Special to IFN
Downtown Mooresville is getting a spooky makeover this Halloween season, thanks to Murto Made Distillery owner Justin “Z” Zalewski. Though he admits he’s not much of a Halloween guy, Zalewski’s over-the-top decorations have become a Main Street tradition.
Now in its fourth year, Murto Made’s Halloween transformation features “Slashers at the Still,” a theme inspired by the iconic horror films of the 1980s and 1990s. Guests can sip on themed cocktails while classic slasher flicks play in the background each weekend, adding to the eerie-but-fun atmosphere.
Past years have featured fan-favorite themes such as Stranger Things, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice — each turning the distillery into a spooky spectacle locals look forward to.
“The popularity of pop-up bars really inspired us,” Zalewski said. “We wanted to create something cool that would bring more people downtown — and people love Halloween.”
This year, Halloween falls on a Friday, and the frightful fun kicks off early. On Thursday, October 30, Downtown Mooresville will host the final OTR Throttle Thursday of the season — a high-energy bike night that turns Main Street into a block party of motorcycles, classic cars, hot rods, live music and food trucks. The event is presented by Old Town Revival in partnership with Murto Made Distillery, Foundation Moto and Tilley Harley-Davidson.
On Halloween Day, local merchants will welcome families for the annual Downtown Candy Grab from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by an adults-only evening celebration at Murto Made.
“Downtown will be closed earlier in the day for kids and families,” Zalewski said. “Then adults can have their party time on Saturday.”
The Halloween season wraps up on Saturday, November 1, with a community block party presented by Murto Made, Waves Entertainment and 158 on Main. The event will feature food trucks, drinks, live music, and costume contests and is sponsored by Mayor Chris Carney.
While Zalewski insists he’s “not much of a Halloween guy,” his immersive décor — complete with cobwebs, flickering lights and life-size horror icons like Jason, Freddy Krueger and Chucky — tells a different story.
“I don’t really like holidays … except Thanksgiving — and that’s just for the food,” Zalewski joked. “But people love Halloween, so we really lean into it. Every year, we try to step it up and draw more people in.”
Murto Made Mooresville is open 5 p.m. to midnight on Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 12 noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
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For more information, visit www.murtomade.com or follow @murtomade on social media.