Mark your calendars, friends: one of our favorite family weekends of the year is right around the corner. Matthews Summerfest returns to Stumptown Park on Friday, May 8 (6–10 p.m.) and Saturday, May 9 (10 a.m.–10 p.m.) - and the best part? Admission is completely free.
If you've never been (or if it's been a while since the BeachFest days), this one is worth getting on the calendar. Think carnival rides, funnel cakes, live music, kettle corn, and that small-town downtown vibe that makes Matthews feel like the kind of place where you'll run into half the people you know. It's basically the unofficial start of summer for our community.
Here's everything you need to know to plan your family's day.
The Carnival: Where Your Kids Will Want to Live
Let's be honest - for the kids, the carnival IS the festival. Rides, games, lights, the whole thing. Here's a smart-mom tip straight from the Town of Matthews Parks & Rec team:
The carnival opens early at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 8 - two hours before the rest of the festival kicks off at 6 p.m. If you've got younger kids who can't hang for the late-night crowds, this is your golden window. Get there at 4, ride till you're tired, grab dinner from a food truck, and head home happy before bedtime meltdowns set in.
Friday is also All-You-Can-Ride Wristband Night ($30, Friday only). If your crew is the type to ride the same thing seventeen times in a row, this pays for itself fast. Individual ride tickets are sold both days, too. One heads up: vendors will still be setting up between 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday, so keep little ones close as you walk in.
What's Cookin'? (Spoiler: Everything Your Kids Will Beg For)
Come hungry. Seriously, plan to make dinner part of the experience - it's half the fun.
The savories: Party in a Pita, BubbaJack's BBQ, Baltimore Crabcake Company, Hungry Howie's Pizza, KO Food Truck, and Shrimply Delicious.
The sweets (a.k.a. the "please, please, pleeeease" list): Cinn-Sane Cinnamon Rolls, World's Greatest Funnel Cakes, Waxhaw Kettle Corn Company, Dough Yo CLT, and Scream Ice Cream.
I'd recommend bringing a mix of cash and card just in case - some food trucks and ride ticket booths move faster with cash.
Music Everyone Can Dance To
The main stage lineup (sponsored by Edifice Construction) is genuinely fun for the whole family - the kind of music your kids will dance to without even realizing it's "old people music."
Friday, May 8
- 6:30–8 p.m. - Hard 2 Handle (Black Crowes tribute)
- 8:30–10 p.m. - The Coastline Band (beach & party/dance)
Saturday, May 9
- 2:30–4 p.m. - Save Tonight (90s/2000s hits)
- 4:30–6 p.m. - Remington Cartee (country)
- 6:30–8 p.m. - The Legacy Motown Revue
- 8:30–10 p.m. - Rock the 90s
Mom strategy: If you're coming with little ones, the Saturday afternoon sets (Save Tonight and Remington Cartee) are the sweet spot - daylight hours, easier crowds, and great music for dancing in the grass. Tweens and teens will love the later sets when the energy ramps up.
A Quick Note for the Grown-Ups
Three local breweries - Seaboard Brewing, Southern Range Brewing, and Petty Thieves Brewing - will be pouring craft beer all weekend. Just remember: 21+ with valid ID, wristband required, and all drinks must stay within the festival footprint. (Translation: yes, you can stroll and sip while the kids ride the carousel.)
Parking & Getting There
Stumptown Park is at 120 S. Trade Street, Matthews, NC 28105. Parking options:
- Public Parking Lot on North Trade Street (across from Matthews Station Street)
- On-Street Parking along North Trade Street
- Matthews Town Hall at 232 Matthews Station Street
Trade Street will be closed to traffic during the festival, so give yourself a few extra minutes - and if you're coming on Saturday, earlier is better. The closer lots fill up fast once the afternoon music starts. Stumptown Park and downtown Matthews are flat and walkable, so strollers and wagons roll easily through the festival footprint.
Good-to-Know Before You Go
- Admission is free. Rides, food, drinks, and any vendor purchases cost extra.
- No pets, please - it's a Town Ordinance. Service animals are always welcome.
- No outside alcohol (the breweries on-site have you covered).
- The Cruisin' Car Show is taking a year off in 2026, but everything else is full speed ahead.
- Pack sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and maybe a wagon if your littles tire out - Saturday especially is a long, beautiful day.
So grab the kids, text your mom friends, and we'll see you at Stumptown Park. This is exactly the kind of weekend that makes summer in Matthews feel like home. 💛
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