Mayberry Days-goers got the opportunity to strut their stuff during Mayberry Idle Saturday afternoon.

While the prize was not as glamorous as a record deal, contestants nevertheless took the competition seriously, giving it their all as they sang a variety of songs before a panel of judges at Blackmon Amphitheater.

Due to the rain, the audience was moved onto the covered stage with the contestants, but that just served to create a more intimate setting for those competing.

Eleven contestants tried out to make it to the top three and receive a coveted appearance during Colonel Tim’s Talent Time Saturday night.

John Trevino, who traveled the farthest of the contestants, also took home first place for the competition. He saved up his money to make the trip all the way from Moreno Valley, Calif., to attend his first Mayberry Days and try his luck at Mayberry Idle. He was able to blow the judges away with his version of Kenny Roger’s “Lady.”

“I just love Andy,” he said of the reason for making the trip. “I thought I would place in the trivia contest but I only got one right. I’m very, very excited (about winning Idle).”

The Sugar Loaf Mountain Band represented the local area with members all hailing from this region. The members played together at jam sessions before deciding to create a band around a year ago. The group ended up placing second with “The Crawdad Song” and was excited to head to Colonel Tim’s that evening.

“They were a little shocked when I told them we were playing here. It was fun,” said Pat Hiatt, lead singer for the band. “We did this song a lot at fiddler’s conventions and we thought it would be good for Mayberry Days.”

Leon Leslie, AKA Rafe Hollister, placed third with his version of “Lonesome Road.”

The audience did not have the chance to get bored as the acts switched up the music from bluegrass to country to gospel and back again. Gomer Pyle was even on hand to do some Gomer-isms as well as whistle the fishing hole song.

Some of the contestants were making their first appearance like Trevino, while others were repeat performers. The Gomer Pyle impersonator has been attending Mayberry Days for 15 years and last year’s first place finisher was back to try his luck for the second time.

The judges agreed that this year’s competition was stiff with one judge saying he would likely lose sleep Saturday night over the decision of who to pick as the top three.

Those lucky winners were able to go on to perform to a sold out crowd at the Andy Griffith Playhouse that night.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.