The annual Mayberry Days festival begins today in Mount Airy. The four-day event celebrates Andy Griffith's hometown which was the model for the fictional Mayberry on the Andy Griffith Show. Jessica Roberts is the director of tourism and marketing for the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce. She says popular events like a parade featuring people who were on the show will go forward as usual, but Griffith's death this past summer will be on everyone's mind.
"There will be a Andy Griffith tribute on Sunday morning which is when they usually do the final wrap up of Mayberry Days and that will be taking place at the Blackmon Amphitheater and they will do a dedication and tribute to Andy Griffith on that Sunday," said Roberts.
She says the town expects about 30,000 visitors this year. She says Mayberry Days provides a big economic boost for the area.
