the Destination Magazine™

60 Beers, 40 Bourbons, and Unlimited Tastings? Your Ultimate Saturday Guide.

Posted on by Destination Magazine Food & Travel Creative Team
60 Beers, 40 Bourbons, and Unlimited Tastings? Your Ultimate Saturday Guide.

Get your bibs ready! It’s a smoky, boozy bash with unlimited beer, rare bourbons, giant games, and legendary whole-hog BBQ.

Charlotte, NC
April, 2026

Smoky, Salty, And Spirited: Charlotte’s Favorite Festival Returns

Charlotte, get ready for a day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, and BBQ eatin’ — the 19th Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is back on Saturday, May 9th, from 12PM to 6PM at Ballantyne’s Backyard!

This legendary event celebrates all the Southern staples we know and love. Your ticket includes a souvenir glass and unlimited tastings of over 60 beers and 40 bourbons. Explore a smoky wonderland of flavors with BBQ vendors serving up everything from pulled pork and brisket to sausage, chicken, and more — including the unforgettable Shrine of Swine featuring whole hogs and surprise meats at each session.

Take a break from the tastings to enjoy live music, shop unique finds like hot sauces and BBQ gear, or challenge your friends to Giant Jenga, Connect Four, and Cornhole. Want the royal treatment? VIP tickets get you in two hours early (starting at 12PM), plus access to a BBQ dinner plate, VIP restrooms, and special entertainment. These sell out fast — don’t wait!

Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or just here for the good vibes, this is one Charlotte tradition you don’t want to miss.

Ballantyne’s Backyard
11611 N Community House Rd
Charlotte, NC 28277
charlotte.beerandbourbon.com

Subscribe Now

Weekly Destinations to Enjoy

We Tell You Where To Go!

Destination Magazine Food & Travel Creative Team

Think of us as your digital tour guides with a serious design addiction. At The Destination Magazine, our creative team has spent over 40 years mastering the art of the “wish you were here” feeling. We’ve traded city traffic for scenic routes and cubicles for wide-open spaces, all to prove that the best stories aren’t found on a screen—they’re found down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. We’ve gotten so good at making rural look radical that we were even named an Adobe Success Story. Apparently, our layout and design techniques are officially “the gold standard,” but we just like to think of it as making sure the local hidden gems get the spotlight they deserve. Whether it’s a tiny mountain town or a coastal secret, we use our four decades of design magic to make sure you’re inspired to pack a bag, grab your keys, and go find some fresh air.