SALISBURY, N.C. — It’s back! the annual Cheerwine Festival returned to downtown Salisbury on Saturday, welcoming revelers from across the Carolinas and beyond.
It’s no secret that Cheerwine is a staple beverage for the Carolinas -- it's crafted right in Salisbury, making fountain drink fanatics happy since 1917. And what better way to celebrate the flavored beverage than to have a festival for families throughout to enjoy?
Cheerwine-infused drinks, food, and even apparel could be found downtown, offering something for just about anyone strolling around. That foot traffic is something that's a boon for local businesses. Alexanderia Cooper runs the Local Focal marketplace in Salisbury and said it's a big business booster.
"Everything sells as long as it’s good, clean, delicious, whatever -- it all sells," she said. “Cheerwine can actually turn a business around completely.”
The festival is expected to bring in over 100,000 visitors this year and big money to follow. According to the city, last year's festival alone generated more than $5 million.
Miriam Keller is in charge of some of the vendors inside Local Focal and hoped to make good strong first impressions during the festival.
“Father's Day is coming up, so I put some tumblers out," she said. "When you're doing a festival or something this big, you got to make sure you got the right thing.”
Cheerwine has been on the market for more than 100 years and it will be a drink the city of Salisbury will never get tired of.
"I'm proud to be from Salisbury, North Carolina, because of Cheerwine," Keller said.
Contact Myles Harris at mharris5@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.