September 4 - September 7, 2026
Festival Schedule & Entertainment
Daily Schedule
Friday Schedule Sept 4, 2026
4pm-10pm
- 4:00pm – All-You-Can-Ride Wristband Night at the carnival ($30)
- 6:00pm – Sponsor Exhibits, & Food Vendors open
Main Stage - 6:30-8:00pm – The Entertainers
- 8:30-10:00pm – Electric Avenue – 80s MTV Experience
Saturday Schedule Sept 5, 2026
10am-10pm
- 9:30am – The Matthews Alive Parade through downtown Matthews!
- 10:00am – Dilling Small Shops, Sponsor Exhibits, Carnival, & Food Vendors open.
- 11:00am – Community Center building opens.
Main Stage - 11:00am-4:00pm – Festival tunes w/Jim Shafer
- 4:30pm-6:00pm – Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue
- 6:30pm-8:00pm – Dustin Wilson & The Howlers
- 8:30pm-10:00pm – The American Ride/Toby Keith tribute
Children’s Stage
- 1:00pm – Steve Langley’s Variety Show
- 2:00pm – Corky the Magic Clown
- 3:00pm – Steve Brogan, Comic Ventriloquist
- 4:00pm – Jolly Roger the Pirate
Community Center Exhibits
- 11:00am-7:30pm
Woodworkers Show, Piedmont Fiber Guild Weaving & Spinning Exhibit, Robotics Exhibit, Basket Show, Woodcarvers Demo, & Sweet Union Quilt Guild Show (Inside, air-cond.)
Community Center Indoor Music (air cond.)
- 12n-3:00pm – Jonothan Gatton (keyboards/vocals, theater lobby)
- 4:00pm-6:00pm – Signature Keys, dueling pianos (theater stage)
McDowell Art Center (air cond.)
- 11:00am-7:30pm –Matthews Artist Guild Art Show
Sunday Schedule Sept 6, 2026
1pm-10pm
- 1:00 – Dilling Small Shops, Sponsor Exhibits, Carnival, & Food Vendors open.
- 1:00-7:30pm – Community Center building opens.
Main Stage - 1:00pm-4:00pm – Festival tunes w/ Jim Shafer
- 4:30pm-6:00pm – Stella Rising
- 6:30pm-8:00pm – U-Neek Flavur
- 8:30pm-10:00pm – The Purple Experience (Prince tribute)
Children’s Stage - 1:00pm – Steve Langley’s Variety Show
- 2:00pm – Corky the Magic Clown
- 3:00pm – Steve Brogan, Comic Ventriloquist
- 4:00pm – Jolly Roger the Pirate
Community Center Exhibits
- 1:00pm-7:30pm Woodworkers Show, Piedmont Fiber Guild Weaving
& Spinning Exhibit, Robotics Exhibit, Basket Show, Woodcarvers Demo, & Sweet Union Quilt Guild Show (Inside, air-cond.)
Community Center Indoor Stage (air cond.)
- 1:00pm-3:00pm – Cori Rose (keyboards/vocals, theater lobby)
- 4:00pm-6:00pm – Signature Keys, dueling pianos
(theater stage)
McDowell Art Center (air cond.)
- 1:00pm-7:30pm – Matthews Artist Guild Art Show
Monday Schedule Sep 7, 2026
9am-5pm
- 9:00am-5:00pm – Dilling Small Shops, Sponsor Exhibits, Carnival, & Food Vendors open.
- 9:00am-4:00pm – Community Center building opens
Main Stage - 9:00am-1:00pm– Festival tunes w/ Jim Shafer
- 1:30pm-3:00pm – Distillery Cats
- 3:30pm-5:00pm – Thirsty Horses
Children’s Stage - 1:00pm –Steve Langley’s Variety Show
- 2:00pm – Corky the Magic Clown
- 3:00pm – Steve Brogan, Comic Ventriloquist
- 4:00pm – Jolly Roger the Pirate
Community Center Exhibits
- 9:00am-4:00pm – Woodworkers Show, Piedmont Fiber Guild Weaving & Spinning Exhibit, Robotics Exhibit, Basket Show, Woodcarvers Demo, & Sweet Union Quilt Guild Show (Inside, air-cond.)
Community Center Indoor Stage (air cond.)
- 11:00am-2:00pm – Colby Dobbs (keyboards/vocals, theater lobby)
McDowell Art Center (air cond.)
- 9:00am-4:00pm – Matthews Artist Guild Art Show
- 5:00pm – FESTIVAL CONCLUDES! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
Vendors
Apply to become a small shop or food vendor and share your unique product with over 100,000 visitors to the festival each year.
Volunteer
From our Board of Directors to our trash collection crew, volunteers are the heart of the festival. Find ways to volunteer during the festival and throughout the year.
Parade Participants
Grab a walking group, vehicle, or a special float and participate in the crowd-favorite parade.
Opportunities
Get Involved with Matthews Alive
Sponsorship Opportunities
Boost your business’s visibility by sponsoring the festival. Your contribution directly supports local nonprofits, enhancing our community.
No Pets Policy
We love pets, but no pets of any kind are allowed at Matthews Alive Festival per city ordinance. PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY.
SERVICE ANIMALS are always welcome.
