Wine & Food Festival 2026 at Ballantyne's Backyard.

01 What to Expect

This is an all-you-care-to-taste affair, which the organizers mean literally: one ticket gets you pours across more than a hundred wines, craft beers, and craft spirits, all in a souvenir glass you keep. Food is sold separately by Charlotte pop-ups, restaurants, and food trucks, which means you can build a serious afternoon of tasting without ever sitting down. Live music runs through the event, and the whole thing takes place at Ballantyne's Backyard, the grassy, family-friendly plaza that has become one of the most popular gathering spots in south Charlotte.

The crowd is friendly, mostly local, and there for a good time rather than a scene. In other words, a much more civilized way to spend a Saturday than you might expect from the phrase wine festival.

02 Who It Is Best For

For empty-nesters and couples: this is the perfect date-day. You can taste, talk, and actually hear each other, and the Ballantyne's Backyard setting is a lovely preview of what relaxed south Charlotte evenings feel like. If you are seriously considering Ballantyne, this festival is the best possible introduction to the neighborhood's lifestyle.

For wine-loving relocators: consider pairing this with a morning of home tours. Ballantyne is one of the region's most in-demand communities, with everything from townhomes to golf-course estates, and a Saturday here lets you test drive the neighborhood literally and figuratively. I do this with clients all the time: tour in the morning, taste in the afternoon, and by dinner you already know whether Ballantyne is home.

Families, take note: this is a 21+ event, so plan a sitter or choose one of the family-friendly festivals in this series. Ballantyne's Backyard itself is wonderfully family-friendly on any other weekend.

03 Plan Your Visit

Buy tickets ahead of time, especially if you want a VIP window or one of the cabanas; the popular tiers go quickly. Eat before or plan your food order early, and designate a driver or plan a ride share, because a hundred-plus tastings is not a setup for driving. Arrive with your ID and your ticket, and bring a light jacket; late September evenings in Ballantyne can turn cool once the sun drops behind the trees.

If the afternoon leaves you curious about Ballantyne, Ballantyne Bowl, or the neighboring luxury communities, that is exactly the kind of conversation I love. A tasting glass in hand, a tour on the calendar, and a neighborhood that might just become home.

Official Links

• Wine & Food Festival, Ballantyne (official festival site)
• Official event page by Drink Eat Relax Events
• Tickets via Eventbrite

20 years of expertise. Dual Metro. Same unstoppable results.
Tracey De Simon