Salisbury beginning to gear up for Cheerwine festival
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, February 5, 2025
- Gerald Green, left, of Let's Groove Tonight, mingles with fans during his set at the Cheerwine Festival on Saturday. - Chandler Inions
By Robert Sullivan
SALISBURY — The city of Salisbury has begun gearing up for its biggest event of the year, as applications have been opened for vendors for the annual Cheerwine Festival, which will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Vendor applications are accepted for the three categories of food, handmade crafts or artisan and beer. For anyone interested in being a vendor, the application is available online at cheerwinefest.com/Get-Involved/Vendors, with applications closing at 11:59 p.m. on Friday.
“We’re excited to welcome everyone back to Cheerwine’s birthplace for a day full of great entertainment, delicious food and family fun. There’s nothing better than seeing our community come together, and we can’t wait to celebrate with old friends and new faces while sharing the unique charm and hospitality that makes Salisbury so special,” said Joy Ritchie Harper, vice president of marketing for Cheerwine and fifth-generation founding family member, in a news release.
The festival has been celebrated in downtown Salisbury annually since Cheerwine’s 100th anniversary in 2017, with one break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This will be the festival’s second year with its expanded footprint, with the 2024 rendition expanding down West Fisher and West Innes streets to Jackson Street, along with making Bell Tower Green accessible to the public and providing additional restrooms and shuttles.
Last year, the festival had its schedule changed due to inclement weather forecasts in the evening and still drew 100,000 visitors and brought in over $6.3 million in total revenues.
“Just like Cheerwine, with its one-of-a-kind flavor that’s as bold and spirited as our Salisbury-Rowan community, the Festival is a fun way to toast to our rich history while giving a fizzy boost to our cultural and economic growth,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tamara Sheffield in the release.