Floyd’s Barbershop Bulletin Board & Event Calendar

The Andy Griffith Museum, featuring the late Emmett Forrest’s amazing collection of Andy Griffith artifacts, is operating on its full, normal schedule. For complete updates on operating hours and other info, visit the website at AndyGriffithMuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

Here are upcoming events that folks have posted on Floyd’s bulletin board:

* Mar. 17: Karen Knotts performs “Tied Up in Knotts” at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in Henderson, N.C. Showtime is 2 p.m. Advance tickets are $32 and tickets at the door are $37. For more info, visit the www.mcgregorhall.org.


* Apr. 11-13: 4th Annual Mayberry & I Love Lucy Festival in Historic Granville, Tenn. (aka the Mayberry of Tennessee). Special Guests include Keith Thibodeaux (Johnny Paul Jason in Mayberry and Little Ricky on “I Love Lucy”), Dennis Rush (Opie pal Howie), Dixie Griffith (daughter of Andy), and Karen Knotts (daughter of Don). All will participate in special presentations throughout the festival.

SAVVY SALVE SALESMEN- Keith Thibodeaux (left) and Dennis Rush (Howie). Photo by Hobart Jones.

Other highlights include entertainment by Mayberry and Lucy tribute artists (Barney, Floyd, Otis, Goober, Gomer, Briscoe, Charlene, “Fun girls” Skippy & Daphne), and Andy & Nurse Mary), Mayberry Dinner Theater, Mayberry-Lucy parade, Mayberry Squad Car Nationals, Mayberry trivia contest, Mayberry look-alike contest, Mayberry Museum exhibits, and Darlings-style music.

There’s a $7 general admission fee to enter the grounds on Fri. and Sat. (and a $5 parking fee on Sat. only). The dinner shows and some other portions also require additional tickets/reservations. For complete info (and for tickets for those select portions of the event requiring tickets), check the GranvilleTN.com website. (And also check out Historic Granville on Facebook.)


* May 8-10: The Mayberry Retreat, hosted by Mayberry author Randy Turner. The beautiful Sauder Heritage Inn in Archbold, Ohio, is the site for the this year’s retreat. The inaugural Mayberry Retreat in 2023 was a real treat for attendees, and another good time is planned for this year. Randy will be presenting a talk titled “How Andy Griffith Became Andy Taylor,” which will examine Andy’s early career and the origin of “The Andy Griffith Show.”

Special guest for the event is David Browning. David is the man who portrayed “The Mayberry Deputy” and delighted crowds for decades at Mayberry events. David will be there as himself, not the Deputy, and will be sharing stories from his amazing career. The special musical guest is Mayberry Days® regular Tim White, who will be providing entertainment filled with bluegrass music and comedy (“Got time to breathe, got time for music”). The event will be a relaxing Mayberry-filled weekend. For full details, visit the event’s website at mayberrybooks.com/mayberryretreat.

ADORE A JAR?–Maybe Andy’s call’s for concern about Ellie and the New Doctor.

* June 15: Essential Mayberry author Neal Brower kicks off his summer lecture series about TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. All three monthly, hour-long lectures this summer feature an episode dealing with matchmaking and romantic rivalry. Today’s lecture is about “The New Doctor” from Season 2. Lecture admission is included with Museum admission ($8 for adults, $6 for ages 12 and under). Visit www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.


Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg

* June 21-23: After the roaring success of their 2023 festival, the second edition of Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg will be held in Scottsburg, Ind., this weekend. Scheduled to attend are: Rodney Dillard (guitar-playing Darling boy), Dennis Rush (Opie’s friend “Howie”), Keith Thibodeaux (Opie’s buddy Johnny Paul Jason), Karen Knotts (Don’s daughter), Ronnie Schell (two episodes and Duke Slater on “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”), Dixie Griffith (Andy’s daughter), Dreama Denver (wife of Dud Wash #2, Bob Denver), and Dick Atkins (producer of Murder in Coweta County).

There will also be a full slate of Mayberry tribute artists attending and performing throughout the weekend. For updates, a more complete list of performers, and the schedule, visit the festival website at www.mayberrycomestoscottsburg.com and check out their page on Facebook. Mark your calendar!


* July 11: Karen Knotts presents her one-woman “Tied Up in Knotts!” show at 7 p.m. at the Ohio Star Theater in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Full details TBA. For more info, visit www.dhgroup.com/theaters/the-ohio-star-theater.


* July 19 & 20:  12th Annual Mayberry Meetup, sponsored by TAGSRWC’s Two Chairs, No Waiting podcast, gathers in Mount Airy, N.C. Details and registration info can be found here. Registration is not required but it will allow you to get updates about schedules for the weekend.


* July 20: Timed to coincide with the Mayberry Meetup, Neal Brower, author of The Essential Mayberry, presents the second installment of his summer lecture series about TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Today’s lecture features “Andy’s Rich Girlfriend.” Lecture admission is included with Andy Griffith Museum admission ($8 for adults, $6 for ages 12 and under). Visit  www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.

Party Time!

* July 21: A Don Knotts 100th Birthday Celebration Event at the Royal Theater in Macon, Mo. This afternoon event, sponsored by Carousel Productions and hosted by Blood Brothers chapter of TAGSRWC, features Sean Dietrich (aka Sean of the South), musical guest Keota, and an audio-visual presentation by Randy Turner. Details TBA, but for now just mark your calendar. For more info, contact Johnna at edukater6330@gmail.com.


* Aug. 17: Mayberry author Neal Brower concludes his summer lecture series about TAGS, starting at 2 p.m., in the Andy Griffith Museum Theatre in Mount Airy, N.C. Today’s lecture features “A Wife for Andy.”  Lecture admission is included with Andy Griffith Museum admission ($8 for adults, $6 for ages 12 and under). Visit www.andygriffithmuseum.org or call (336) 786-1604.


Rodney Dillard
Photo by Robbie Curlee.

* Sept. 24-29: 35th Annual Mayberry Days® in Mount Airy, N.C. Full details TBA, but advance tickets to some portions of the weekend–including for The Emmett Golf Tournament (followed by the Mayberry Days® Dinner with Entertainment, available with or without participating in the golf), a concert by The Dillards featuring Rodney Dillard, a concert by The Bellamy Brothers, and a new presentation called “Make America Funny Again ” by Karen Knotts (daughter of Don)–are available to order now.

Also confirmed are the popular “Memories of Elvis” show with Michael Hoover, perennial favorite bluegrass and comedy by Tim White & Troublesome Hollow, and the Mayberry Melodies show, plus a screening of Murder in Coweta County (starring Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash) hosted by producer Dick Atkins, lectures by Neal Brower and Randy Turner, and the comedy of John Floyd (aka The Mouth of Mayberry). For tickets and more info, visit www.mayberrydays.org.


Howie float!

* Oct. 26-Oct. 31: Cruise to Mayberry 17 sets sail for five days from Charleston, S.C., with ports of call at Princess Cays and Nassau, Bahamas, aboard Carnival’s Sunshine. The cruise’s Special Guest will be Dennis Rush (Howie Pruitt ).

Also on board will be a full crew of Mayberry tribute artists, including Dixie Griffith (Andy’s daughter) as Mt. Pilot Fun Girl Skippy. For more info and to book, call All About Cruises (336)538-4926.

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