June 1, 1926 was a day that changed the world forever. Well, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but, that day would in fact change my world. On that day in the small North Carolina town of Mt. Airy, Andy Samuel Griffith was born. It might not have been obvious on that day what an impact Andy Griffith would have, but nearly a century later his life is still influencing us.
It would take too long to list Andy’s incredible body of work. From “What It Was, Was Football” in 1953, to his Grammy award winning album “I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns” in 1996, to one of his last performances in country singer Brad Paisley’s music video “Waitin’ on a Woman” in 2008, Andy entertained us on stage, screen and in music.
For me, his greatest and arguably his longest lasting creation is The Andy Griffith Show. On October 3, 1960 America was invited to join Andy and his son Opie, played by Ron Howard, in exploring life for a single father in a small town. We soon met Aunt Bee, Deputy Barney Fife, Floyd the Barber, Otis and many more Mayberry residents. The stories told in that series weaved humor and real life situations into a beautiful tapestry of love and of caring for others. For over 60 years The Andy Griffith Show has been continuously on the air. Countless fans still watch faithfully and gather together to celebrate the timeless classic episodes and story lines of the citizens of Mayberry.
In 2026 Mayberry Comes to Scottsburg will be celebrating Andy’s 100th birthday in style. Our team is working with Andy’s daughter Dixie to plan a birthday party worthy of the occasion. This party will be the highlight of our weekend full of other Mayberry related fun. Our guest list includes actors who appeared on The Andy Griffith Show as well as celebrities who worked with Andy on other projects. There’ll be music and fun and a great finale where you’ll be able to join the group in singing “Happy Birthday” to the man whose vision we still value and cherish.
We invite you to join us for a great weekend of fun. We’ll be providing more details as they’re confirmed so stay tuned here and on our Facebook page for more information.