Charlotte On The Cheap

Live well in the Queen City on a budget

20% off Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival May 9!

POSTED BY
Jody Mace

UPDATE: The contest has ended, and the winners have been emailed! (Please check your email.) But remember, everyone gets the 20% discount!

Winners (last names obscured for privacy):

  • Antonio Ca**r (2 GA tickets)
  • Christine Ra*i (2 GA tickets)
  • Hanna St*t (2 GA tickets)
  • Lori Mu*y (2 GA tickets)
  • Chris Fi*n (2 GA tickets)
  • Karen Ha*n (2 VIP tickets)

The 19th Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place May 9, 2026, at Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N Community House Road, Charlotte, North Carolina.

General admission is from 2 to 6 p.m., and VIP admission is from 12 to 6 p.m.

Five lucky Charlotte on the Cheap readers will win a pair of GA tickets, and one very lucky reader will win a pair of VIP tickets.

And a 20% discount is available to everyone!

Charlotte’s biggest, baddest, bone-in bbq festival is back! Get ready to eat, sip, and party Southern-style at the 19th Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival — returning to Ballantyne’s Backyard on Saturday, May 9. Same beautiful venue. Even bigger flavor. This legendary affair is all about the good stuff: Beer. Bourbon. Barbeque. Boots. Bacon. Biscuits. Bluegrass. And Smoked Beasts.

It’s a full day of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’ & BBQ eatin’!

Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival

Highlights of Festival

  • Unlimited Beer & Bourbon tasting included with both VIP and GA tickets
  • The legendary Shrine of Swine returns — featuring whole hogs and smoky surprises at each session.
  • Live bands rocking your favorite tunes all day long.
  • Tasting Theater sessions with Master Distillers, Brewmasters & Pitmasters.
  • Giant games like Jenga & Connect 4 — bring your A-game!
  • Food trucks and restaurant vendors dishing out big portions at low prices.
  • A marketplace filled with BBQ tools, sauces, and unique finds.

General Admission

2 to 6 p.m.
$42.80 (including fees)

This GA ticket includes a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, and all live entertainment.

VIP Admission

12 to 6 p.m.
$93.29 (including fees)

The VIP ticket includes 2 extra hours of sampling, a souvenir tasting glass, unlimited sampling of beer and bourbon, a BBQ dinner plate, VIP washroom, and live entertainment.

Beer Bourbon and BBQ Festival

Discount Code

Use promo code CHEAPBBQ20 for 20% off either GA or VIP tickets. The promo code does not apply to cabanas. Purchase tickets.

Win Tickets

The contest has ended and the winners have been notified.

Winners (last names obscured for privacy):

  • Antonio Ca**r (2 GA tickets)
  • Christine Ra*i (2 GA tickets)
  • Hanna St*t (2 GA tickets)
  • Lori Mu*y (2 GA tickets)
  • Chris Fi*n (2 GA tickets)
  • Karen Ha*n (2 VIP tickets)

Drink Eat Relax Events is giving away several tickets to Charlotte on the Cheap newsletter subscribers! If you haven’t subscribed yet, click here to subscribe! We send out one newsletter every morning with the best deals and events.

  • 5 winners will each win a pair of GA tickets
  • 1 winner will win a pair of VIP tickets

To enter to win tickets, just scroll down to the comment section and leave a comment! Please make sure to leave your correct email address (in the email address field), so that we can send you the tickets if you win. Your email address won’t be public.

The winners will be randomly selected on May 1, 2026.

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Ballantyne’s Backyard

11611 N. Community House Road
Charlotte, NC

Get Directions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Donna Armbrister says

    if you’re talking abound BBQ and Beer, count Me in! Just the thought of the 2 of them brings a smile to my FACE!

  7. Lori Murphy says

    I’m new to North Carolina and would be thrilled to win tickets; this sounds like such an amazing day!

  8. Lillian M Crowley says

    We live in VT and have a rental home in concord NC, we would love to win. We will ne back to nc on May 6th.

  12. Angela says

    I would love to surprise my husband & show him Charlotte has awesome eventsaa well! He shared with me that Kannapolis used to hold Jiggy with the piggy event which has been canceled forever.

