August 29 - September 1, 2025
Festival Schedule & Entertainment
Daily Schedule
Friday Schedule Aug 29, 2025
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 – Carolina Barnburners
- 8:30-10:00pm – Band of Oz
Saturday Schedule Aug 30, 2025
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 MIXTAPE Side 1 - 11:00am-4:00pm – Festival tunes w/Jim Shafer
- 4:30pm-6:00pm – Nathan Morgan Band
- 6:30pm-8:00pm – Petty Rewind
- 8:30pm-10:00pm – Tina Turner Tribute ft. Debby Holiday
Children’s Stage
- 1:00pm – Corky the Magic Clown
- 2:00pm – Gravity Check
- 3:00pm – Jolly Roger the Pirate
- 4:00pm – Steve Brogan, Comic Ventriloquist
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 – Brad Bailey (guitarist, theater lobby)
- 4:00pm-6:00pm – Thirsty Horses (theater stage)
McDowell Art Center (air cond.)
- 11:00am-7:30pm –Matthews Artist Guild Art Show
Sunday Schedule Aug 31, 2025
1pm-10pm
- 1:00 – Dilling Small Shops, Sponsor Exhibits, Carnival, & Food Vendors open.
- 1:00-7:30pm – Community Center building opens.
Main Stage MIXTAPE Side 2 - 1:00pm-4:00pm – Festival tunes w/ Jim Shafer
- 4:30pm-6:00pm – 90 Proof
- 6:30pm-8:00pm – KRVE
- 8:30pm-10:00pm – Don Jovi (Bon Jovi tribute)
Children’s Stage - 1:00pm – Corky the Magic Clown 2:00pm – Gravity Check 3:00pm – Jolly Roger the Pirate
- 4:00pm – Steve Brogan, Comic Ventriloquist
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.)
- 12n-3:00pm – Mike Ramsey (guitar/vocals, theater lobby)
- 4:00pm-6:00pm – Darren Deese Band
Theater stage
McDowell Art Center (air cond.)
- 1:00pm-7:30pm – Matthews Artist Guild Art Show
Monday Schedule Sep 1, 2025
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-1:00am– Festival tunes w/ Jim Shafer
- 1:30pm-3:00pm – The Castaways
- 3:30pm-5:00pm – Y2K Kids
Children’s Stage - 1:00pm – Corky the Magic Clown
- 2:00pm – Gravity Check
- 3:00pm – Jolly Roger the Pirate
- 4:00pm – Steve Brogan, Comic Ventriloquist
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 – Cori Rose (pianist/vocals, theater lobby)
- 2:00pm-3:00pm – Shelley Ruffin Trio
Theater stage
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.
