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By Jeanna White
Word Master Media Group

Mocksville will race into the holiday season this Friday night, Nov. 22, as wacky, whimsical, and outrageous teams from local businesses and non-profits take part in the annual “Twas the Night Before” Bed Race.
The festivities begin with the lighting of the downtown businesses at dusk, followed by the parade of beds at 6and the first race at 6:30.
Presented by the Mocksville Tourism Authority, the annual bed race has become one of Mocksville’s most popular events with dozens of teams competing for the cheers of the fans and hundreds in cash prizes.
This year’s teams include:
• Main St. Brokers
• Workout Anytime Mocksville;
• Davie County Motors;
• Riccobene Associates Family Dentistry;
• PalletOne;
• Green Meadows Mission 1;
• Reeb Millwork;
• Richardson’s Rod & Custom;
• Trailers of the East Coast;
• SURF;
• Calvary West;
• Davie High JROTC;
• Restaurant 101;
• MidEastern Karate Association;
• Bunce Buildings;
• Davidson-Davie Welders Express;
• Pepsi; and
• Davie High FCA .
Like any sprint, the goal of the bed race is to go from point A to point B in the shortest time possible. Each team consists of four pushers and one rider who must sit or lie flat on the bed as it goes careening down Main Street.
North and South Main Street will be closed at 5 p.m. No parking will be allowed on North Main. If you are parked on South Main, you will not be able to move your car between 5 and 8:30 p.m. due to barricades at the 64/601 crossing (near Presbyterian Church).
The Horn/East Depot street intersection will be closed after 5 p.m.
The West Depot & 117 S. Clement St/ intersection will be closed at 5 p.m. Gaither Street & North Main Street intersection will be closed after 5 p.m.
Spectators are encouraged to park in the town hall parking lot at 171 S. Clement.
Bring your own chair and cheer for the team. While downtown, visit local shops and restaurants. There will be food trucks on-site, and the Boy Scouts will sell hamburgers and hotdogs.
It will be the first bed race for Mocksville’s newest marketing and community development coordinator. But based on what’s she has seen in town in her first few months, it should be fun.
“It’s an absolutely beautiful town, with a lot of good things going on,” she said. “I love it here, there is just a very nice atmosphere.”
A vowed people person and veteran of marketing in the health care industry, she hopes her career here is a long one.
She’s also a listener.
“I don’t like jumping in and changing everything until I get a good feel of the town.”
She attends the events downtown, and asks questions. Small changes to established events can make a big difference – if it’s what the people want, Pitts said.
Lately, she’s been busy planning holiday events, starting with Friday’s bed race.
Other events include:
• Lighting of the four oak trees on the quad, 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6. The tree of honor recognizing veterans will also be lit that night. A large sled will be placed on a quad for folks to make photos surrounded by the lights. Hot chocolate will be served.
• Saturday, Dec. 7 is the annual Christmas Parade beginning at 2 p.m. It will travel along North Main Street to Downtown, turning onto East Depot Street.
• Saturday, Dec. 14, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the Main Street Park Downtown from 2-5 p.m. There will also be a petting zoo.
That night, horse and buggy rides will depart the quad for town streets beginning at 6 p.m. Pitts said although the rides are first come, first served, residents can show up and register and then receive a phone call just before their ride time. That could give them a chance to eat dinner, visit shops or stroll around the downtown area, she said.
• On Saturday, Dec. 21, a DJ will provide music for shoppers to enjoy. She is working on getting live musicians to stroll the streets that evening.
Enterprise Record Managing Editor Mike Barnhardt contributed to this article.