With Mathews Market Days less than 50 days away, planning for the annual festival is in full swing. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, and will honor first responders.

Chair Morgan Hudgins said this year’s one-day festival will feature entertainment, lots of food, vendors of all types, the annual race and fun run, and a car show. There is still plenty of room for more vendors, she said in a press release. There are currently 35 arts and craft vendors signed up, along with seven food vendors and five information booths.

“We encourage anyone who has any interest in vending at this year’s event to get their applications in with payment as soon as possible,” she said. To apply, visit mathewsmarketdays.org/vendor-information.

In past years, the Market Days Committee has used a grant program to donate the proceeds of each year’s event to various local organizations in need, said Hudgins. This year will be a little different, with all proceeds going to the ...