MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — Thousands of Andy Griffith fans are expected in Mount Airy this week for the annual Mayberry Days festival.

What You Need To Know

  • The Surry Arts Council hosts the Mayberry Days festival

  • More than 20,000 people are expected to attend

  • Mount Airy is Andy Griffith’s hometown

The celebration takes place in Griffith’s hometown. Attendees will have a chance to rub elbows with actors who shared screen time with Andy and Barney on “The Andy Griffith Show” during the weeklong festival.

“The festival is all about celebrating Mayberry," Abigail Linville said. "It is family fine. It is joy. It is laughter. It’s everything about the show that folks love. Just good wholesomeness.”

Linville is the director of collections and exhibitions at The Andy Griffith Museum. She said the festival blends Hollywood with small-town fun.

“Mayberry, they say is the star of the show," she said. "We know Andy is also the star of the show. And since he grew up here in Mount Airy, and his childhood town roots are here. This is where he was on stage for the first time ever. So it’s really important and tell his story.”

Attendees can also watch the staple Mayberry Days parade. The festival runs through Sunday.