I have written about wine festivals, racing celebrations, NAACP events and a myriad of others. Through all of my research and phone calls, I have reached a very important conclusion. There really are things to do in Mount Airy and those in charge of drawing people to our town obviously know what they are doing.
When I first learned I would be moving here I did a little bit of research and came to the conclusion that Mount Airy was obsessed with Mayberry, Mayberry and only Mayberry. My first trip here confirmed that as I looked at all of the stores and businesses with Mayberry in the name. I admit I was a little frightened.
However, in the time I have spent here I have learned that Mount Airy is more than Mayberry. Yes, that is a big draw for tourists, but there is also so much else to offer.
People who work for organizations such as the Surry Arts Council, the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History, the Downtown Business Association and so many others work hard to make sure Mount Airy continues to thrive even beyond all things Mayberry.
If you want proof, just look at the upcoming calendar of events for this area. On Jan. 18, the NAACP will be hosting a luncheon to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. The luncheon will feature a guest speaker who has presented at conferences in North Carolina and Canada. He is the founder of his own business and works to help at-risk youth and pre-release inmates learn skills and develop character. This is the 20th year such a celebration will take place.
Later this month, the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History will put on White Liquor and Dirt Tracks: The Origins of NASCAR from Jan. 22 through 24. The event will draw race car drivers, singers and even an author to Mount Airy to kick-off the museum’s display about the history of racing in this area, which dates back to moonshine and bootlegging.
The Greater Mount Airy Habitat for Humanity is hosting a furniture auction Feb. 20. Patrons have the opportunity to walk away with an entire new room full of floor-to-ceiling furniture.
The Surry Baptist Association is bringing a nationally-recognized program to Surry County at the end of February in the Silver Ring Thing. This program will feature state-of-the-art lighting and pyrotechnics in delivering the message to teens that true love waits.
The DBA is once again hosting a bridal fair in March. The fair brings in people from across the state and beyond to see the latest trends for brides and make valuable networking connections as they plan for their upcoming weddings.
The DBA and Mount Airy Rotary Club are teaming up to host Mount Airy’s first wine festival the first weekend in May. They plan to bring in the best of the best as far as wineries, local food vendors and artists for a full weekend of entertainment. They even got a wine judge to fly in from France for the event.
All of this is taking place on top of programs put on by other area organizations, such as the summer concert series at Blackmon Amphitheatre put on by the Surry Arts Council and at Shelton Vineyards. This is in addition to the many productions the SAC puts on each year and the events sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, as well as events like the author luncheons at the Mount Airy Public Library and the book and author dinners we have each year.
Living in a small town, it is hard to look past the stereotype that there is nothing to do in order to be able to take advantage of the many opportunities we have available. There truly is something for everyone around here. There may not be something to do every single night of the week, but sometimes we are too busy complaining to see everything unfolding right before our eyes.
Morgan Wall is a staff reporter for The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.
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