We asked Axios Salt Lake City readers to dish their do's and don'ts around trick-or-treating.

Why it matters: Halloween should be an exciting holiday for anyone who participates, but not everyone adheres to the unwritten expectations of door-knocking and candy-giving.

By the numbers: About 56% of respondents said 9pm is too late to knock on doors for candy. Around 24% said after 10pm was too late, followed by 18.5% who said 8pm.

• Giving away two pieces of candy per kiddo was standard for about 44.5% of survey takers, compared with 24% who said three was acceptable. About 7.5% said children can take as many pieces as they want.
• Most readers said teenagers ages 13-15 were too old to knock on doors, while others expressed that age is just a number if visitors are costumed.

Readers also shared their wisdom and takes on candy and the holiday itself:

What you're saying: "I feel like the majority of Halloween candy is merely filler," one survey taker said. "Who actually is eating Whoppers and I've never heard of ANYONE excited about those little mini licorice things. We have to do better."

• "I just miss when trick or treating was a big deal like in the 90s," a nostalgic reader said.
• "Any one in a costume should get candy no matter how old they are. We are all a kid at heart."
• "Only go to houses with outdoor lights on."
• "If you leave candy out in a bucket with no one watching it, don't be offended when one group takes it all."

The bottom line: Be respectful, and remember to have fun!

• Pro tip: You might want to bundle up as well. The Thursday night forecast shows lows in the mid-30s with a chance of rain.

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Different colored pumpkins and pails hold more meaning — and controversy — than some might think on Halloween night.

The big picture: Trick-or-treating can be a fun, terrifying or potentially dangerous experience for kids with different needs.

Here's more on what the colors mean:

Teal pumpkins

What it means: Non-food treats will be given out.

• How it works: Homes participating in the tradition will put out a teal bucket or teal-painted pumpkin, signaling they are offering allergy-safe treats. Trick-or-treaters will look out for them on Halloween night or plan before going out via a map.

Blue pumpkins or buckets

What it means: Autism awareness.

• If a child is holding a blue bucket, they might not be able to say "trick-or-treat" but still would like one.

How it started: Years ago, Alicia Plumer of Louisiana shared a photo of her son and a blue pumpkin bucket with a plea.

• "His name is BJ & he is autistic. While he has the body of a 21 year old, he loves Halloween. Please help us keep his spirit alive & happy."

National autism groups spread the message, but pushback from families has caused a shift in recent years.

What we're hearing: "It's truly case-by-case for each family and individual," NAA's Lori McIlwain tells Axios.

Purple pumpkins

What it means: Epilepsy awareness.

How it started: In 2012, Ron Lamontagne, whose youngest child has epilepsy, launched a Purple Pumpkin Project Facebook page and event in Connecticut that drew in unexpected support and donations, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

• The idea was, people would ask: "Why are your pumpkins purple?" And, suddenly, the door is open to talk about epilepsy, which affects more than 3.4 million Americans.

The bottom line: Kids have different needs. Being aware of that on trick-or-treat night can help more of them have a scary good time.

Inform a neighbor

🐳 9th and 9th's prominent whale sculpture was vandalized this week with a "Did you vote?" message that depicted two soldiers wearing elephant and donkey images — animals that represent Republican and Democratic parties. (FOX 13)

• The city said it would work on removing it, according to FOX 13.

🏒 The Utah Hockey Club has traded a third-round pick to the Detroit Red Wing's for defenseman Olli Määttä who won the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017 when he played for the Pittsburgh Penguins. (Salt Lake Tribune)

🗳️ Utah Jazz legend John Stockton, who previously endorsed independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has declined to publicly back former President Trump. (Deseret News)

From the Alta Club to West High School, Utah is home to a number of places that are said to be haunted, according to Shadowlands, a website showcasing spooky locations in the U.S.

The big picture: Whether you're a believer or not, a number of outdoor spots, K-12 schools and universities are supposedly brimming with unconfirmed reports of paranormal activity.

You tell us: Do you have a Utah ghost story to share? Share it with us by responding to this email.

• We may use it in a future newsletter.