SALISBURY, N.C. — If you've lived in the Carolinas for any amount of time, there's no question you're familiar with Cheerwine.
The cherry-flavored drink has been the preferred soda of Salisbury since production began back in 1917. And this weekend, downtown Salisbury will celebrate all things Cheerwine and the third annual Cheerwine Festival.
"Cheerwine is very unique," said a spokesperson. "It has a unique taste, it's not like other soft drinks."
The festival will take place from noon until 10 p.m. Saturday, May 18. Fans of Cheerwine will celebrate the drink's cherry flavor with a ton of special recipes, ranging from a simple ice cream float to Cheerwine hush puppies and barbecue tacos.
Admission is free, several local breweries will be a part of a craft beer garden and rock band Smash Mouth will perform live.
If you can't make it out to the festival, don't worry. You can find plenty of Cheerwine-inspired recipes on their website.