Mathews Market Days was held under bright blue skies this year, with a gentle breeze keeping the sun’s heat at bay. Festival-goers appeared relaxed and happy as they ate crab cakes and kettle corn, listened to performers, or made their way through booths displaying everything from art, jewelry, and pottery to woolen rugs, wooden toys, and one large turquoise metal chair.

Activities for children included carnival games, bounce houses, pony rides, and a chance to race remote-controlled cars.

"We couldn’t have asked for better weather," said Market Days publicity chair Trudy Flippin. Craft and food sales were good on Friday and better on Saturday, she said, and "there were a lot of people everywhere."

Although she said it was difficult to determine attendance, Flippin guessed that there were close to 10,000 people at the festival over the two days it was held. She said the band Bad Ace drew a large crowd to the Saturday Night Street Dance, filling the streets. The band...