One of Salisbury’s most beloved traditions is returning. The 2021 Cheerwine Festival was just announced for September 18th in the town’s historic downtown. Grammy-nominated band Spin Doctors will headline the entertainment for the festival which runs from noon to 10 pm. Additionally, Lauren Light Trio, Tsunami Wave Riders, and 9daytrip, will perform live music for tens of thousands of attendees from the Hotwire Communication Stage throughout the day.

In addition to exciting live musical performances, the free outdoor celebration will feature a number of family-friendly activities. Festival-goers will be able to:

• Immerse themselves in the soft drink’s rich southern history at the Rowan Museum’s Cheerwine exhibit, featuring rare memorabilia on loan from Cheerwine and private collectors.
• Savor mouthwatering Cheerwine-inspired food, including tacos, kettle corn, BBQ, funnel cakes, and more, from 25+ vendors from across the Carolinas.
• Sample delicious Cheerwine-infused craft beer from regional craft breweries, including New Sarum Brewing Company, Morgan Ridge Brewery & Eatery, Cabarrus Brewing Company and Gizmo Brew Works.
• Visit the Food Lion “Carolina Brands” attraction and experience unique regional flavors from favorites,  including Cook Out, Cackalacky, Renwood Mills and more.
• Play at the F&M Bank Kids Zone, which will include entertainment and activities for little ones.
• Shop for arts and crafts, as well as fun and unique Cheerwine merchandise, from over 50 different vendor booths.

“We love all our fans who travel from near and far to celebrate all things Cheerwine with us in our hometown annually,” says Joy Ritchie Harper, vice-president of marketing for Cheerwine and fifth-generation founding family member. “We’re proud of our Carolina roots and excited to welcome other local brands and vendors from across the region to Downtown Salisbury to salute our rich heritage through a day of food and drink, arts and crafts, music, and more.”

“The City of Salisbury is delighted that such a well-respected brand like Cheerwine calls us home,” says Salisbury Mayor Karen Alexander. “Our residents look forward to this event every year, and we’re thrilled to welcome our out-of-town guests and show them the southern hospitality we’re known for.”

For more information on the 2021 Cheerwine Festival, visit https://cheerwinefest.com. Fans can also find details by visiting the Cheerwine Festival Facebook event page and searching the hashtag #CheerwineFest on social media.

About the 2021 Cheerwine Festival Bands

·  Spin Doctors – The multi-Grammy nominee quartet, best known for its 5x platinum album Pocket Full of Kryptonite and hits “Two Princes” and “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” has been entertaining fans with its unique blend of funk, blues, and progressive rock for over 30 years.

·  9daytrip – This homegrown Carolina band blends soulful blues, country, rock, roots, and psychedelic jam to produce an Americana sound all their own.

·  Tsunami Wave Riders – Originally from Hawaii and now based in Charlotte, the group blends traditional island instruments, like Caribbean steel drums, Hawaiian ukulele, and lap-steel guitar, with popular dance rhythms to keep audiences in the island state of mind all day and night.

·  Lauren Light Trio – A pop singer-songwriter, Light is a force to be reckoned with.  The Berklee grad has played 800+ shows in over 30 states across the U.S.  On stage, she artfully crafts the perfect blend of pop and soulful vocals.