Mount Airy, North Carolina was the birthplace and childhood home of actor Andy Griffith. Believed by many to be the inspiration of the fictional town of Mayberry in the Andy Griffith Show, the community holds an annual celebration allowing fans to come together and reflect on their favorite characters and moments.
“Mayberry Days“ takes place during the last weekend of September and hosts a number of events and activities for the whole family. There are live concerts, shows, and trivia games as well as a golf tournament, parade, and barbecue cook-off. Throughout town you’ll see excellent impersonators of some of your favorite characters. No where else will you find so many old Ford Galaxies which was the vehicle used as Andy and Barney’s squad car.
My father and I attended in 2010 for the show’s 50th anniversary. It was a great experience and we had a lot of fun! Be warned that it does get crowded so be sure to book your hotel in advance. Both of us are big Andy Griffith fans so we felt fortunate to have the opportunity to attend, especially during the historic anniversary.
Mount Airy is a beautiful small town and really does give one the sense of Mayberry. Besides the festival, there are many sights to see including the Andy Griffith Museum which houses a large collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia including several actual props from the Andy Griffith Show and Matlock. Outside the museum is a statue of Andy and Opie carrying their fishing rods. On Main Street you’ll find Floyd’s Barbershop and Snappy Lunch, which is known for its pork chop sandwich. Other places to check out and just a short walk away are Wally’s filling station and a replica of the Mayberry courthouse and jail. For a unique experience, you can even book a night at the home where Andy lived during his adolescence.
If you ever watched the show, you probably heard at some point Andy and Barney talking about the nearby town of Mount Pilot. Although that was fictional, Pilot Mountain is not. Located 14 miles south of Mount Airy, and named for an isolated rock hill that stands 2,421 feet high, it’s a great place to hike and bird watch.
Mount Airy, North Carolina is a neat little town to visit and if you’re an Andy Griffith fan, “Mayberry Days” is a must see. It’s a great place to enjoy small town life and reminds us all the importance of family values and treating one another with respect, just as Andy would.
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