Cheerwine Festival returns this weekend

SALISBURY, N.C. — A springtime favorite is returning this year.

The annual Cheerwine Festival will take over the streets of downtown Salisbury on May 20.

The family-friendly festival, which celebrates the iconic 106-year-old cherry soda in its birthplace, will feature live music, Cheerwine-inspired food and drinks, arts and crafts, kids’ activities, and other attractions.

Multi-platinum rockers Neon Trees will headline the festival. Ryan Perry, New Local and Divided by Four will also be performing.

After receiving almost 9,000 votes, event organizers have also announced the winner of the 2023 Cheerwine Festival T-Shirt Design Contest. This year’s T-shirt will feature a design by Amanda Nesbitt of Cuthbertson High School in Waxhaw. The contest featured designs by 10 high school students from across North Carolina and South Carolina.

Since the inaugural event in 2017, which was held in conjunction with the soft drink’s 100th anniversary, Cheerwine and Salisbury has welcomed tens of thousands of festivalgoers to historic downtown.

“We can’t wait for everyone to join us in celebrating the unique flavors, sights, and sounds of the Carolinas this May,” said Cheerwine’s vice president of marketing and fifth-generation founding family member Joy Ritchie Harper in a news release. “Last year we hosted 60,000 people and hope to welcome even more this spring for our best event yet.”

The festival will be held from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information, go to cheerwinefest.com.

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