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From Mayberry Days to the Sonker Festival, Surry County’s events offer something for everyone.
Thousands of Andy Griffith fans flock to Mount Airy, N.C., to celebrate the anniversary of The Andy Griffith Show each September during Mayberry Days. Participants enjoy meeting actors from the show. In the past Mayberry Days George Lindsey, known as “Goober,” wooed fans as did Howard Morris or “Ernest T". A range of activities scheduled Thursday through Saturday keep the crowds busy with a talent show, pie eating contest, porkchop sandwich eating contest, bowling and golf tournaments, parade, concerts, and the barbecue contest. In 2004 Andy Griffith unveiled a statue dedicated by TV Land to kick off the 2004 Mayberry Days. Also many other guest appearances included Thelma Lou, The Dillards and many more!! Mayberry Days will take place September 23-26, 2010
Held in the rural community of Lowgap at the Edwards-Franklin House, the Sonker Festival provides visitors with a day full of sonker eating and flatfooting. A sonker is a deep-dish pie that is served in many flavors including strawberry, peach and cherry. Held the first Saturday of October. This event will be held October 2, 2010.
The county’s largest event is the Autumn Leaves Festival, which brings an estimated 200,000 people to Mount Airy during the second full weekend in October. The citywide event has craft shows and concerts taking place in Downtown Mount Airy and the Colonial Mayberry Mall. Visitors can see apple butter being made along with other craftsmen. A car show is also held at Veterans Memorial Park. This years Autumn Leaves Festival will be held in Downtown Mount Airy on October 8-11, 2010.
Surry County celebrates its rich musical heritage weekly through jam sessions and concerts. Local radio station, WPAQ 740 AM, is the founder of the Merry-Go-Round, which is the world’s third longest running live Bluegrass show. The public can enjoy this show every Saturday at the Downtown Cinema Theatre, and the admission is free. An annual fiddler’s convention is held the first weekend in June. www.mtairyfiddlersconvention.com
History buffs will enjoy the Civil War encampment and reenactment of a battle on the birthplace of Confederate Gen. J.E.B. Stuart in nearby Laurel Hill, Va, in October. During the spring, reenactors portray a Revolutionary battle on the site. This years event will take place October 2-3, 2010.
Children and adults alike enjoy Mount Airy’s Blue Ridge & Beyond during the spring. The Surry Arts Council sponsors this three-day storytelling and musical festival. The arts council also has weekly programming including movies, plays, concerts and ballets at the Andy Griffith Playhouse and Downtown Cinema Theatre.
Horne Creek Living Historical Farm holds an annual corn-shucking each October along with other events throughout the year. The rangers at Pilot Mountain State Park and Cumberland Knob off the Blue Ridge Parkway lead guided hikes and programs weekly. Annual Cornshucking Frolic will take place in October 2010.
Event information can be found in the official visitor’s guide for Mount Airy or online. For your free travel packet, call 1-800-948-0949 or visit www.visitmayberry.com
February:
Tommy Jarrell Old-Time Music Festival. This event takes placein Feb. and will takes place in selected sites in downtown Mount Airy. Please contact The Surry Arts Council at (800) 286-6193 or www.surryarts.org (Tommy Jarrell Festival Feb/March 2010)
April:
April 2010 BRITISH CAR SHOW & GATHERING AT SHELTON VINEYARDS. Free Admission. Do you enjoy British cars? Have you ever owned, or wanted to own a British car? If so, this car gathering is for you! There will be numerous British cars on the grounds of Shelton Vineyards. There were over 200 cars on display in 2008. Come on out and enjoy viewing the Austin Healeys, Jags, MG's, Triumphs, Bentleys and others! Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, a picnic basket if you like, sip some wine and enjoy viewing these beautiful cars! Our Harvest Grill restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner as well as our winery for tours and tastings. If you would like further information pertaining to The Gathering please contact: http://www.triumphclub.org/events/index.html
10-6 PM
Free Admission
For More information please call: 336-366-4724 or visit www.sheltonvineyards.com
Location: Dobson, Shelton Vineyards
Blue Ridge & Beyond. Andy Griffith Playhouse, Mount Airy. Contact: (800) 286-6193 or www.surryarts.org (Blue Ridge and Beyond Festival April 2010
Revolutionary War Reenactment. Ararat, Va. www.jebstuart.org.
May:
Mayfest.Downtown, Pilot Mountain. Food and craft festival. This festival is always on Mother's Day Weekend. Contact (336) 368-2248
8th Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival. Elkin Contact (336) 526-1111. The 8th Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival held on Saturday, May 2010
June:
39th Annual Mount Airy Bluegrass & Old Time Fiddler’s Convention. Veterans Memorial Park, Mount Airy. Contact: (336) 786-2236. (Held the first weekend in June each year) June 2010
July:
Independence Celebration in Downtown Mount Airy & Veterans Memorial Park, Mount Airy. Fireworks, concerts, and children’s games. Contact: (800) 948-0949.
August:
Brinegar Cabin Days. Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 238.5. Tours and homesteading demonstrations. Contact: (336) 372-8568.
September:
Mayberry Days. Mount Airy. Festival based around The Andy Griffith Show. Contact: (800) 286-6193 or (336) 786-7998 or www.surryarts.org. www.mayberrydays.org Sept 23-26, 2010.
Sweet Potato Festival. Rockford General Store, Rockford. Contact: (336) 374-5317.
Barbecue. Rockford Methodist Church, Rockford. Contact: (336) 374-3825.
Surry County Fair. Veterans Memorial Park, Mount Airy. Contact: (336) 786-2236.
October:
Autumn Leaves Festival. City-wide event, Mount Airy. Contact: (800) 948-0949 or www.visitmayberry.com. (Oct 8-10, 2010)
Sonker Festival. Edwards Franklin House, Lowgap. Contact: (336)-786-8359. 1st Saturday in October.
J.E.B. Stuart Civil War Encampment. Ararat, Va. www.jebstuart.org. Oct 2-3, 2010 -20th Annual Civil War Encampment & Reenactment
Cornshucking Frolic. Horne Creek Living Historical Farm, Pinnacle. Contact: (336) 325-2298.October 2010
Yadkin Valley Pumpkin Festival. Downtown, Elkin. Contact: (336) 526-1111.
December:
Candlelight Christmas. Rockford Methodist Church, Rockford. Contact: (336) 374-3825.
Holiday Tour of Homes. Mount Airy Restoration Foundation, Mount Airy. Contact: (336) 786-4512. December 2010
Christmas Eve Celebration. Gertrude Smith House, Mount Airy. Contact: (336) 786-6856 or