Mount Airy turns back into Mayberry later this month, and this year the festival carries an anniversary: Andy Griffith would have turned 100.

Mayberry Days runs September 21 through 27, hosted as always by the Surry Arts Council. The centerpiece remains Saturday’s parade, which moves down Main Street and Rockford Street to the Andy Griffith Playhouse with special guests, tribute artists, marching bands, squad cars and chapters of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun Watchers Club.

The centennial threads through the week’s programming. Author and series historian Randy Turner presents a video-driven look at Griffith’s life and career at the Historic Earle Theatre on September 23, tracing his path from Mount Airy to Los Angeles to Manteo. Karen Knotts, the actress-author daughter of Don Knotts, returns September 25 with new stories, followed by a book signing. Another presentation that day pairs the Griffith centennial with the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Music runs through the week at the Blackmon Amphitheatre and other venues, with The Embers featuring Craig Woolard, Band of Oz, Rodney Dillard & The Dillards, The Cleverlys, Too Much Sylvia and Tim White & Troublesome Hollow among the acts. Bill Knotts performs a Don Knotts tribute, and Michael Hoover brings an Elvis show.

The rest of the schedule holds the traditions: the Mayberry Days golf tournament, Colonel Tim’s Talent Time, a barbecue cook-off with a North Carolina Pork Council representative on hand for judging, checkers games, trivia contests and pork chop sandwiches. The WBMUTBB auction runs Saturday morning at the amphitheatre, with proceeds going to the Surry Arts Council. Sunday closes with the Mayberry Days Chapel, opening when the bell rings at Haymore Baptist Church, where the Griffith family worshiped.

Tickets for individual shows are sold through the Surry Arts Council. The festival began in 1990 for the show’s 30th anniversary.