Why Go to Mayberry Days?

I’ve heard some say that they don’t like fighting the traffic or the big crowds of people.  Well…there is a crowd…reportedly upwards of 45,000 people or so at the parade on Saturday morning.  BUT, you have to know…this is a DIFFERENT kind of crowd.  The folks that attend the Mayberry events like this one are Mayberry kinds of folks.  Everybody is nice, everybody entrenches themselves in the Mayberry experience, and everybody there “talks Mayberry.”  You’ll see all sorts of Chapters represented, sporting their logos and t-shirts. 

But let’s back up a bit.  Event Director Tanya Jones with help from Terri Forrest Champney, and a host of others, promise a great time for, all with plenty to do.  Thanks so much to these ladies and the staff that work all year long for this great event.  This year, events for Mayberry Days start on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017.  Monday has music and a comedian, John Floyd…and of course the newly renovated Andy Griffith Museum, which is open daily.  Tuesday has repeat performances of the music and comedy, and adds a performance by The Embers at the Blackmon Amphitheatre.  Wednesday, it the day the Post Office starts using the postmark of Mayberry on any cards and letters you send (a pretty cool souvenir to send to yourself)!  Also the Caribbean Chillers will perform at the Blackmon in the evening.  The big event on Thursday is The Emmett, (named in honor of Andy’s longtime friend and Museum creator, Emmett Forrest) aka the Mayberry Days Golf Tournament.  Followed by a great 2:30 pm show - Margaret Kerry:  Tinkerbell Meets Andy Griffith show at the Historic Earle Theatre.  The Mayberry Days Dinner and Entertainment after the golf tournament is at 4:30 pm.  The Tams perform at the Blackmon at 8:00 pm.  Friday it really starts to crank up…with the Horseshoe Pitching contest, and the Mayors Proclamation…officially opening the Mayberry Days festivities.  Here is where you can firs see and hear from the stars:  “Betty Lynn (Thelma Lou), Rodney Dillard (and the current Dillards’ Band), Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling), Clint Howard (Leon),  Ronnie Schell (two episodes and also Duke Slater on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.), "LeRoy Mack" McNees (two episodes as the Dobro-playing Country Boy), Margaret Kerry (Bess Muggins and Helen Scobey),  Joy Ellison (Mary Wiggins and others), Bettina Linke (wife of late associate producer Richard O. Linke), Karen Knotts, and George Lindsey Jr.” [1]  And other notables may end up coming and surprising us as well…even a chance to meet Andy Griffith’s daughter, Dixie.  And of course, the Mayberry Deputy and all of the other Tribute Artists will be on hand.  Afterwards, shows by Karen Knotts, Rodney Dillard and Ronnie Schell are “don’t miss” events…no matter if you’ve seen them before or not.  A pork chop eating contest, Aunt Bee’s Bake Sale, Mrs. Wiley’s Tea, Pie Eating contests are all good to see.

At 3:30 pm…Memories of Elvis with Michael Hoover is an outstanding concert. Also at the Blackmon Amphitheatre, the Mayberry Minutemen Youth Trivia Contest starts, followed by the World championship of TAGS Trivia, officiated by the Tribute Artists at 4:30 pm.  So you think YOU KNOW MAYBERRY???  I did too, until the first time I participated in the Trivia Contest, and only got a small number correct. It is a site to behold if you’ve not seen one.  Be there!

Right after we generally get together and take a picture with the online chapters and web page groups.  Come and meet those that you interact with online as part of the Mayberry family.

Also at 4:30 pm, Leroy Mack will perform his concert at the Andy Griffith Theatre.  (He was one of the “country boys” Band that appeared and played in the “Mayberry on Record” episode. Another great show to see. At 5:30, the Barbeque Judging starts.  At 7:00 pm The Malpass Brothers perform and James Gregory “The Funniest Man in America” goes on at 8:00 pm.  At 9:30, a wonderful show and concert is on stage at the Historic Earle Theatre…The VW Boys.

