Charlotte On The Cheap

Live well in the Queen City on a budget

20% off tickets to Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

POSTED BY
Jody Mace

UPDATE: The contest has ended and we’ve emailed the tickets to the winners, who are:

  • Anita J.
  • Michael W.
  • McKenzie W.
  • Chari L.
  • Jaden
  • Tiffany L.

Remember, though: everyone gets a discount! Keep reading…

The 17th Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival takes place May 17, 2025, 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 17th Annual Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival — returning to the stunning Ballantyne’s Backyard on Saturday, May 17th! 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’!

Highlights of Festival

  • 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.

VIP Admission

12 to 6 p.m.
$85

Includes a souvenir tasting glass and 2 extra hours of sampling unlimited beer and bourbon tastings, a BBQ Dinner Plate and all live entertainment. Access to the Shrine of Swine. All other food is available a la Carte (pay on your own). Keep reading for a discount code!

General Admission

2 to 6 p.m.
$45

Includes a souvenir glass and unlimited beer and bourbon tastings. Access to the Shrine of Swine. All other food is available a la Carte (pay on your own). Keep reading for a discount code!

Cooking meat at a festival
Photo courtesy of Drink Eat Relax Events

Discount Code

Use promo code CLTCHEAP20 for 20% off either GA or VIP tickets. The promo code does not apply to cabanas. Purchase tickets.

Win 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 11, 2025.

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Ballantyne’s Backyard

11611 N. Community House Road
Charlotte, NC

Get Directions

Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Donna Maudell Armbrister says

    Beer and BBQ together sounds like a Winner 🏆 to me! Pick me, please!

  12. Felicia says

    Hey, the 17th Annual Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival is great place to socialize and make new friends. I love barbecue and an awesome dinner Plate and live entertainmentt.

  17. Geri Usery says

    I will be 76 soon and I’m having a blast enjoying new things! I would absolutely love to be able to attend this awesome event so I would love to win tickets! Thanks!!

  29. Melissa plechaty says

    I love charlotte on the cheap! There are always great things to do. Would absolutely love to go to the BBQ, bourbon and beer festival!

  34. Kathy L Muller says

    Crossing my fingers that my post is picked! I do love me some fine bourbon! And fine BBQ! Cheers to all!

  36. Blake Talley says

    Thank you for having this event again! I had so much fun last year. Please pick me!

  41. PEGGY J OREM says

    I love Charlotte On The Cheap! First time to go to the festival! Looking forward to it.

  44. LaNija Redmond says

    I’m a lifetime BBQ fan! I didn’t even know this festival existed

  46. Tonya Bowe says

    This would be our 2nd time attending and an amazing fun day! Can’t get any better than bourbon and bbq. Thanks Ballantyne for hosting this event!

  60. Jessica Martin says

    Would absolutely love to take my bourbon loving boyfriend to this event!! Sounds like an event not to miss!

  62. JODIE L BALDER says

    Beer in my left hand, bourbon in my right,
    the ribs are charred just about right.
    So raise a glass to this holy trinity:
    Booze, meat, and sweet-smoked divinity!😋😋😋

  65. Shanae F says

    This will be a great way to celebrate my birthday weekend 🥳🥃🍖!

  70. Linda Olsen says

    this would be a great early Father’s Day present for My husband! Hope I win.

  83. Candy Lake says

    I love bourbon, I love beer, please send the tickets to this e-mail address here! 😉

  89. Jennifer says

    I see this come up every year & every year we don’t have the money to attend. I would love to go this year especially since I lost my job recently it would be so fun! I love bbq & my husband loves bourbon. I hope we can go sometime soon! 🤞

  92. Barbara Duncan says

    I can’t wait for this! I was sick last year and was unable to go so this would be amazing! Thank you so much for considering me.

  93. Greg B Jones says

    We are SO DOWN for this!
    The fun and food awesomely combine when the entreé is swine. 🙂

  94. Susan R Teeter says

    yummy yummy yummy I want barbecue in my tummy! this looks like so much fun!

