22nd Annual Mayberry Days - September 22-25, 2011 Mount Airy, North Carolina
Mayberry Days is the annual celebration of the anniversary of "The Andy Griffith Show." It's held the last weekend in September. Visit: http://mayberrydays.org/ for more info!
The Andy Griffith Playhouse & Andy Griffith Museum is Located at 218 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030 (Map ) http://www.visitmayberry.com/
Mayberry Days has a full range of shows for the whole family every day of the festival. There is bluegrass music, variety shows, beach music, educational lectures, mountain rock music, gospel music, comedy & magic, and just plan fun! Learn more about all these shows and purchase tickets early so you don't miss any of the fun.
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Mayberry Days is a festival for the whole family with activities and events for the fans who long for the days when life was simple and the sheriff didn't carry a gun. Enjoy a bottle of pop while playing checkers, relax to music from many local bands playing the same songs that Andy grew up with and performed on The Andy Griffith Show. There is so much to do during the festival such as watching the parade, meeting the Special Guests, laughing at Colonel Tim's Talent Time, placing the high bid at the Silent Auction or taking in all of the music at the many venues. Just remember to take time to slow down and enjoy what Mayberry means to you. Mayberry Days events take place in locations around Mount
Airy, with the Andy Griffith Playhouse and Blackmon Amphitheatre being the
hubs of activity. Most everything is within walking distance, so be sure to
wear comfortable shoes and clothes (the festival goes on, rain or shine).
There is free parking in the numerous municipal lots downtown. Events are
scheduled for minimal overlap where you can enjoy nearly everything or just
relax and enjoy your time at the festival. |
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“CHESTER JONES CHECKERS TOURNAMENT”
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Plenty of pick up game with public |
outside granite tables |
Mike Ross - 2010 Chester Jones Champ |
Saturday, September 24th, beginning at 12 Noon
Old-Time Music Heritage Hall
(Below the Andy Griffith Museum)
Sponsored by the "Mayberry" Chapter of Knoxville TN
Practice on the checkers tables on Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. then challenge friends and family and try to beat George, Bertha or Dennis to become the 2011 checker champion of Mayberry Days. A limited number of spaces are available, so register at the Information Station with a $2 entry fee for a chance to win this year's trophy (awarded at the TAGRWC meeting). The checkers tables will be available all during the rest of the festival for anyone to enjoy for fun or practice. In past years we played outside on the granite checker tables but increased popularity and participant size required the tournament to be held in the air condition Old-Time Music Heritage Hall. There will be plenty of players and an assortment of talent.
2011 Chester Jones Checker Tournament Results:
Friday, September 23rd - 9:00 am-5:00 pm CHESTER JONES CHECKERS - Practice, Old-Time Music Heritage Hall (lower level Andy Griffith Museum & Siamese Twins Exhibit Hall) Practice up for the championship on Saturday!
Saturday, September 24th - Checkers Tournament Sign-up,
Mayberry Days Information Station, Front of Andy Griffith Playhouse 12 Noon-2:30 pm CHESTER JONES CHECKERS hosted by Dennis Beal and the “Mayberry” chapter of TAGSRWC ("The Andy Griffin Show" Rerun Watchers Club). Sign up to play in the tournament at the information station (Free! - No entry Fee). The tournament is a round robin and the trophy winner is the player who wins the most games. The trophy will be presented at the end of the tournament. Both practice and the tournament will be held in the STAGE, lower level of the Andy Griffin Museum. Old-Time Music Heritage Hall.
2011 Chester Jones Checkers, 8 Entrants:
George Randell-Mount Airy, NC 336-719-7847
86 yrs old, original from NY move to Mt Airy 7 years ago.
Brandon Watson-Nashville, TN
71 years old
Gordan Ray-Wilson, NC 252-243-7252 50 yrs old
JR Smith-Greensboro, NC
336-288-6620 66 yrs old
Bobby Gerringer-Pittsboro, NC 919-548-1680
47 yrs old
Roger Richard-Findlay, OH 419-348-7863 44 yrs old
Jody Harkey-Charlotte, NC 704-349-3678 36 yrs old
Eric Iluzada-Charlotte,
NC 704-458-3239 32 yrs old
Rd 1:
Rd 2:
George Randall vs
Roger Richard-Findlay, OH (George won),
JR Smith-Greensboro, NC vs Gordan Ray-Wilson, NC
(tied),
Jody Harkey-Charlotte, NC vs Brandon Watson-Nashville, TN (Brandon won),
Bobby Gerringer-Pittsboro, NC vs Eric Iluzada-Charlotte,
NC (Bobby won).
Bobby Gerringer-Pittsboro, NC vs
JR Smith vs George Randall (JR won).
Rd 3: Bobby Gerringer vs Gordan Ray (Bobby won).
Rd 4: JR Smith vs Bobby Gerringer (Bobby won)
(Bobby
Gerringer wins Mayberry Days' Checker Tournament).
Hobart Jones-photographer took pictures
of Mayberry Festival and this particular event.
(somersetva@aol.com).
We met many many Mayberry characters like Bill & Georgia Branam from
Nashville, NC (Sheriff
Andy Taylor and Aunt Bee) All the characters know everything about the Mayberry
TV Show, they have history, memorabilia about the actors and visited their
hometowns. Bill in his Sheriff Taylor's uniform and Georgia with her pear
necklace, hair, hat,
and dressed like Aunt Bee to the
“T.” She was the the paternal aunt of
widower Sheriff Andy Taylor and great-aunt to his son Opie. They told us about their neighbor friend
who plays checkers on his computer and the internet,
BraxtonD@bellsouth.net
an 80 yr old internet player on PlayOK from Nashville, TN.
We enjoyed a Barney Burger at Barney's
Cafe on Main Street, and another good place to eat is Snappy's Lunch, home of the large pork
chop burger.
Mount Airy, NC Mayberry Days is the biggest annual event celebrating “The Andy
Griffith Show.”
“It has always been for the fans, but you never know who else will be there.
This is the annual festival of the Surry Arts Council that brings fans
and friends from all over the country together in Andy Griffith’s hometown of
Mount Airy. Mayberry Days is held annually during the last full weekend
of September to commemorate the anniversary of the premier of ‘The Andy Griffith
Show’ on Oct. 3, 1960,” said Tanya Jones with Surry Arts C
The festival first started as a one-day event in 1990 to celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the show. Since then, it has grown into more than
four full days that bring thousands of friends and fans in from around the world
— from California to Florida to Ontario, Canada, and beyond.
Chester Jones Checkers Tournament is just one of the many events, The daily
schedule of Festival Events are run in The Mount Airy News.
The 22nd Annual Mayberry Days starts Thursday, September 22, 2011 and runs
through Sunday.
Hobart
Jones' Photos:
View the
Photo Galleries of the 2011 festival
all
photographs take by Hobart Jones
10/6/2011
News of Chatham - "Gerringer takes win"
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2010 Mayberry Review
