SALISBURY, N.C. — The date for the 2021 Cheerwine Festival has been moved from May 15 to Sept. 18 in hopes of COVID-19 restrictions being lifted by the fall.
Salisbury city manager W. Lane Bailey said city officials and event organizers are cautiously optimistic as people continue to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
“If restrictions on gatherings are lifted by the summer, we fully intend to welcome folks to Salisbury to celebrate Cheerwine,” Bailey said. “However, we will move forward with the 2021 Cheerwine Festival only with consideration and guidance from state and federal health care agencies,” he added.
Organizers will announce additional details later this year, including the music lineup, the second annual T-shirt design contest and family-friendly activities.
“The health and well-being of our fans and everyone who has a hand in the festival is of the utmost importance to us,” said Joy Ritchie Harper, vice president of marketing for Cheerwine and fifth generation founding family member. “We’re hopeful that by pushing the date back we’ll be able to move forward with this year’s festivities.”
In 2020, Cheerwine and the City of Salisbury canceled the outdoor event that draws tens of thousands of people annually and instead hosted a virtual celebration, including live musical entertainment, for fans to enjoy from the safety of home. The City of Salisbury was awarded an Innovative Program Award from the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association as a result of the virtual event’s success.
For updates or more information about the 2021 Cheerwine Festival, go to cheerwinefest.com.
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