The Charlotte events calendar features free and cheap things to do every day. Think there's nothing to do? Look at this list of Charlotte events to get some ideas. You'll find festivals, free food, music, kids' activities and much more.
Click each title to see more information about the event or deal. You can also view the whole month (click "By Month") or see a specific date (click By Day).
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Double-Check Before You Head Out!
We make every effort to make sure that everything on Charlotte on the Cheap is 100% accurate.
However, sometimes things change without notice, and we are not always notified. It's also possible that we can make a mistake.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
You might also be interested in one of these more specific calendars:
Today: Tuesday, November 10, 2026
Tomorrow: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Friday, November 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | All Day | FREE | World Market, participating locations |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Move Beyond: Learn Contemporary and Cambodian Dance in free classes | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Open Door Studios |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Chipotle: BOGO entrée if you're "tatted like a Chipotle bag" (drawn-on is fine!) | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Discounted | Chipotle, participating locations |
| Godzilla Day | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Super Abari Game Bar |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Fiesta Friday | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Indie on Wheels: Art in the Twenty-First Century -- Humor | 6:00 pm | FREE | Goodyear Arts |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery |
| Friday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Kannapolis Tree Lighting Ceremony | 6:30 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Friday Night Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | High Branch Brewing (Gibson Mill, Concord) |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Craic |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, November 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| World Market Golden Santa Scavenger Hunt -- find hidden Santa, win up to $100 reward | All Day | FREE | World Market, participating locations |
| College Football Saturdays | FREE | OpenTap | |
| Biscuit Belly: 50% off | 7:30 am to 3:00 pm | Discounted | Biscuit Belly, Concord |
| AutoBarn's Classic Cars & Coffee | 8:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Holiday Container Design Class | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Pike Nurseries, multiple locations |
| Free paper shredding with Mecklenburg County (must reserve a time slot) | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Compost Central and Recycling Center |
| Fall Horse Show at Anne Springs Close Greenway (admission is free for spectators, but there is a parking fee) | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | Greenway Stables at Anne Springs Close Greenway | |
| Veterans Day Parade and Ceremony in Huntersville | 9:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Holiday Engine | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Charlotte Art Collective Holiday Art Show | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Avondale Presbyterian Church |
| Charlotte Warehouse Sale: Extra 30% off! | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | Charlotte Warehouse Sale | |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Big Pete's Birthday Bash -- Celebrate a year with the Dambo Troll! | 10:30 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Hangout at The River District |
| 2nd Saturday Makers' Meet-Up (Free, but $5 donation suggested for materials) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Fall Festival at Ivory/Baker Rec Center | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Ivory Baker Recreation Center |
| Eastern European Holiday Market | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Brixham Park, Ballantyne |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing SouthPark |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| McColl Center Centennial Celebration | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | McColl Center for Art + Innovation |
| Pickin' on the Porch -- free acoustic music series at Stowe Conservancy Trailhead Store | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| Free order of egg rolls with the purchase of any drink | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Otsukimi Festival - Japanese Moon Festival | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Northside Recreation Center, Rock Hill, SC |
| Trouble So Hard: Songs & Stories of Slavery, Freedom & Civil Rights | 3:00 pm | $15.00 | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church |
| Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at Cotswold Village, including free totes and hot cocoa | 4:00 pm | FREE | Cotswold Village |
| Langtree Lake Norman Tree Lighting | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Live Music: Acts Two Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Wienermobile at VAPA Center's Night Market | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Fall Art Market with ArtPop | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Le Meridien Charlotte |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Live Dueling Pianos | 7:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
