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Pepsi Turns 125 And You Get The Birthday Gift

Author Phil Harris
Supermodel Cindy Crawford drinks a Pepsi in an award-winning ad produced for regular Pepsi in 1991, in which a pair of awestruck boys watched Crawford approach a Pepsi vending machine. Invented in 1893, the soft drink brand is celebrating its 125th anniversary. (Photo by Pepsi/Getty Images)

Pepsi is celebrating a big birthday. The iconic soft drink brand turns 125 this year and to celebrate, the company is hooking everyone up with free drinks.

If you didn’t already know, Pepsi was born in North Carolina. When the beverage was invented way back in 1893, it was called “Brad’s Drink,” after its creator, Caleb Bradham. He introduced the the fizzy concoction to the public at his drugstore in New Bern. It was renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898. The word “Pepsi” was chosen because it was advertised to relieve dyspepsia, a fancy word for indigestion.

According to the official press release, Pepsi is commemorating its 125th birthday with 125 days of celebration. That includes giving everyone in America a free soft drink. On top of that, the company is also opening a pop-up diner in New York City this fall. The Pepsi 125 Diner will be open October 19-October 26 and tickets starting at $50 per person. Your admission includes a full three-course meal, soft drinks and adult cocktails, plus a front-row seat for an immersive experience.

Five lucky winners from outside of the New York City area will win a trip to the Pepsi 125 Diner in October. Click here to enter the sweepstakes. In the meantime, you can also score your free soda in the form of reimbursement just by showing proof of purchase. Here’s how to do it:

  • Purchase a Pepsi between August 28 and September 4, 2023.
  • To claim your money, text “PEPSI125” to 81234.
  • You will need your physical receipt, retailer, and date of purchase.
  • The receipt must be sent no later than September 11, 2023.
  • Rebates up to $2.50 will be paid via PayPal or Venmo.

Phil Harris is 50% of "Phil & Mel in the Afternoon" on K104.7. He has been with the station since 2013 and on the air in Charlotte since 2000. Before coming to the Queen City, Phil worked for radio stations in Pittsburgh, Austin, and Seattle. In addition to the weekly "Throwback Threesome" music video feature, Phil writes about things that matter to Charlotte sports fans and pet owners. He happens to be both.

You Aren't A True North Carolinian Until You've Done These 9 Things

So you were born and raised in North Carolina? Or you’ve lived here twenty years. You can name the state flower- the dogwood. You know Raleigh is the capital city, and you’ve probably visited. There’s a good chance you took North Carolina history in school. So, you probably think that automatically qualifies you as a North Carolinian. But I’m here to tell you no, that is not the case. There are a few certain rights of passage if you will, if you want to take that title. Think of it as quintessential North Carolina things. Some, maybe wouldn’t make sense if you grew up in the Midwest, or California, or New England. But if you grew up here, you know. These things are just North Carolina. Have you done all of them? Is there something you’d add to the list? Or perhaps take off? I’d love to hear it.

Did I ruffle your feathers by calling you not a true North Carolinian? Sometimes the truth hurts. But now you know what you need to do so don’t shoot the messenger. Take a look at this list of nine activities/places to visit and see how many you check off. You may not have done all of them even if you’ve always called North Carolina home. But if you haven’t, well you should!

  • Had Late Night CookOut

    Cookout tastes it’s best after midnight. This North Carolina fast food chain is known for its Cookout Trays which get you an entree, 2 sides (which are basically entrees with things like chicken nuggets, quesadillas, corndogs as options), and a drink. You obviously upgrade that drink to one of the endless flavors of milkshakes. And that is the perfect late-night meal. You also get bonus points if you eat it in your car or sitting on a curb, because I’m still not a fan of these eat-in CookOut locations. It’s called Cook “out” not Cook “in”.

  • Ridden A Roller Coaster At Carowinds

    In recent years Carowinds has put itself on the map as having some of the best roller coasters in the country. And listen, I get that taking a turn on Fury 325, the record-breaking coaster with a 325-foot drop isn’t for everyone. So I’ll give you any past or present roller coaster at Carowinds for this one. Even a turn on the kiddie coaster Woodstock Express (formerly Scooby Doo or Fairly Odd Coaster) or the Carolina Goldrusher (one of the park’s OG rides) will do.

  • Seen The Wild Horses At The Outer Banks

    Wild Horses rest on the beach just north of Corolla, NC.

    There are multiple places on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where you can see the wild Colonial Spanish Mustang Horses that call the barrier islands home. This includes Corolla, Shackleford Banks, and Ocracoke Island. The horses have resided on the North Carolina shore for over 500 years. There are guided tours that will take you close to these magnificent creatures. But always remember they are wild animals and not domesticated like the horses you typically encounter. That being said, it’s a breathtaking experience to witness these animals running at the edge of the ocean.

  • Drank A North Carolina Brewed Beer At A Brewery

    You can’t go far in North Carolina without seeing one of the seemingly countless breweries the state has to offer. Even if you aren’t a beer fan, you need to spend the afternoon at least once having a beer on the patio at one of those breweries. Whether it is in Asheville where some incredible breweries like Sierra Nevada are, Charlotte, or even a small town.

  • Gone White Water Rafting (Or At Least Watched) At The WWC

    The US National Whitewater Center is located in Charlotte. This facility offers over 30 different outdoor activities including white water rafting. If you’re like me and not the most adventurous, it’s a great place to give it a try as it’s more of a controlled environment than rivers. At least that’s what I told myself. The WWC also hosts a variety of events including RiverJam. So even if the activity itself isn’t your thing (no judgement here), you at least need to visit, perhaps grab a drink and lunch, and enjoy the atmosphere.

  • Taken A Drive Down The Blue Ridge Parkway

    Known as “America’s Favorite Drive” the Blue Ridge Parkway winds through the picturesque mountains of North Carolina. It spans 469 miles from North Carolina all the way to Virginia. The Parkway connects Asheville and Boone which are two of the largest cities along its North Carolina route. There are also plenty of hidden gems including Little Switzerland right off the parkway. It’s gorgeous all year round, but especially beautiful as the leaves change in the fall.

  • Watched A Panthers Game While Eating Bojangles

    I’m not even the biggest Bojangles fan (team Chick-fil-a) all day every day. But those cajun fries just hit differently at Bank of America Stadium during a Panthers game. And unlike Chick-fil-a, North Carolina-born Bojangles is open on Sundays making Big Bo Box the perfect tailgate option. So whether you are enjoying chicken, fries, and sweet tea at home or at the stadium it’s just a must for Sundays in the fall in North Carolina.

  • Attended An ACC Tournament Game

    Typically in Greensboro, though in recent years the ACC Tournament has been played in other locations such as Charlotte and even New York City. But there is no denying its an ingrained part of the culture of North Carolina, no matter who you cheer for. There is nothing quite like the feeling of watching your team win a close game in the tournament, and is there anything more North Carolina?

  • Visited Biltmore Estate

    America’s Largest Home, Biltmore Estate, in Asheville, NC is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the state. And good reason. This magnificent estate was originally owned by George Vanderbilt and is still owned and operated today by his descendants is a site to see. You can make a day trip or spend the weekend. The hotels on site are incredible and you won’t tire of dining at the restaurants. When you aren’t visiting the Biltmore house itself enjoy outdoor activities such as walking trails, horseback riding, white water rafting. Or do a wine tasting at America’s most visited winery located on site.

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