Saturday is BIG.  I mean Big BIG!  The Mayberry Days Parade starts at 9:00 pm.  People will line the streets “10 deep” for about 2/3 of a mile…so get there early and claim your spot.  Then there’s Horseshoe Pitching, Goober Says Hay Bale Throwing, Barbeque, Vendors at the Playhouse, a big Silent Auction of Mayberry collectibles, another Karen Knotts Show, Mayberry Idle Talent Show, Chester Jones Checkers Tournament, a Corn Hole Toss Championship, and Professor Brower’s Lecture and TAGS Meeting.  The Squad Car Tours, a visit to Wally’s Filling Station and a stop into the Courthouse are all great attractions!  There will be Autograph Sessions with some of the stars below the Andy Griffith Museum starting around 11:00 am until. 

There are two Big Shows of Col. Tim’s Talent Time at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm.  (These usually sell out so get your tickets now).  These shows will feature many of the stars from the series, as well as the Tribute Artists performing and reenacting some of your favorite comedy skits from the show. Among the Tribute Artists expected to attend and perform at Mayberry Days are:  The Mayberry Deputy (David Browning), Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Phil “Ernest T” Fox, Jeff “Howard Sprague” Branch, Michael “Gomer” Oliver, Tim “Goober” Pettigrew, Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown, Christie “Andylina” McLendon, Eric “Mayor Pike” Lowry, Bob “Briscoe” Mundy, Ted “Mr. Wheeler/Mr. McBeevee” Womack, Eli “Opie” Austin, Alma “Aunt Bee” Venable, Rick “The Jinx, Henry Bennett” Grimsley, Dennis “Mr. Schwump” Beales, Michelle “Skippy” Bryson, Dixie “Daphne” Griffith,  Mike “Sgt. Carter” Haviland, and Ronnie “Salt and Pepper Barney” Felker, and his wife Elease “Thelma Lou” Felker.  There will a host of other tributes that may be coming as well…Bo “Briscoe” Pierce, Ken “Barney” Anderson, Phil “Ernest T” Lee…and even Mr. Jim Clark...author and the "Head Goober" that started all of this...so do keep your eyes peeled.

Another concert at the Blackmon at 7:30 featuring Balsam Range.

Sunday concludes the festival but has several enjoyable events including Mayberry Days Chapel at the Blackmon at 9:30 am, some more music throughout the day and a special movie showing at 4:00 and 7:00 pm. And music by the Lisemby Family at 6:30 at the Blackmon.

So “Why Go to Mayberry Days?”…the biggest event for Mayberry Fans all year long?  A better question my friends is “Why in the world would you not go to Mayberry Days?” 

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[1] http://tagsrwc.com/the_ebullet/

Getting My Dose of Mayberry

I don’t know about you folks, but I go through times where I just need a good dose of Mayberry.  I don’t mean binging on watching the episodes, but interacting with other Mayberryians.

So here’s how I like to do it:

1)  I LOVE going to the www.iMayberryCommunity.com site and reading the discussion forum, adding comments to it and communicating with over 950 members, from all over the country, on Mayberry related trivia and just general conversation.  There is something special about this community of folks.  The page also links you to Weaver’s Department Store, and the “Two Chairs, No Waiting” podcast. Weaver's has some great deals on Mayberry apparel, collectibles and some rare treasures. Anybody that is ANYBODY Mayberry, just has to shop at Weaver's!  The Two Chair No Waiting Podcast is iconic in and of itself.  So much information, and so much fun to listen and participate during the show in the Chat Room!  If you haven't been there, you gotta go!

2)  The Facebook Groups are awesome.  There are several out there:  Mayberry, Our Favorite Hometown, TAGSRWC; Only One Word I Can Think of…Big, Mayberry After Midnight, The Andy Griffith Show, TAGS, and I Miss Mayberry.  All unique, and all run by good folks.  The nice thing about them is that they are ALL Mayberry, ALL the time.  No negative attitudes, no politics, no sales, no criticizing allowed…Just Mayberry Fun!

