The 22nd Carthage Buggy Festival itself officially starts Friday, May 7 — Mother’s Day weekend —with a Rotary Club barbecue downtown at the McDonald Building.

There is also an antique fire truck show at Nancy Kiser Park, where there will be entertainment on stage at the Sherwood Lapping Amphitheater. It continues all day Saturday, May 8.

It’s unofficial start is a week earlier with a fundraising dinner/game this Friday at The Old Buggy Inn. “Name That Movie” is a game played to raise money in support of the festival as well as the Moore County Literacy Council. Everything raised by the festival above cost goes to local charities such as the Food Bank.

The Old Buggy Inn is an authentic Queen Anne bed and breakfast at the eastern entrance to Carthage’s historic district. Guests will enjoy refreshments Friday evening, while vying to guess which old movie costumed characters represent. This year’s theme is movie comedies

The fun kicks off at 6:30 p.m. as guests enter to meet volunteer re-enactors costumed in the garb their characters wore in famous musicals of the silver screen. The $15-per-person charge includes food and beverages. Area merchants donate all the prizes so that all of the money raised will help somebody learn to read and help Carthage put on its famous festival.

The Old Buggy Inn is at 301 McReynolds St. in sight of the historic old Moore County courthouse in the center of Carthage.