Countdown to the 2025 Cheerwine Festival: Weather and Event Preview

The countdown is on — the 2025 Cheerwine Festival is just a few weeks away, and excitement is building across Salisbury and Rowan County.

As the official weather provider for the event, Rowan County Weather is closely watching early forecast trends to help festival-goers, vendors, and performers plan ahead.

Here is a first look at what to expect — and why keeping an eye on the weather in the days leading up to the festival will be important.

Festival Details

The 2025 Cheerwine Festival will be held on Saturday, May 17, in downtown Salisbury.
The festival will feature live music, food and drink vendors, family activities, shopping with local businesses, and of course, plenty of Cheerwine.

The event has quickly become one of the most anticipated gatherings in North Carolina, bringing visitors from across the region to celebrate Salisbury’s hometown soft drink.

Early Weather Outlook

While it is still a little early for a highly detailed forecast, early indicators suggest the festival weekend may feature warm and mostly dry weather.

• Temperatures are likely to run above normal, with daytime highs in the low to mid 80s.

• Early outlooks show lower rain chances, but a small risk of isolated afternoon showers or thunderstorms cannot be completely ruled out yet.

• Humidity levels are expected to be moderate, which could make it feel a few degrees warmer than the actual temperature.

Rowan County Weather will continue to refine the forecast as the event gets closer, including providing real-time updates the week of the festival.

What to Watch For

As we move closer to the festival date, there are a few key weather factors to monitor:

• Storm Chances: Even small summertime storm systems could create short-lived impacts.

• Heat and Sun: Staying hydrated and finding shade will be important if temperatures climb into the mid 80s or higher.

• Travel Conditions: Good weather can mean larger crowds, so planning ahead for parking and traffic is recommended.

Rowan County Weather will post updated forecasts, safety tips, and any important alerts across our website and social media platforms.

Stay Connected

We are proud to be the official weather partner for the 2025 Cheerwine Festival.
For the latest updates, be sure to follow Rowan County Weather on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

More detailed daily forecasts for festival week will begin on Monday, May 12.