3)  I have our local TAGS Rerun Watchers Club, Trivial Trivialities, and we love to throw out trivia, quotes and pictures to each other.  It’s hard to even see one of them on Facebook and not find a way to make a Mayberry related comment on their posts.  Getting together with them periodically helps me get my dose of Mayberry.

4)  Since I am fortunate enough to be a part of the Tribute Artists group, I absolutely love these folks and their families.  We all communicate regularly on group messaging and it is very special when we get together at events.  There is a kinship among these folks that is hard to describe, other than respect, admiration and a feeling of family!

5)  Mayberry Events.  I look so forward to attending and participating in the Mayberry events.  There are several super events that are available.  I hope you can go to some.  Starting around April, there’s the Eagle’s Wings Fundraiser (Tuscaloosa, AL), then Mayberry in the Midwest in May (Danville, IN), Mayberry Meet Up in July (Mt. Airy, NC), Mayberry Nights in August (Troy, NC), Annual Mayberry Days in September (Mt. Airy, NC), and the Cruise to Mayberry in October (Out of Charleston, SC) to name a few.  To see a more complete listing of events, click HERE. 

6.  Your local chapter of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club.  Take a look on the web page to see all the chapters and type in your state, then try to find one near you by clicking HERE  

 

7.  If you don’t find a Rerun Watchers Clun near you, then start your own.  Click HERE to find out how. 

 See you in Mayberry!

 

 

 

 

 

 

A SALUTE

Whether I go to the grocery store, or to Wal-Mart, or just drive up to the mall…I HATE to be in a long line.  If people were attentive to the task at hand, and moved with due diligence, it would be different, but they don’t! Even waiting at the traffic light, and I am just four cars back…I know that because of drivers not paying attention or just lackadaisically moving along…I may not make the light.  I am especially irked by the “rubber-necking” drivers that just have to slow down and take a good long look at either a stranded motorist, a car pulled over by an officer of the law, or a wreck.  “JUST PRESS THE GAS and MOVE ALONG!”

We hurry up and wait through most of life.  We wait on the TV Repair guy (unless it’s George’s TV Repair”).  We wait on the lady on the phone after she tells us your wait time is 18 minutes.  We wait on the person to get someone on the phone to answer our question about whether or not they have a product on the shelf at one of those big box stores.  We wait on a table when we go out to dinner, even though we made a reservation. (Unless it’s the Bluebird Diner.)
Now, let me back up, and allow my blood pressure to come back down, and talk about the NOT having to wait.

Mayberry fans all over the world have come to know the meaning of “Two chairs.  No waiting.”  It’s the dream of Floyd Lawson, the quirky town barber, to have two barber chairs in his shop so there wouldn’t be any wait time for customers.  Of course he’d have to have two barbers, and that didn’t work out so well in “The Bookie Barber” episode (S2 E28).  Nonetheless, Floyd had to give it a try, and certainly had “the magazines to swing it.”  I know that I can walk right down the street to Floyd’s Barber Shop and NOT have to wait a long time.  Even if I did, it would be a fun wait.

I also know that I can tune in on most Monday nights and 8:00 PM (EST) and find a lot of my friends in a Guest Chat Room, because here is the “Two Chairs.  No Waiting” podcast.  The easiest way to find it is to go to www.imayberrycommunity,com and click on the podcast there.  You can listen to the podcast, and enjoy some of the best entertainment news on the planet.  News about cast and crew, tribute artists, upcoming events, trivia, interviews, new books, and more.  You can even join in the Chat Room.  The proprietor of “Two Chairs. No Waiting” is Allan Newsome.  He’s done over 400 podcast episodes to date.  Allan also owns the iMayberryCommunity.com fan page, the WBMUTBB (Who’s Been Messing Up the Bulletin Board) fan page, along with several others, and he and his wife Jan also operate Weaver’s Department Store (even on days when Bert Miller isn’t working his street stand).   Allan is also the tribute artist that portrays Floyd, the Barber, and has ably done so for about 20 years.  Along the parade routes and through the Mayberry crowds, he’s always willing to give you a snip and check the length of your sideburns.  In real life, he’s an engineer and lives in the state of Alabama.  No matter how busy his personal life is, he always finds time to share his love of Mayberry.  Whether you’re a casual fan of the show (and it’s hard to just be a casual fan), or a diehard “trained notice” like Barney Fife, Allan’s podcast will give you that down home good feeling.  It’s light hearted, chocked full of information, and provides insights into the lives of the cast, crew and tribute artists that collectively keep the show’s life blood flowing.

