MATTHEWS, N.C. — The Matthews Alive Festival had a stormy start, causing festivities and vendors to shutter on Friday evening as rain and lightning rolled in. But, the annual festival resumed on Saturday with one of the largest Labor Day parades in the Southeast.
Olympian Cierra Burdick starred as the parade's Grand Marshal.
Burdick was a two-time state basketball player of the year at Butler High School in Charlotte and played at Tennessee and in the WNBA. Earlier in August, she returned home from the Paris Olympics with a bronze medal.
A large crowd came out in Matthews on Saturday to cheer on the parade and celebrate the start of Labor Day weekend. Attendees enjoyed a variety of food, art and shopping from vendors. But, the fun is not over.
The festival lasts until Sept. 2.