By Kenneth S. Allen
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

One of the joys of small-town life is how the whole community turns out for the holidays. And nowhere is that more true than in Matthews.

The shops
To start, Matthews has a charming downtown with a real Main Street (although its true name is North Trade Street). Here are shopping experiences you won’t find at your local mall.

Matthews Holiday Haus is a year-round establishment featuring anything you could want for whatever holiday you’re celebrating. But its big thing is Christmas, with ornaments, decorations, and party supplies. The Christmas spirit lives here.

Across the street is Renfrow Hardware & General Merchandise. This institution harks back to the days when Matthews was the center of a bustling farming community and Renfrow stocked anything and everything you could ever need. It still does. Need a rattrap? Got it. Washboard? Got it. Nuts, bolts, screws, tools? Got ‘em. In addition, Renfrow carries genuine Flexible Flyer sleds. How about one of those under the tree?

Up the street is Bicycles East. You can’t miss it. There’s a giant, multicolored bicycle sculpture out front, and everything for the bicycle enthusiast inside.

For a traditional Christmas, you can’t go wrong with sleds and bicycles.

The to-dos
What’s Christmas without a performance of  The Nutcracker? Matthews’ version, presented by the Matthews Ballet, is on December 6 and 7 at the Matthews Community Center. Admission for adults is $5; children 12 and under, $3.

December 6 is the Hometown Holiday Festival downtown from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by the Tree Lighting from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

This is, of course, a busy time of year for Santa, but he wouldn’t miss the opportunity to have breakfast with the children of Matthews. In fact, he will be coming by twice—on December 13 and December 20—at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Breakfast will be held at the Matthews Community Center. Cost is $5 a person. Call 704-321-7275 for tickets.