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By Mike Barnhardt

Enterprise Record

Call them Mr. and Mrs. Halloween.

And for thousands of children from Davie County and beyond, they’re just that.

North Main Street from downtown to Martin Luther King Jr. Road will be closed to vehicles from 6-10 on Halloween night.

You can thank David and Rosemary Cozart.

When the couple moved into their home on North Main some 21 years ago, they expected trick or treaters. After all, both had walked the same street looking for candy when they were children.

“Our first Halloween here was simple,” Rosemary said. “We invited family, handed out candy.”

The next year, more people came.

“It just kept getting bigger and bigger,” David said. A nephew, Phillip Smith, started dancing on the roof to spice things up.

And then, Shrek, all 8-feet tall and 6-feet wide of him, made an appearance in 2012. A throw away from a Burger King promotion, the giant inflatable Shrek attached to the roof was an expected treat on Halloween night. Sadly, Shrek fell victim to the elements, and has been retired.

But the party goes on.

The Cozarts enjoy helping the young children have a fun night. They have a theme each year, everything from the movie Frozen (The entire yard was painted white.) to The Wizard of Oz (The driveway was painted as the yellow brick road.)

Always, there’s a stage. And dancing. They say the little ones love to get on the stage and dance.

“People come from other places,” David said. “There are thousands of people coming down this street.”

He likes to tell the story of just hanging out on the street and listening to people’s reactions when they saw the set up at his house. One man from Lexington said, “I wonder what crazy guy would do all of that?”

Rosemary enjoys being recognized around town as the “Shrek Lady.” “Everybody wants to know the theme, and that just tickles us to death.”

This year’s theme will be Back to the 80s, with music and 80s themed decorations. Their daughters Karen and Kelly and their families do much of the work, Rosemary said. Any time they ask a local business or person to help, they do it.

The decorations only go up just before the big night, and come down later that same night. Talking about it, David asks his wife to remind him to get the golf cart. He could transform it into the “Back to the Future” car for photos.

“We look forward to it,” she said. “It’s become a great family time for us.”

Their themes are never scary, designed more for kids of all ages. The Cozarts start at 4:30 p.m., and end their show at 9.

“It’s this street,” Rosemary said. “There’s a lot of nostalgia associated with this street. It’s been wonderful. People will come and dance and dance and dance.”

For the Cozarts, Halloween has become a family and friends reunion, with a thousand costumed little ones having a good time.

“It’s been a great family time for us,” Rosemary said. “It’s brought our family closer. It’s a busy night, but so much fun.”

“It’s been a ride,” David said, “all because of this street.”

More Halloween Activities

Friday, Oct. 27

• Hollowine Pumpkin Carving Festival, RayLen Vineyards & Winery, 3577 US 158, Mocksville, 5-9 p.m. Music by SoundKraft, food from West Coast Wanderers and Sweet Magnolia Mercantile. Pumpkins $10 in advance, don’t have to purchase and/or carve pumpkin to attend.

Saturday, Oct. 28

• Trunk or Treat, Advance Fire Dept., NC 801, 5 p.m. until. Food trucks, candy, dunking booth, games, hayrides, headless horseman. Park at 169 Fire Station Road for ride to site.

• Ghost stories and s’mores, Zachary House, 131 Church St., Cooleemee, 6-8 p.m. Sponsored by Davie County Public Library and Cooleemee Historical Association, starts with light-hearted ghost stories, before a “big kid” story later. Fire pits.

Oct. 28, 29, 31

• The Holly Lane Haunt is a family tradition for Jeremy and Susan Young that has been going on for years, and is growing. “We continuously add new areas every year, and have tame inflatables for the younger audience up the driveway,” he said. “The haunted trail itself is completely volunteered by family and friends, and free to the public. However, we do accept donations to help fund the trail.” Holly Lane Haunt, 206 Holly Lane, Mocksville, 6:30-10 p.m. Live actors, animatronics. Three areas for different age groups. Free.

Sunday, Oct. 29

• Halloween Festival and Trunk or Treat, Bermuda Run Country Club, 4-8 p.m. Carnival games, hayrides, food, drinks, cotton candy, music, haunted house. Costume contest. All ages. 336-551-2783.

• Trunk or Treat, Chestnut Grove Methodist, 2812 US 601 N., Mocksville, 5-7 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 31

• Downtown Mocksville Merchants, candy during afternoon and evening. Mobile Jukebox to play spooky tunes.

• Free entry to Cognition Museum to all in costume, 4-6:30 p.m.

• Minion Block Party, The Station, Downtown Mocksville, 4-6 p.m. DJ, food truck.

• North Main Street closed to vehicles 6-10 p.m. (side roads blocked) for trick or treaters. Live music, special events at houses, Brock’s Mutated Madness at Brock Gym by Davie Parks and Rec.

• Reverse Trick or Treat, sponsored by Humane Socity of Davie, at public library on 371 N. Main St., 6-9 p.m. Bring cat or dog food, litter, toys, etc. and play with cute furry friends.

• Trunk or Treat, Center Methodist Church, 1857 US 64 W., Mcoksville. Games, free hotdogs. 6:30-8 p.m.