Andy, Barney, Goober, Aunt Bee, Opie – all names easily recognizable to any of us that are a “certain age”. All are names that spark memories of a TV show depicting a simpler time in everybody’s favorite small town, Mayberry. Shown on black and white TV screens that required your getting up from your comfy place on the couch to turn the knob and change the channel or turn the sound up or down. That job was often delegated to the kids!
Last year Paul and I were visiting a friend in the hospital when one of his other visitors mentioned going to Mayberry Days. My ears perked up and I started asking questions about this thing called Mayberry Days. What is it exactly, where is it and so on. It was then that I decided I wanted to make a visit to Mayberry Days too.
So, one year later another thing was crossed off my bucket list. We went to Mt. Airy, North Carolina and joined in the Mayberry Days Celebration that’s held each year in September!
Mt. Airy is a small town with a population of a little over 10,000. Before going to Mayberry Days I was under the false impression that this was where the show was filmed. It was disappointing to me to discover that I was wrong. But it is, however, the town Mr. Griffith grew up in and based Mayberry and its characters on.
We arrived at “Mayberry” on Friday and the celebration was in full swing. We spent the afternoon roaming around town checking out the shops and town folk.
The little barbershop where Andy grew up getting his haircut was obviously the motivation behind Floyd and his barbershop. During our visit Paul hopped into the 1920’s era chair and received a trim from a Floyd tribute artist. This guy had Floyd’s mannerisms and voice down perfectly!
I ran into Otis and just had to get a picture with the lovable town drunk.
Otis said he’d just been released from his usual night in the jail, so we decided to check out the local “accomodations”.
I have to “try” to keep Paul out of trouble everywhere we go!
See what I mean!!
After all that was dealt with; it was on down to Wally’s.
And from there, on over to see the Darlins.
Our favorite part of Mayberry Days was the Saturday morning parade. Many characters from the series were on the prowl for the parade including Ernest T yielding one of the bricks he loved to throw.
Remember the episode where the stealthy thief pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes by putting shoes on a cow!
The characters I had a blast watching in the parade were these two ladies from the episode called “The Fun Girls”. Remember that one? These two were having a great time being flirtatious up and down the parade route!
Like watching the Andy Griffith Show reruns; yearn for a simpler time? Plan to visit Mt. Airy, NC for Mayberry Days next year! Click To Tweet
Of course Barney had to get involved! Or Bernie, as they called him!
“The Darlins” showed up to entertain us too. I’ve always loved their mountain music!
You can’t have a Mayberry parade without Goober, and of course Barney just being Barney and stirring things up.
And last, but not least, little Opie.
In addition to the fabulous tribute artists and the parade, there were many shows you could take in with great music and comedy. And a BBQ cook-off took place on Friday evening that was sufficient to make anyone’s mouth water! There is also an Andy Griffith museum with lots of photos and memorabilia from the long running series.
It was a fun weekend for this couple that grew up enjoying the crazy cast of characters from the warm and friendly Andy Griffith Show. If you’re in the same special age bracket that we’re in, you just might enjoy visiting Mayberry Days too!
P.S. If North Carolina is in your plans for next September, don’t forget Mt. Airy and the Mayberry Days Celebration!
Links to some other unique travel destinations:
Centralia, PA – the burning coal mine
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