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: Monday, November 17, 2025
Tomorrow: Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light the World Giving Machine at Promenade on Providence -- free activities & entertainment | All Day | Carolina Place Mall | |
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Learning for Littles Story Time at Stowe's Trailhead Store | 9:00 am to 9:45 am | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| EXPLORE: Community Concert Series: Kenya Templeton | 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Two Days of Gluten Freedom | 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Monday Night Garden Brewing Co. |
| Mobile Food Distribution for SNAP recipients | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Food for Families Warehouse, Indian Trail |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Free Wednesday Evening at Mint Museum Randolph | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Wednesday Night Live: Free Museum Admission | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $11.00-18.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Free Yoga | 5:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Plaza Midwood |
| Chess Time! At West Boulevard Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| November Book Club | 6:30 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| The OG Boot Camp | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Thanksgiving Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Harry Potter Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| Open House at MakerSpace CLT | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Makerspace Charlotte |
| Open Mic at Summit Coffee Basecamp | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. |
| Open Hearts Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Puzzle Race and Half-Priced Wine | 7:00 pm | Discounted | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
Thursday, November 20, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Light the World Giving Machine at Promenade on Providence -- free activities & entertainment | All Day | Carolina Place Mall | |
| Free breakfast item at Chick-fil-A Cotswold | 6:30 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Chick-fil-A Cotswold |
| Birding at Stevens Creek | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Uptown -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Free "Explore Creative Art" classes for adults and teens | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| MODA Digital Arts Open Studio Oasis (pre-registration required) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $11.00-18.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Drunk Journaling at the Bar | 6:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Bar, Camp North End |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Piedmont Promise: Conversations & Conservation | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Patagonia Charlotte |
| November Book Club: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Name the Music at Rhino Market & Deli South End | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rhino Market South End |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Clockwork Knotwork | 6:30 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| South End Spanish Club | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
Friday, November 21, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Light the World Giving Machine at Promenade on Providence -- free activities & entertainment | All Day | Carolina Place Mall | |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Friday Morning Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| 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 | 10:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Friday Fire and S'mores | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| OneBlood Blood Drive | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $11.00-18.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration in Weddington | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Weddington Town Hall |
| Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks in Concord | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Concord |
| International Games Fair | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library (new location) |
| Live Music: Crystal Fountains | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Karaoke Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Kings Mountain Tree Lighting | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Live Music: Jarrett Raymond | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Speedway Christmas -- price varies per day. Discount code available | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Charlotte Motor Speedway | |
| Outdoor Movie: One Piece Film Z | 6:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| Friday Night Flicks: The Grinch (part of the Downtown Concord Tree Lighting Ceremony) | 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Concord |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:00 pm | FREE | Piedmont Social House |
| Shameless Comedy Show | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
