Ballantyne's Backyard
Everyday 7am-8pm
Current Happenings
Ballantyne Guide to CIAF
We're breaking down everything happening in Ballantyne during the 2023 Charlotte International Arts Festival. Plus parking details, venue policies and more.
Ballantyne's Backyard + The Amp Ballantyne™
Enjoy dozens of free and ticketed events throughout the 2023 festival.
Enjoy a celebration of visual and performing arts from the most creative international and local minds at the 2023 Charlotte International Arts Festival, a Blumenthal Performing Arts original. CIAF returns to the Ballantyne® campus with 18 art installations, interactive displays, festivals, live performances and more.
Events will take place at The Amp Ballantyne™ and Ballantyne’s Backyard, and many exhibits are free and open to the public, with ticketed events starting at $5. Unless otherwise stated, the festival is open 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Ballantyne's Backyard
FREE EXHIBITS & PERFORMANCES
Daily:
• 100 Tiny Things
• Aqueous by Jen Lewin
• Fantastic Planet
• Lotty by Moradavaga
• Mentalgassi
Weekends:
• Birdmen: times vary
• Waterbombs: 2 p.m. & 5 p.m.
• Nouveau Sud Circus Project:* 1:30 p.m. & 4:30 p.m.
• Live music on the Ballantyne's Backyard stage: times vary
*Ends September 24.
September 16, 17 & 30:
• PopBridge Creative Arts: 11 a.m.
TICKETED EVENTS
Daily:
• Tour de Ballantyne - The International Roller Skate Party: $5-$20, times vary
Weekends:
• Climb the Matterhorn: $5, Saturdays at 11 a.m., Sundays at noon
• Yoga & Meditation: $10, Sundays at 11 a.m.
September 16:
• Charlotte Brunch Festival: $35 VIP - 11 a.m., $5 GA - noon
September 23:
• Glow Yoga: $20, 7:30 p.m.
Aqueous, Lotty & Fantastic Planet
The Amp Ballantyne™
FREE EVENTS
September 22:
• Tosco Music Presents World Rhythms: 5 p.m.
September 23:
• Latin American Festival: Noon
September 29:
• PopBridge Creative Arts: 4 p.m.
TICKETED EVENTS
September 16:
• FELA! In Concert: $30, 8 p.m.
September 29:
• COCO Live-to-Film Concert: $15, 7:30 p.m.
Latin American Festival, FELA & Coco
Charlotte International Art Festival
Parking
The Amp is located at 11115 Upper Avenue, Charlotte, NC. Please note that Upper Avenue is still under construction. The venue can be accessed right off Ballantyne Corporate Place, adjacent to Aloft Charlotte Ballantyne.
Ballantyne’s Backyard is located at 11611 N. Community House Road, Charlotte, NC.
Public parking is available at select surface lots adjacent to the venues, as indicated on the map.
Know before you go
Venue Policies
Venue policies may vary based on the type of event, such as CIAF. Please find some guidelines of particular importance:
Permitted:
Diaper bags, purses, etc.
Large blankets
Structured stadium or lawn chairs
Strollers
Sealed/empty water bottles allowed (1 per person)
Food Policy – One gallon-sized bag of food for medical reasons is permitted.
Prohibited:
Animals (with the exception of service animals at The Amp; pets are permitted at Ballantyne’s Backyard)
Professional audio or video recording devices
Glass bottles/objects, aluminum cans
View The Amp’s additional policies
Ballantyne
Festival Locations
Learn more about the CIAF Ballantyne locations.