Preliminary financial numbers show that this past weekend’s Market Days festival brought in more money than ever before, according to Dee Russell, chair of the Mathews Market Days Committee.

Beautiful weather with sunshine, low humidity and highs in the 70s drew crowds from all over to Mathews Court House.

According to Russell, estimates show this year’s event brought in about $10,000. “That means there will be more money to give away next year in grants,” she said.

She reported that all of the vendors that were a part of Market Days were very happy. “It was a little slow for some vendors on Friday,” she said, “but Saturday made up for it.”

Several food vendors stayed for the street dance Saturday evening, which Russell said was very well attended. Though she said some questioned the earlier time for the street dance, it allowed people to enjoy food for sale by vendors during the event. When the dance used to be held later in the nigh...