  24. Chris FitzGibbon says

    I love Charlotte on the Cheap! I’ve learned more about my city from this newsletter than anything else I’ve found.

  30. Roxanne Hardwick says

    Relocated to Denver, North Carolina last September. This event would be awesome to attend! Sounds like such fun!

  37. Hannah Stewart says

    I’ve found so much to do on this amazing page! Looks like I’ve found another amazing thing to do to get out and explore more of my city, in my home state! 🤗

  39. Cassandra Hunsucker says

    I would love to be a winner and take my 79yr old mother she’s loves BBQ!!

  44. Candy Lake says

    Oooo we would LOVE to go! I hope I get chosen! We haven’t attended this event before so this would be great!

  48. Katie says

    BBQ smoke got me again,
    Came for “one bite,” left at ten.
    Sauce on my phone, smoke in my hair,
    Diet starts Monday… or somewhere there 😃

  54. Sandra K says

    Can’t think of a better way to spend the day or a better combination! Count me in!

  58. Kelli Foniqi says

    Have you ever seen that trend of saying all of your dog’s favorite words in a convo to see their reaction. That’s me with name of this festival 😂

  62. Christy says

    Is this a kid friendly event? If so, is there a separate ticket that needs to be purchased for them?

  63. Brian Mullarkey says

    Beer, bourbon and BBQ. . what could be better. Would live to win tickets for this event.

  70. Ellie Green says

    Pick me 🙋‍♀️ I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. My talents include eating brisket and saying ‘wow’ after every sip.

  71. Abby says

    I’d love to take my husband to this! All his faves. Even if it’s on Mother’s day weekend hahah.

  72. Kathy Muller says

    You had me at Bourbon !! This is my kind of event. I hope I win some tickets. I’ll bring my Beer loving friend.

  77. Karen Allen Harrison says

    Charlotte newbie here. Charlotte on the cheap introduced me to SHOUT- loved it!!
    Looking forward to learning listening and eating my way throughout Charlotte.

  78. Sj says

    Would love to attend & enjoy!
    Sounds l8ke the BBQ Blues & Brews from the past..good times there.

  89. Heather H says

    I would love to take my family to this! Thank you for continuing to share all the discounts!

  100. Antonio Carter Sr says

    I would definitely love to go and take my mom! She’s needs a break as caregiver for my father!!! Sounds like fun!!!

  101. Christine Ranieri says

    Just moved to the Ballantyne area. Would love to WIN tickets and enjoy a day in the sun with BB& BBQ!

  103. Beline says

    What’s not to love about BBQ in North Carolina! Never been to the festival. Would love to check it out

  106. Stacey Bradam says

    The BIG 3 festival —- Beer , Bourbon and BBQ sounds like my Husband and my kind of fun! I would love to win those VIP tickets to celebrate my birthday May 23 and my one year cancer free day . This would be a perfect way to enjoy it!

  107. Crystal Baker says

    Never attended this event!!….This sounds amazing 🤩!!!….Perfect way for me and hubby to celebrate 35 years of marriage !!…..Look forward to having this experience whether or not we win the tickets!! 🍺🥃🍖

  108. Jennifer says

    that sounds so fun I’d love to go! Especially since I’m in-between jobs right now! ❤️

  114. JT says

    Sounds like a good time!!! Cheers! Salud! Slainte! Maybe you be in heaven and hour before the devil knows you’re dead!

  123. Cheryl Woodham says

    This sounds awesome! Would love to take my husband as an early retirement gift.

  127. Michelle Rowan says

    My birthday is on Saturday, so this would be a great gift and would be so fun to attend. 🎉

  128. Takisha Jones says

    I would love to surprise my boyfriend with free tickets. He has been talking about this event for months. I of course LOVE Charlotte cheap!

    Please please let us win

  134. Tomeka says

    I’ve lived in Charlotte for 11 years and never been to this festival! Mom is coming for the weekend, so may have to check it out…

  139. Ricky Gunnells says

    Beer Bourbon and Bar-B-Q puts the Q in Queen City 🌆
    Extra napkins please!

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