Smash Mouth will headline music acts for Cheerwine Festival

Published 11:24 am Monday, March 25, 2019

SALISBURY — Multiplatinum band Smash Mouth, best known for its hit song “All Star,” will be the headline act for the third annual Cheerwine Festival on May 18.

Smash Mouth

In addition, two Carolina-based bands, Livehouse and StellaRising, and Nashville-based The Southern Gothic will perform on the Hotwire Communications Stage.

The festival will also feature a variety of street performers, known as “buskers,” including Blazin’ Blues Bob, Lucas Beam, David Myers & Courtney Puckett, Zoe, Kia Rice and Lisette Rodriguez.

Cheerwine, the iconic family-owned soft drink company, and its hometown of Salisbury will be host for what company officials predict will be the biggest Cheerwine Festival yet. The free festival will be from noon to 10 p.m. May 18 in downtown Salisbury.

Cheerwine fans will enjoy ice-cold Cheerwine, live music, Southern food, shopping, family-friendly activities, a beer garden and local craft vendors.

Festival-goers will be able to sample the flavors of the Carolinas, free of charge, by enjoying the “tastes of the Carolinas,” compliments of Food Lion. Participating brands include:

• Hushpuppies from House-Autry.

• Cheerwine floats from Mooresville Ice Cream.

• Cheerwine barbecue sauce from Cackalacky.

• Freshly baked biscuits from Renwood Mills.

For the first time, Cheerwine also will host a scavenger hunt from noon to 6 p.m., with fans searching for clues all over downtown Salisbury for a chance to win prizes. To participate, visit the Cheerwine Fan Club tent at the festival.

Other activities on tap:

• From noon to 5 p.m., delve into Cheerwine’s history at the Rowan Museum. Back for the first time since the brand’s centennial celebration in 2017, the Rowan Museum’s free Cheerwine exhibit will take fans on a walk through the soft drink’s last 102 years.

• The F&M Bank Kids’ Zone will be open all day, featuring games and activities.

• Cheerwine merchandise will be available for purchase.

• Food, drinks and crafts from local vendors will be available all day. All food, beverage and craft vendors will be announced in early April. Cheerwine fans can watch for updates at CheerwineFest.com and on the official Facebook event page.

“We’re grateful to the tens of thousands of Cheerwine fans who joined us last year and can’t wait for everyone to see what we’ve got planned for 2019’s festival,” said Joy Ritchie Harper, vice president of marketing for Cheerwine and a fifth-generation founding family member.

“We’re proud of our Carolina roots, and we co-host this event with the city of Salisbury to celebrate the region’s uniquely Southern tastes, sounds, culture and amazing people.”

The 2017 and 2018 Cheerwine Festival resulted in a cumulative $1.5 million boost to the city’s economy, with more than 60,000 people taking to the streets to celebrate the beloved local soft drink.

“Salisbury is proud to be the birthplace of Cheerwine,” Salisbury Mayor Al Heggins said. “The soft drink company has called our city home for more than a hundred years. We’re delighted to present this third annual celebration of all things Salisbury and Cheerwine, and we’re looking forward to welcoming Salisburians and visitors alike.”

For more information about the Cheerwine Festival, visit http://cheerwinefest.com.