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Bourbon, Bacon, and Beasts: Inside the Festival That Redefines a Cheat Day

Posted on by Destination Magazine Food & Travel Creative Team
Bourbon, Bacon, and Beasts: Inside the Festival That Redefines a Cheat Day

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

Charlotte, NC
May, 2026

Pack your appetite and your favorite pair of boots, because Charlotte is about to get a whole lot smokier. The Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is returning to Ballantyne’s Backyard on May 9, 2026, for its 18th annual celebration of the “Great Eight” of Southern living: Beer, Bourbon, BBQ, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass, and Smoked Beasts.

This isn’t just a food festival; it’s a full-on sensory takeover. With your souvenir glass in hand, you’re granted “all-you-care-to-taste” access to over 60 craft beers and 40+ premier bourbons. As you stroll from table to table, the air hangs heavy with the aroma of the Shrine of Swine, where whole hogs are slow-roasted to perfection. From dripping ribs to savory brisket, the portions are big, and the flavors are bigger.

Between helpings, head to the Tasting Theater to learn secrets from Master Distillers or challenge your friends to giant Jenga at the Cochon Carnival. For the ultimate high-roller experience, grab a “Beast Mode” VIP Cabana—your own private oasis featuring extra sampling hours and a mountain of BBQ. Whether you’re there for the blues music or the hot sauce exhibits, it’s time to pig out and pour up!

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

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Destination Magazine Food & Travel Creative Team

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