By Zach Hester, Reporter • zach@southerntorch.com

VALLEY HEAD, Ala. — After being canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Town of Valley Head is planning to revive their annual “Memories of Mayberry” festival next month.

This year’s festival will be held on Saturday, May 1, beginning at 9 a.m. with all proceeds benefitting the Valley Head Fire Department. 

“We are excited to welcome Memories of Mayberry back to Valley Head,” said the event’s coordinator, Adele Phillips. “Everything is coming together with quite a few vendors, plenty of attractions, a cruise-in, and so much more!”

“There is no admission fee and plenty of parking, we’re just praying for no rain,” Phillips concluded.

Memories of Mayberry began in June 2017 with then-Mayor Lamar Bray and the Town Council transformed the Town of Valley Head into a replica of Mayberry, the fictional community depicted in The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. 

This year’s event will include live entertainment, arts and crafts, great food, raffles, vendors, and so much more! Pickers are also welcome. 

Memories of Mayberry also features two food-related contests. For Aunt Bee’s Pie Baking Contest, pies should be brought to the Valley Head Town Hall by 10:30 a.m. with judging at 11 a.m. in the Council Chambers. Categories for the contest include fruit, nut, and others. The second contest will be Aunt Bee’s Homemade Dill Pickle Contest with all entries required to be filed by 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall. The pickle contest is sponsored by Mt. Olive and Wickles. Contact Deb at (256) 635-6814 for more information.

For more information about Memories of Mayberry or how to become a sponsor, please contact the Town of Valley Head at either (256) 899-3776 or (256) 635-6814 or by email at vhtownhall@farmerstel.com.