The heart of Matthews is set to pulse with the beats and rhythms of its revamped Matthews Summerfest this coming May. It's out with the old BeachFest moniker and in with a new era, courtesy of Novant Health-Matthews Medical Center. The town's 17th annual homage to summer joys is slated for the weekend of May 9-10 at the well-trodden grounds of Stumptown Park. The best bit? No charge at the gates.
Planned to satisfy a spectrum of tastes, the festival agenda is bursting with carnival rides, interactive games for the young and young at heart, and a plethora of shopping options. Hungry attendees can look forward to treating themselves to an array of street food vendors. And for those glued to their social feeds, there's a chance to snag Summerfest merch through contests set to light up the Parks & Recreation Facebook page in April and May. according to an announcement from the Town of Matthews.
Music aficionados, take note. This year, Summerfest is pulling out all the stops to diversify its auditory offerings, featuring a cool spread of musical genres on the main stage. From beach vibes with The Catalinas to a journey through classic country with Smokey Jones & The Three Dollar Pistols, attendees are invited to groove to their favorites. Added to the mix are tribute bands Spiderwebs and Captain Mike & the Shipwrecked, who are set to respectively channel the essences of No Doubt and Jimmy Buffett.
For those itching to start the party earlier, Friday promises to not disappoint with the carnival portion flinging open its gates at 4 p.m.—two hours before the main event. This will surely to give festival goers the jump on the festivity-filled weekend. And as the sun dips below the horizon, local breweries Seaboard, Southern Range, and Edge City will be returning once more, quenching thirsts with their craft concoctions for those of age. Remember to enjoy your brew within the confines of the specially earmarked festival zone, comfortably encompassing Stumptown Park and the closed-off section of S. Trade Street.
Getting about might require a slight detour as Trade Street plans to shutter down between John Street and McDowell Street from Friday morning. This is set to widen to Main Street by 3:30 p.m., and these alterations will hold until the festival wraps around midnight on Saturday. Prep your itineraries accordingly, and ready yourself to dive headlong into the revamped, eclectic celebration that is Matthews Summerfest 2025.
