Three cheers for Cheerwine. The annual Cheerwine Festival returns this weekend, celebrating the uniquely southern soft drink in its hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina.

When + Where?

Saturday, May 18 — 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Center of the festival will be at the cross of Main and Innes streets

Ready to party? Cheerwine enthusiasts and first-time visitors alike will discover hundreds of vendors, musical performances, Cheerwine-themed merchandise, food, drinks, and more.

The Cheerwine Festival is free to attend. Editor's note: — Bring extra spending money to visit the vendors.

The inaugural festival began in 2017 to celebrate Cheerwine’s 100th anniversary. The event was an incredible success, with tens of thousands of people from across the Carolinas converging in the city. In 2018, the festival doubled in size to include nearly all of the downtown area.

The City of Salisbury will offer complimentary shuttle service for festival-goers. The shuttles will run from 11:40 a.m. to 11 p.m. Shuttle locations will include Rowan Cabarrus Community College, Catawba College, and Livingstone College School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts. | Photo via the City of Salisbury

Attractions

Cheerwine-inspired food and drinks from 50+ vendors + two beer gardens featuring 10 Cheerwine-infused beers
Food Lion’s "Taste of Carolina Originals" offering free samples from regional favorites like Cackalacky and Cook Out
Arts and crafts — including Cheerwine merchandise from over 100 artisans and vendors
Family-friendly activities + games
A Cheerwine history exhibit at the Rowan Museum
Free trolley tours highlighting historic downtown landmarks

The Cheerwine Festival has drawn music talent from local, up-and-coming bands to award-winning artists. | Photo via The City of Salisbury

Live Music Lineup
What's a party without music? Visitors can look forward to these performances from 2 to 10 p.m:

The Phoebes Band— 2-4 p.m.
Braden Hull — 4:30-6 p.m.
TKG Experience— 6:30-8 p.m.
Let's Groove Tonight—8:30-10 p.m.