The Weekend Wagon
Town guide · Updated November 2026
Matthews pairs a classic small-town downtown with a lake park that works well for a whole afternoon. This guide is still growing. Here is what we have confirmed so far, with official links.
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1631 Pleasant Plains Road
A fishing pond with a pier, a playground and swings designed for ages 2 to 12, two picnic shelters with grills, a 12-hole disc golf course, cornhole, walking trails, and a bike repair station. A connector trail leads to the Four Mile Creek Greenway. Open dawn to dusk.
Check the town page for current playground and restroom status before you go.
10140 Northeast Parkway
A 5.24-acre park with playgrounds, swings, slides, climbing structures, and a zip line, plus an open grass play area, a walking trail, and a picnic shelter with a family-size grill. Portable restrooms. Open dawn to dusk.
9650 Sardis Road
A 2.8-acre neighborhood park with playground equipment and swings for ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12, a gazebo-style shelter with picnic tables, a paved walking trail around the play area, and an open grassy area. Portable restroom. The gazebo is first come, first served. Open dawn to dusk.
120 S. Trade Street
A 2-acre downtown park used year round for concerts and special events, with a performance stage and dance floor, a playground, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor grill and picnic area, a brick patio, and restrooms. Open dawn to dusk. The volleyball court and picnic area are first come, first served.
232 Matthews Station Street
A grassy green in front of Town Hall and the library, with a gazebo and benches. An easy stop to pair with a library visit. Open dawn to dusk.
Parking at Squirrel Lake Park and the Matthews Community Center
Two miles of walking trail with multiple neighborhood access points, connecting to Squirrel Lake Park. Open at all times except during flooding or repairs. Fountain Rock Park (311 S. Trade Street), a quiet fountain and seating area, sits along the greenway.
230 Matthews Station Street
Part of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, next to Town Green Park. Free, indoors, and busy with kids' programs. Early November's schedule included Family Storytime (Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday mornings), Baby and Toddler Storytime (Thursday mornings), a Tuesday afternoon Preschool Storytime, Paws to Read, where kids read aloud to a volunteer therapy dog, and drop-in Homework Help for grades K to 5 on Saturdays. Open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday. Phone (704) 416-5000.
Many storytimes require registration, and some fill up. Check the branch events page for current times.
188 N. Trade Street
Saturdays year-round, rain or shine. Morning hours shift between the main season and the winter season, so check the market's calendar before you go.
Downtown Matthews
The town's big Labor Day weekend festival, a tradition of nearly 50 years. Four days of a parade, a carnival, a food court, shopping, and live performances. The 2026 festival ran September 4 to 7. Pets are not allowed at the festival, but service animals are welcome.
Dates are announced each year on the festival site.
Hours, closures, and schedules change. We link to each official page so you can check the latest. Know a spot we missed, or see something out of date? Write to [email protected].
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