by Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
The Scott County Board of Commissioners was presented with information on the potential of hosting Mayberry in the Midwest at their meeting on Feb. 1.
The 3-day festival centers around the American TV comedy “The Andy Griffith Show”, allowing spectators to immerse themselves into being in Mayberry, the town where the show takes place. Danville, IN hosted the event for six years but in the summer of 2022 they decided not hold the event any longer, there were plans being made right then said Eric Lowry, a representative of the festival. Lowry also plays Mayor Pike in the film “Mayberry Man” which the main story centers around the festival.
“What a Mayberry event like this is, like many other festivals but it’s themed around ‘The Andy Griffith Show’,” said Lowry. He said that there are two types of people who contribute to the festival: actors who portray characters in the show and celebrities who were a part of the cast or have a connection to the show.
“I don’t know what we will get the first year but I believe we will get somewhere between 5 and 10 thousand people that would show up festival,” Lowry said. He added that in the 6 years of hosting the festival, Danville had an average of 6 to 8 thousand people in attendance.
Lowry said that he has been working with the City of Scottsburg, Scott County Visitors Commission, Scott County Chamber of Commerce and other groups to help build support for the event. He said that there are 20 volunteers so far that will help in different areas of the festival.
“Some of the things we intend to include is a meet and greet dinner with the celebrities,” said Lowry, adding that they would like to have most of the event be hosted at the Courthouse Square.
He was asking the commissioners a request to consider the support and granting permission to host the festival at the square. Lowry said that the event would like to have a parade and car show which would feature 7 to 8 Andy Griffith squad car replicas that come to events. He added that Ross Theatre has agreed to a free screening of “Mayberry Man” during the festival.
Lowry said that he would be presenting a budget and plan for the Mayberry festival to the Visitors Commission next week at their meeting.
Some celebrities that have made a commitment to Mayberry coming to Scottsburg include Dixie Griffith, the daughter of Andy Griffith, Karen Knotts, daughter of Don Knotts, Ronnie Schell and Dennis Rush.
Commissioner President Mike Jones said that Lowry had contacted him back in September about the possibility of the festival happening.
“I think this board, would be very supportive of bringing an influx of people into our community,” said Jones, “When the time comes I am sure we’ll give you permission to be on the square, on the courtyard. I think whatever you need from us, I think it would be pretty easy to do.”
The possible date for Mayberry coming to Scottsburg is June 23-25 has not been officially scheduled in case there is a conflict of schedule that could potentially occur.