I enjoy all of the pages Allan maintains for our enjoyment, the Facebook posts he makes, the pictures he shares, the podcasts he produces, and most of all, appreciate the energy he puts into making Mayberry fun for all of us.  Not only will you get to know more about Mayberry, but you’ll come to appreciate more of who Allan Newsome is and has been for all of our enjoyment. Like Floyd once said to Andy…we say to Allan…”you’re a prince of a fella.”  So find and join the imayberrycommunity.com page, join the WBMUTBB page and tune into the "Two Chairs.  No Waiting" podcast...you'll be glad you did.  

Mayberry Fortunate

I Am Mayberry Fortunate 

One often speaks of how fortunate they are to have this or that, or fortunate to have a particular experience...and so on and so forth. 

Mayberry Days 2016 has come and gone...and it was fantastic.  Many of us took souvenirs away from the weekend.  I came away with a new appreciation for these events.  I attend Mayberry events across the Southeast and Midwest, and am lucky enough to participate as a Tribute Artist portraying Col. Harvey, "Aunt Bee's Medicine Man" ...and I count myself fortunate. 

But I want to reflect on what I think it means to appreciate this good fortune. Spending time with my Tribute Artist friends, I appreciate the time spent with them interacting with the many wonderful Mayberry fans. We visit a good bit, eat meals together often, and work on and off the stage to hopefully bring a little joy to folks as we recreate memories from the Andy Griffith Show...and there is an abundance of love and respect for each other.

I appreciate the wonderful people whom I've met at all of the events, as well as the tireless efforts of the organizers. I've been able to forge new friendships that I will cherish forever. I've become friends through social media venues and now have a bond with these folks that comes to life as we get to say hello, shake hands or hug each other's neck when we meet at Mayberry events. 

I appreciate my good fortune when I meet so many of the real stars from the Andy Griffith Show. I think at last count I had met about 25 of the folks that have either appeared on the show or worked on the set as directors, producers and the like. 

I appreciate how fortunate I am to have a wife and family that not only love the show, but put up with my somewhat "elevated enthusiasm" about the whole Mayberry experience. The family, along with some great friends, are either super "supportive" or super "tolerant" (haha)...either way, I am fortunate. 

With none of us being guaranteed tomorrow, I for one want all of us to reflect on how fortunate we are to have experienced watching the Andy Griffith Show; to have encountered Mayberry stars at the events; to have made new long-lasting friendships along the way; to have enjoyed wholesome fun with a right moral compass in the values taught by the show; and to have had a chance to travel and see places with our families. 

In my reflection of how fortunate I have been with my Mayberry ventures, I don't ever want to loose sight of the blessing, and certainly don't want to allow the normalcy of life to make me numb to the wonderful blessings in life. 

No matter if it's Mayberry, or another passion you have...stop and realize your own good fortune. So for the friends, the fun, the laughs and the joy it brings us. I say to you, "I am Mayberry Fortunate."  What about you?

Have a Mayberry Day, 

Keith (Col. Harvey) Brown

How to Connect to and Share Mayberry

I was watching and listening to a recent podcast, Two Chairs, No Waiting, hosted by our friend, Allan Newsome.  The podcast showcased some of the many great books written about The Andy Griffith Show.  An issue came up during the podcast that got me to thinking.  It centered around the different websites, resources and events, as well as what many consider to be common knowledge about the show.  What came from the conversation here, and at a recent "meet up" event in Mt. Airy, was that there are still a large number of folks that don't know about all of the great resources, interactive websites, and events for Mayberry fans to participate in and enjoy.

