"The Andy Griffith Show" ran for eight years, beginning in 1960. Set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina, the show told the story of Sheriff Andy Taylor, a single father. To create an Andy Griffith theme party, re-create the ambiance of the era in which the show is set. Does this Spark an idea?
Food
Your menu should consist of traditional Southern favorites, just like Aunt Bee might have made. Sweet tea and lemonade are classic Southern beverages, and for dessert, you might choose peach cobbler topped with ice cream. You also include a bit of Chinese food, because the show's characters often talked about going to neighboring "Mt. Pilot" for Chinese food. You can find inspiration in several Mayberry cookbooks or small-town Southern cookbooks from that era.
Entertainment
Consider asking someone to play acoustic guitar and sing, just as Andy did on those evenings on the front porch swing, or, if you have a big budget, you could hire a bluegrass band or a barbershop quartet. You might arrange for a square-dance demonstration or lesson or plan a hay ride, all traditional Southern activities. Weather permitting, you could bob for apples or pitch horseshoes. Have a contest to see who can whistle the theme show song best, or perhaps have a checkers tournament. Have a competition to see who can complete or remember the most quotes from the show or answer the most trivia questions.
Favors
Use brown paper bags or lunch pails as containers for the favors. While show DVDs and music would be good to include, you also could consider classic candies from the 1960s or Mayberry's Finest canned goods. Books, such as Mayberry cookbooks or show trivia collections, would make good favors or door prizes. Replicas of Goober's beanie can also be purchased. "Remember When ..." booklets provide information about the era and make nice favors.
Tags: Andy Griffith, Chinese food, Mayberry cookbooks, traditional Southern
