🛰️ A new two-part series by NOVA exploring dangerous moments on the International Space Station premiers on Alabama Public Television Nov. 5. (APT)

🍔 Straight to Ale is offering half-off meals to furloughed government employees and their families during the shutdown. (FOX54)

Halloween will likely offer above-normal temperatures for most of the country though Alabama's forecast is staying right on track for good Halloween vibes.

Why it matters: In much of the country, Halloween can be a meteorological crapshoot.

• Will we still have lingering summer heat, or will fall already be giving way to winter?
• That makes it tough to plan a costume for yourself or your kids.

Zoom in: The only weather to worry about trick-or-treating in Huntsville tonight is a chill.

• Per NWS, it'll be a sunny day today with a high around 61, but a low tonight around 40.

What to try: To be prepared for whatever, pick a costume that can be dressed up or down — in layers.

• "Hockey player" was always a childhood favorite of mine (with or without pads, for a little extra insulation).

Also consider inflatable costumes that draw in air with a fan to stay filled up.

• Kids can wear pretty much whatever they want inside.

Get the latest outlook.