With that in mind, I have put together a beginners list of ways fans can connect with the show, and other fans.  The list submitted here is certainly not a complete list, but is one that you can share with your friends. All of the listed sites and books are credited to the folks that own or host rights to them as much as I have knowledge of and my intent in sharing them is to be a good neighbor and friend of Mayberry. 


BOOKS
The Andy Griffith Show Book:  by Ken Beck and Jim Clark
Mayberry My Hometown:  by Stephen J. Spignesi
The Official Andy Griffith Show Scrapbook: by Lee Pfeiffer
Mayberry 101:  by Neil Brower
We Have Extra Security Tonight: by David Browning with Thomas D. Perry
The Andy Griffith Show:  by Richard Kelly
Barney Fife and Other Characters I Have Known: by Don Knotts with Robert Metz
Barney Fife's Guide to Life, Love and Self-Defense: by Len and John Oszustowicz
Everybody Back on the Truck: by Lee Grant and the Original Dillards
Goober in a Nutshell: by George Lindsey with Ken Beck and Jim Clark
Aunt Bee's Cookbook:  by Ken Beck and Jim Clark
Aunt Bee's Delightful Desserts: by Ken Beck and Jim Clark
Mayberry Trivia -1500 Questions About A TV Classic: by Scott Hopkins
Andy and Don: by Daniel de Visé

NEWSLETTERS
The E-Bullet: http://www.tagsrwc.com/ebullet/joinebullet.htm  Sent every other month with show highlights, cast news, event schedules, and chapter news.
The WBMUTBB Digest: http://www.tagsrwc.com/wbmutbb/joinwbmutbb.htm sent daily with news and updates.
Weaver's Department Store Newsletter:  http://mail.weaversdepartmentstore.com/mailman/listinfo/newsletter_weaversdepartmentstore.com  News of sales and new items available at the online store.

WEBSITES
The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club. www.imayberry.com
Weaver's Department Store - www.weaversdepartmentstore.com shop for memorabilia, gift items and collectibles
iMayberry Community - interactive fan page, forums, blogs, etc. www.imayberrycommunity.com
Whose Been Messing Up The Bulletin Board? This is the Original online chapter of the Rerun Watchers Club. http://www.wbmutbb.com
Sarah's Mayberry Directory:  lots of links to further resources and fun from Mayberry. http://www.tagsrwc.com/sarahs/content/Mayberry_Mailing_Lists.html
Mayberry Wikia - hosted by QueenBuffy - interactive fan page. http://mayberry.wikia.com/wiki/The_Andy_Griffith_Show
Postcards from Goober:  fun and free greeting cards you can create and send.  http://www.tagsrwc.com/interactive/wcard
Cast and Crew news and official fan pages - http://www.tagsrwc.com/sarahs/content/Mayberry_Cast_&_Crew.html
Unseen Characters on The Andy Griffith Show - http://www.mayberry.info/history/index.php?title=Unseen_Characters
Mayberry Historical Society -  http://www.mayberry.info/history/index.php?title=Main_Page

PODCASTS
Two Chairs No Waiting: hosted by Allan Newsome.  http://imayberry.com/podcasts/category/two-chairs-no-waiting/. News, perspectives, trivia and interviews.  Watch live by tuning into www.imayberrycommunity.com on Monday nights at 8 pm EST.  Archived editions can be found on You Tube
Burke on Mayberry:  Hosted by Kevin Burke.  http://imayberry.com/podcasts/category/burke-on-mayberry/
Cultural references, show morals and the lighter, fun side of the fictional town of Mayberry.
Mayberry Bible Study:  Hosted by Allan Newsome, and based on the original bible study work of Joey Fann (1998).  http://imayberry.com/podcasts/category/mayberry-bible-study/. A reflection of the lessons taught by the show through a Biblical perspective.

