Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
Mayberry Festival is coming to Scottsburg for a weekend of family fun and celebrating “The Andy Griffith Show” on June 23-25.
The 3-day event is based around “The Andy Griffith Show” an iconic American TV comedy; visitors can immerse into the mythical town of Mayberry around which the show is based. This will be the first year that the city of Scottsburg hosts the Mayberry event.
Participants will have an opportunity to meet various celebrities associated with the show, that list includes Andy Griffith’s daughter Dixie Griffith, Don Knotts’ daughter Karen Knotts, Ronnie Schell, Margaret Kerry, Dennis Rush, Dreama Denver and Dick Atkins.
There will also be live music performances throughout the festival including Rodney Dillard, the last surviving member of the bluegrass and country rock band The Dillards and the bluegrass band Berachah Valley.
Scottsburg resident Eric Lowry, a representative of the festival and a veteran performer at other Mayberry festivals, said that those who attend these Mayberry festivals talk about the “Mayberry spirit” and what role it plays in the festivals. He said that the Mayberry spirit is a state of mind that draws crowds to participate in Mayberry events. It associates with kindness, positivity and the treatment of people in a community, said Lowry.
“I think it’s a perfect fit to bring people from around the country that have that Mayberry mindset, kind of life and lifestyle to come to a family oriented, positive weekend where they can just share that kinda time with each other and meet new folks, and we want them to see how wonderful Scottsburg is”, said Lowry, “We have that same Mayberry spirit here every day.”
Lowry said, “I really just want to encourage everybody in the area to come out, even for a little bit. I just encourage anybody just to come by and experience what it feels like to be around Mayberry and I think anybody would go away feeling better about themselves and about life.”
Some of the events are free to the public, but some events require tickets for admission.
The festival starts at 6 p.m. this Friday, June 23 with a celebrity meet and greet dinner hosted at the Knight of Columbus Hall (1460 N Gardner St.).
Saturday, June 24, at 9 a.m. there will be a parade that will start at Scottsburg Elementary and finish at the Scott County Courthouse Square at the gazebo where the opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m.
After the opening ceremonies conclude the following events will be held at 11 a.m., Berachah Valley performance at the Courthouse Gazebo, Floyd the Barber appearance hosted at the corner barbershop (15 S Railroad St) and a celebrity meet and greet at the Courthouse Square on the south side.
At noon Quilts of Mayberry at the Scottsburg Depot (90 S Main St.) and Karen Knotts, One Woman Show at the Mid-America Science Park (821 S Lake Road). The Courthouse Square will have Mayberry Trivia starting at 12:30 p.m.
Moxie Music Stage will perform at 1 p.m. around the Scott County Courthouse, and at 1:30 p.m. “Murder in Coweta County” will be discussed at the Mid-America Science Park. Ronnie Schell will perform a one-man show at the Scottsburg Depot at 2 p.m.
The last half of the events on Saturday will be hosted at the Mid-America Science Park where Rodney Dillard will take the stage at 4 p.m., the Mayberry Effect at 5:30 p.m. and for the first time ever the daughters of Andy Griffith and Don Knotts will speak about their experiences and relationship at 7 p.m. to include the events for Saturday.
On Sunday, June 25 the festivities will start with a Car Show at 9 a.m. with a chapel service at 10 a.m. at Beechwood Park (501 S Elm St.).
At 11 a.m. will allow an opportunity to listen to gospel music and talk to various authors about their books.
There will be another opportunity to meet the celebrities at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon for one final time.
The conclusion of the festival will be the meet and greet of the “Mayberry Man” cast at 2 p.m. followed by a showing of the film at 3 p.m. at Ross Theater (31 E Wardell St.).
The tickets for the events during the Mayberry festival can be purchased or reserved on the website for the festival at mayberrycomestoscottsburg.com before the events.