  95. Adam says

    Go beef! But, bourbon, beer and brisket, is definitely a perfect trifecta!!

  96. Brandi Morgan says

    This event is so much 😊. It is amazing seeing the crowd Beer and Bourbon generates. I am so looking forward to all the good eats and drinks. Thank you for offering a discount.

  101. Kathleen S says

    How great would it be to win. Good luck, everyone. I hope I can win a set of tickets. My hubby and I would love to go. Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ…winning combo

  112. Lisa G says

    Finally something worth taking the time to fill out an entry form for something awesome to do on a weekend! Booze, food, great food, and plenty of fun- what more could you ask for except for including some smoked hot sausage links in that BBQ menu would be great for this crazy carnivore! lol

  116. Emmanuel Vazquez says

    Couldn’t make it last year, would love to attend this year with my wife. Fingers crossed!

  126. Linda says

    We have new friends who love Bourbon. Would love to bring them to this event!

  128. Julie Greene says

    Love all the great info I get in my inbox from Charlotte On The Cheap!! Fingers crossed for some free Beer, Bourbon and BBQ tix!

  130. Maryrobin says

    I would love to attend this with my husband! He just turned 50 and this would be an amazing celebration with all of his favorites! He is a true North Carolinian and loves Beer, Bourbon, BBQ and me, his beauty!

  131. Christina says

    This sounds like so much fun and nothing we have ever attended. It’s just the new and fun thing for my husband and me 🙂

  132. Krystle says

    This sounds like so much fun! Would be an awesome 40th birthday present for me, and my husband would love to tag along 😂

  135. Becky Kile says

    Sounds like a perfect mix. Husband’s day off of work and I’d love to surprise him!

  137. Shannon Norris says

    My husband & I always wanted to attend but never knew how to find the event dates! Please pick us!!

  142. Lynda Kenny says

    Bourbon and barbecue… Who could ask for more?!?! THANK YOU for a chance to WIN!

  147. Britt says

    this sounds like a great day out! I would love to win tickets and bring my family.

  148. Tiffany Larsson says

    I’ve volunteered this event before, I’d love nothing more than to be on the other side free to roam about and enjoy all the food and drinks!!!!

  149. kimberly lewis says

    Would love to go with my girlfriends. One of them is going through a lot right now, and I know this would lift her spirits for a little while.

  150. Jennifer Watson says

    “If I ever go looking for my heart’s desire again, I won’t look further than my own back yard.” Dorothy, Wizard of Oz

  155. Reeva D Washington says

    what’s better than beer, bourbon and cue!!!! It’s gonna be great

  157. Charlie NeeSmith says

    I rarely get breaks from work and this sounds like an amazing break to take and enjoy some self care and fun

  165. Carol Walker says

    I’d love to win some tickets this amazing festival! Thanks so much!

  168. Sabrina says

    Swinning and dining; bring on the BBQ and Bourbon..!! 🥃 Cheers to a great giveaway 🥃

  174. Jeff Beckerman says

    Love your newsletter more than Whiskey. I even get a stronger buzz when reading your news letter than I do whiskey, but, the festival does sound like a lot of fun since I’ve never been!

  183. Stacey B says

    Beer, Bourbon & BBQ sounds like a perfect day in NC for my husband and me for our 31 anniversary

  187. Yohan Lara says

    Yes Please 🙏🏼! Happy Birthday weekend sounds great to me. BBQ & Beer festival 🫶🏼😎

  189. Gerard N says

    This looks amazing! Beer and BBQ! That’s speaking my language! My fiancée and I would be so excited to go if we are picked!

  197. Davon Lowe says

    I would love to go to this event for the first time sounds like a great time.

  200. Ver'Nita Debraux says

    I always wondered what it would be like to attend one of these! I hope I get to go! 😃

  201. Elizabeth Harper says

    Would really enjoy and appreciate an invitation! Sounds wonderful! This 75 year old retired teacher would be grateful to win this! Thank you for considering me!!!

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