FACEBOOK GROUPS
I Miss Mayberry:  Tiffany Brown / Keith Brown Admins
Mayberry after Midnight:  Multiple Admins
TAGS:  Idelle Bushy Admin
The Andy Griffith Show:  Multiple Admins
TAGSRWC "Only one word I can think of...Big" : Multiple Admins
Mayberry, Our Favorite Hometown:  Multiple Admins


BLOGS
Mayberry Everyday: Hosted and written by Keith Brown www.mayberryeveryday.blogspot.com - thoughts and perspectives
Guest Bloggers at www.iMayberryCommunity.com


Have a Mayberry Day,

Keith
(aka Col. Harvey)

I Dare You

I dare you to take a trip to any of the Mayberry events and not come away feeling better about yourself and the world around you.  It is a little like living in the past, and we all reminisce about the good old days…at least those of us who are old enough to have had “good old days.”  I dare you to attend the next event.  Travel a few miles, make a weekend out of it, bring along friends and relatives…I dare say, you will not be disappointed.
 
I dare you to attend one of the events and not make friends…or share a smile…or find life a little more laid back and peaceful than the life you left to travel to the event. 

I dare you not to laugh at the antics of the many Tribute Artists…on the street, in the parade or on stage.  These folks travel from all over the country to share in the Mayberry experience and bring a little joy to the fans of The Andy Griffith Show.  The Tribute artists travel from states like Ohio, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Indiana.  The Mayberry Deputy, Otis, Floyd, Ernest T., Gomer, Goober, Howard Sprague, Col. Harvey, Mr. Wheeler, Aunt Bee, Andylina, Mayor Pike, Barney & Thelma Lou, Opie, and Briscoe are true fans of the show, and love to be a part of your fun.  Engage with them on the street and in parades.  They would love to share a line from the show, give you an autograph and take pictures with you. 

I dare you not to be in total awe of the actual stars of the show that come to the events…as well as the children and spouses of the stars.  Not to be in awe of them for just being stars (although they deserve it), but to be in awe of them for how friendly they are, and willing to engage with the fans.  These folks are stars, but they are great people first, and spending any time around them at all will convince you of their sincerity and how much they enjoy being at the events. 

Even though many of you don’t know who might be the driving force, or the director behind making these events happen, I dare you to try and find out…and thank them.  It is a lot of work and takes a lot of time and expense to make the Mayberry events as wonderful as they are for the fans and participants. 

I dare you to look through the programs and event guides to see who the sponsors are…and then visit their places of business to shop…and to thank them for their sponsorship.

I dare you to support the extracurricular efforts of some of the Mayberry Events, like the golf tournaments, the pancake breakfasts, the car shows, the wonderful Eagle’s Wings fundraiser and the incredibly helpful D.A.R.E. fundraiser to mention a few.  Attend the concerts and shows while at the events...you'll laugh and sing along and make memories that will last a lifetime.

I dare you to stop some of the Law Enforcement Officers on the street to thank them for being there and protecting everyone.  It is such a small thing to say “Thank you!” but it makes a big impact on the men and women who serve us.

So...what do you say?  Will you take the dare? 

Come on out…I dare you!

Keith "Col. Harvey" Brown

It's MAYBERRY Season

Football is over…Basketball and Hockey is winding down…Baseball is in the early stages of their season…so what season is next you ask?  It’s Mayberry Season.

The anticipation of getting to a Mayberry Event is so exciting.  Many times the anticipation of an event builds to such a high level of expectation, that the event itself seems anti-climactic.  Not so with a Mayberry event.  The “season” is upon us as we start the spring and summer months and move through the major Mayberry Festivals.

Here’s what’s in store for you this year as “Mayberry Season” kicks off: 

Apr. 23 and 24, 2015: Eagles’ Wings fundraiser event in Tuscaloosa, AL.  Mark your calendar for this annual event that supports Eagles’ Wings efforts to assist adults with disabilities.  A golf tourney is on Thurs., and the dinner, silent auction, and entertainment, including the Tribute Artists are also slated into the fun.   For info, call (205) 345-5484 or visit www.eagleswingsoftuscaloosa.org.

