Ballantyne's Backyard
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Ballantyne's Backyard is a versatile venue, originally a golf course, now a large open green space that successfully hosts engaging seasonal events and exhibits. Its unique value proposition lies in transforming its vast grounds into a 'magical' experience, particularly highlighted by its interactive light spectaculars, while also offering year-round amenities like sand pits and open fields for general family recreation.
Key Highlights
- ✓The 'Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular' features numerous lights and interactive exhibits that are described as 'magical' and a significant 'upgrade from last year'.
- ✓VIP passes and interactive wands for the light show greatly enhance the experience for children, generating 'Woow' reactions from crowds around the interactive exhibits.
- ✓The venue offers ample opportunities and specific spots perfect for 'instagrammers and photography people' during events.
- ✓It provides 'plenty of activities for kids', including organized activities, sand pits, and acres of grass field for play.
- ✓The conversion from a golf course to an 'open ground' creates a 'green oasis' for family outings.
Standout Features
- ⭐**Interactive Wands & VIP Passes:** Highly recommended for enhancing the magical experience at light spectaculars.
- ⭐**Extensive Light & Interactive Exhibits:** So numerous that 'one visit is not enough' to see everything at major events.
- ⭐**Dedicated Photo Opportunities:** Many 'perfect' spots for photography and social media sharing.
- ⭐**Diverse On-site Amenities:** Includes food trucks, gift vendors, bars, and even a dispensary for adults during events.
- ⭐**Open Recreational Spaces:** Features picnic spots, sand pits, acres of grass field, and walkways for walking/biking.
- ⭐**Free and Easy Parking:** Ample parking available, contributing to a stress-free visit.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Purchase VIP Passes & Wands:** For events like the Holiday Light Spectacular, these are crucial for a truly 'magical' and interactive experience for children.
- →**Plan for an Extended Visit:** Reviewers noted there are 'that many lights and interactive exhibits that one visit is not enough' for large events like the light spectacular.
- →**Bring a Camera:** The venue offers 'tons of moments and spots perfect for photo moments,' making it ideal for photography enthusiasts.
- →**Consider Evening Visits:** The venue is described as a 'perfect place for spending evening with family n kids,' especially for light-based events.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Tickets for specific events, such as the Holiday Light Spectacular, are described as 'pricey' (though reviewers consistently state they are 'worth it').
Price & Value
Tickets for specific seasonal events, such as the Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular, are described as 'pricey' but are consistently deemed 'worth it' by reviewers due to the extensive lights, interactive exhibits, and overall magical experience. Entry to specific exhibits/events is paid.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations for special needs were mentioned in the reviews. The presence of 'walkways' and 'open ground' might imply general navigability, but specific support features are not detailed.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •Food trucks and gift vendors are available on-site during events.
- •Bars and a 'happy campers dispensary' are available for adults.
- •No explicit policy regarding outside food or drinks was mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •Plenty of free and easy parking is available, making visits convenient.
👥Crowd Levels
- •During interactive exhibits at events like the light spectacular, 'there was always a crowd saying "Woow"', suggesting popular and potentially bustling areas, but no explicit mentions of excessive or unmanageable crowding were reported.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety measures or features were explicitly mentioned in the provided reviews.
⏰When to Avoid
- • None explicitly mentioned in the reviews. However, budget-conscious families should be aware that tickets for specific seasonal events are 'pricey', though widely considered 'worth it'.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Ballantyne Blood Drive
Tue, Sep 30 - Tue, Dec 2 (9:00a.m. - 3:00p.m.)
Free
Community blood drive at rotating locations.
YMCA Thank You Hour
Tue, Sep 30 (4:30p.m. - 7:30p.m.)
Not specified
Community appreciation event.
South Charlotte Partners Business Engagement Networking
Thu, Oct 2 (5:00p.m. - 7:00p.m.)
Not specified
Business networking event.
Bowl Street Pop-Up Market
Sat, Oct 4 - Sat, Nov 1 (10:00a.m. - 3:00p.m.)
Not specified (market products will have prices)
Pop-up market event.
JJ Grey & Mofro
Sat, Oct 4 (7:00p.m. - 10:00p.m.)
Not specified
Music concert at The Amp Ballantyne™.
Camp Ballantyne Field Day
Tue, Oct 7 (3:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.)
Not specified
Field day event, likely family or kid-focused.
Meet the Candidates + Transportation Referendum Informational Session
Thu, Oct 9 (5:00p.m. - 7:30p.m.)
Not specified
Informational session.
Watchhouse
Sat, Oct 11 (7:00p.m. - 10:00p.m.)
Not specified
Music concert.
Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen
Fri, Oct 17 (8:00p.m. - 11:00p.m.)
Not specified
Music concert.
Ballantyne Book Club
Wed, Oct 22 (5:30p.m. - 6:30p.m.)
Not specified
Community book club event.
Stream Clean & Sips
Thu, Oct 23 (2:00p.m. - 4:30p.m.)
Not specified
Environmental cleanup and social event.
Whiskey, Wine & Fire Festival
Sat, Oct 25 (4:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.)
Not specified
Festival event.
Ice Skating at The Bowl
Sat, Nov 22 - Sun, Jan 4 (11:00a.m. - 9:00p.m.)
Not specified
Holiday ice skating at The Bowl.
🍎Food Policy
- • No alcohol permitted except in designated areas (restricted to individuals 21 years and older).
- • No grilling permitted.
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Play at your own risk.
- • Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- • Dogs must be leashed.
- • Weapons, glass, unauthorized vehicles, and drones are not permitted at any time.
- • No smoking, firearms, or fireworks.
- • Golfing is no longer permitted (park is on a former golf course); use caution in the park and sand areas.
- • Contact Ballantyne security at 704.649.8200 to report any nuisances or vandalism.
📅Booking Policy
- • Private event reservations are not permitted at Ballantyne’s Backyard.
- • Park reservations are available exclusively for corporate events of Northwood Office tenants.
🚗Parking Information
- • Not explicitly detailed, but implied by park location and connectivity to other Ballantyne amenities that typically have parking.
What People Say
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Christi Mckay
4 months agoThe Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular was definitely something to see. We definitely recommend the VIP passes and the wands. Whenever the kids used them on the interactive exhibits there was always a crowd saying "Woow" which made it so much more magical for the kids. It truly was magical and a definite upgrade from last year. Yes, the tickets are pricey but they are worth it. Our kids even want to go back for a second time, there were that many lights and interactive exhibits that one visit is not enough. And for all the instagramers and photography people there are tons of moments and spots perfect for photo moments
Lana Decker
a year agoHoliday Lights Spectacular is now in progress. They have a few food tracks and gift vendors, plenty of activities for kids and a couple of bars and happy campers dispensery for grown ups. Plenty of free and easy parking.
Myo Z Oo
a year agoPerfect place for spending evening with family n kids. Lot of organized activities too. is probably one of the best. They have few picnic spots, sand pits, acres of grass field, and walkways for walking biking.
Amanda Reed
a year agoSo nice. We went to an Art Festival here. We got to walk around and look at so many neat things and so much interesting artwork. It's was really cool. We had fun! Great day out!
manoj Menon
2 years agoRight next to my office building it’s a green oasis! It used to a golf course. Now converted into an open ground where there are seasonal events and exhibits. Sharing some pictures from the Christmas illuminations. This is from Dec 2022. This was a paid entry.