Cheerwine to Celebrate 90 Years with 90-Year-Olds
On May 19, an untold number of 90-year-olds will gather in downtown Salisbury, NC, to help celebrate the 90th anniversary of Cheerwine, a cherry soft drink sold mostly in the south.
The nonagenarians were invited to join the event as a way for the company to recognize the life, longevity and loyalty of its customers and its own brand, the company said.
“Cheerwine has 90 years of memories and successes to celebrate and so do many others,” said Cliff Ritchie, chief executive officer, in a statement.
As part of the festivities, a Cheerwine recipe cook-off will be held, as will a burping contest. Cheerwine ice cream will be served. A “cheer-off” will be held with local high schools. Other family oriented activities will round out the event including honoring all 90-year-olds present.
Finalists in the recipe contest can make their dish and bring it to the event if they like with the winner announced that day. And, of course, Cheerwine punch will be served along with birthday cake.
An on-pack promo, which ends in March 2008, supports the anniversary.
Customers can win one of 90 prizes including the grand prize 2007 Cheerwine Xebra electric car valued at $8,000. Players register at Cheerwine.com and enter codes found on packaging. The 90 different prizes represent each year of the brand’s history starting with a prize from 1917.
For example, the 1917 prize is a 1917 Corona typewriter, 1926 is a July 1, 1926 issue of “Life magazine” titled “Flapper Girl” and the 1975 prize is a mood ring.
The party will be held from 1 to 6 pm on Easy Street.
Carolina Beverage Corp. is the maker of Cheerwine and Diet Cheerwine soft drinks, which are available in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, as well as parts of the mid-west.