May 1-2, 2015:  The next event on the agenda as far as major festivals is Mayberry comes to Westminster.  Mayberry tribute artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Phil “Ernest T.” Fox, Bob “Briscoe” Mundy, Jeff “Howard” Branch, Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown, and Michael “Gomer” Oliver, Eric “Mayor” Lowery, Tim “Goober” Pettigrew, Christie “Andelina Darling" McClendon, and Bob “Briscoe Darling” Mundy”).  There will be look-a-like contests, trivia contests, Mayberry food, memorabilia, parades, car shows, music, Tribute Artist shows, concerts and “stars” from the Andy Griffith Show in Westminster, SC. LeRoy McNees will be on hand as TAGS alumni and special guest.  ATTENTION:  David Browning's new book, "We have Extra Security Tonight:  My Life as the Mayberry Deputy" will be on sale for the first time at any live event.  You want to be there to get your copy!  For more info, visit www.mayberrywestminster.com or check out Mayberry Comes to Westminster, S.C., on Facebook.

May 15-17, 2015: Mayberry in the Midwest returns to Danville, Ind. Among the festival’s highlights are the parade, the Mayberry Squad Car Nationals, and performances by the Mayberry Tribute Artists. The special guest stars this year are Maggie Peterson (Charlene Darling) and her Darling TV brother, Rodney Dillard, and the Dillard Band, who will do a concert on Saturday. Karen Knotts will also perform her “Tied Up in Knotts” show on Sat. and Sun. afternoons.  Visit www.mayberryinthemidwest.com for more info and updates.

June 5 and 6, 2015: David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, and Christie “Andelina Darling” McLendon are back on the truck (or maybe off the wagon in one case) for Mule Days in Gordo, Ala.

Aug. 22: Rodney Dillard and Maggie Peterson are joined by several of the Mayberry tribute artists (including David “Mayberry Deputy” Browning, Allan “Floyd” Newsome, Kenneth “Otis” Junkin, Phil “Ernest T.” Fox, Jeff “Howard” Branch, Keith “Col. Harvey” Brown, Michael “Gomer” Oliver and Bob “Briscoe” Mundy”).  ) for a concert benefiting the Montgomery County DARE program on Saturday at the James H. Garner Center in Troy, N.C. Tickets for the show are $20 for reserved seats and $15 for general admission.  Tickets for children 6 years-12 years old are $10. For more info, call Jeff Branch at (704) 985-6987, e-mail jbranch205@windstream.net, or visit www.bluegrassintroy.com.

Sept. 20-23: Life Lessons From Mayberry: It’s All There in Black and White in Ridgecrest, N.C. (just outside Asheville) is a Bible study event drawing on the biblical truths and life applications found in “The Andy Griffith Show.”  To register, call Ridgecrest Conference Center at (800) 588-7222 or visit www.lifeway.com/mayberry.

Sept. 24-27: 26th Annual Mayberry Days in Mount Airy, N.C.  This year marks 25th Anniversary of Mayberry Days, and also the 55th Anniversary of “The Andy Griffith Show.”   This is the BIG ONE…the granddaddy of them all. So many events, shows, Tribute Artists, Actual TAGS Stars and concerts…to many to mention here. For info, updates and tickets, visit www.surryarts.org .

These are just snippets from the extensive list of events and special concerts and performances involving Mayberry folks.   All I can say is that the actual events FAR exceeds the anticipation of going to them.  Make it your mission to visit one of these event this year.

For more complete information and ALL of the Mayberry Events, go to the Calendar at www.imayberrycommunity.com.  While there, go ahead and join up to be a part of the iMayberry Community. ..a great interactive site hosted by webmaster Allan "Floyd" Newsome.

So polish up your hats, dust off your good suit, bring your pens and T-shirts, charge your cameras and get ready for some great entertainment and good wholesome fun. 

Thanks and Happy Motoring!  See you at the events!