The last holiday weekend of the summer has come and gone, which means it’s time for one of Mathews County’s largest gatherings of the year, Market Days.

This is the 40th year of the festival, which will be held Friday and Saturday throughout the streets of Mathews Court House, centered on the court green. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

This year’s theme is “The Showcase of a Creative Community,” and special banners showcasing the festival logo, “Handsome Man, the Sea Captain,” will highlight all of the Market Days events.

According to festival spokesperson Trudy Flippin, pulling off Market Days is a community effort. “It takes the cooperation and patience of all the local merchants and residents when the (Market Days) committee’s goal is to bring thousands of guests to visit Mathews and Market Days in two days,” she said. “We hope it will also help the revenue of local businesses.”

On Saturday, Flippin s...