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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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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Today: Friday, December 13, 2024
Tomorrow: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Sunday, December 15, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour the Best Christmas Lights in the Charlotte area -- a list and map | |||
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Shake Shack: Get a free Chicken Shack on Sundays with $10 purchase | All Day | Shake Shack, participating locations | |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Shop Amazon's best holiday deals | All Day | Virtual | |
| Space Explorers: THE INFINITE (various start times and prices -- discount available on some days) | All Day | Blume Studios | |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Charlotte Comicon | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | Embassy Suites Concord |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Sunday Funday | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Free Ice Skating Lessons at Union County Ice Rink (registration required) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Free Health Clinic | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Jazz Brunch | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Concord |
| Operation Imagination Toy Giveaway | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Santa Comes to Town! Free Meet and Greet | 11:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Free Family Pictures with Santa | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Moo & Brew, Matthews |
| Football Sundays | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Discounted | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Small Business Sunday | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Free Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides at Phillips Place | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Phillips Place |
| 18th Century Feast and Caroling Event | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Maker's Market CLT | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Holiday Bazaar | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Opening Weekend for Coined in the South -- free admission to Mint Museum Uptown | 1:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Winter Fest Toy Giveaway at Arbor Glen Outreach Center | 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Arbor Glen Outreach Center |
| Pets get free pictures with Santa at PetSmart (reservations required) | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| Ice skating at Union County Ice Rink | 2:00 pm to 9:15 pm | $12.00 | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Charlotte Jeep Meetup | 2:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Build Your Own Dreidel Set (workshop for kids) | 2:00 pm | $1.00 | The Home Depot, 17111 Statesville Road, Cornelius |
| Charlotte Music Club: Handel's Messiah | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Charlotte |
| Appalachian Folk Tunes by Charlotte Folk Society | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Free Live Tunes | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Handel's Messiah at First United Methodist Church in Gastonia | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Gastonia |
| Santa at Compare Foods Charlotte -- Sunset Road | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, Sunset Road |
| Ignite Dance Productions: Community Nutcracker for a Cause (donation at door) | 3:00 pm | Knights View Recreation Center | |
| Paws & Claus: Free pictures of your pet with Santa | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Moo & Brew – Plaza Midwood |
| Charlotte Pride Band Concert: Home for the Holidays | 4:00 pm to 6:15 pm | FREE | Park Road Baptist Church |
| Sunday Supper Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Soul Sundays (suggested $5 donation) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Starlight on 22nd |
| 5th Annual Tree Festival at Chickadee Hill Farms | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Chickadee Hill Farms |
| Free Holiday Concert by The Charlotte Singers | 4:00 pm | FREE | Christ Lutheran Church, Providence Campus |
| Tip Top Jazz Jam | 4:20 pm | FREE | Tip Top Daily Market |
| Cook Out Tubing Hill (price is for unlimited rides for one night) | 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $18.00-28.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Rainbow Express Live Nativity in Matthews | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | 9915 Talbot Court, Matthews |
| Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail -- free attraction with Christmas lights, a donkey, alpaca, miniature horses and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Christmas on the Farm, Indian Trail |
| Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Festival of Carols: Dreams of the Holy Night | 6:00 pm | FREE | South Mecklenburg Presbyterian Church |
| Live Nativity Scene at Crossfix Ministries in Belmont | 6:00 pm | FREE | Crossfix Ministries, Belmont |
| Live Nativity Outdoor Musical at Christ UMC Charlotte | 7:00 pm | FREE | Christ UMC Charlotte |
| Ben Davis -- Watch Him Fly: One-man stage play based on the life of the first commander of the Tuskegee Airmen - Red Tails | 7:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Live Nativity Scene at Crossfix Ministries in Belmont | 7:30 pm | FREE | Crossfix Ministries, Belmont |
| Live Nativity Outdoor Musical at Christ UMC Charlotte | 8:00 pm | FREE | Christ UMC Charlotte |
Monday, December 16, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour the Best Christmas Lights in the Charlotte area -- a list and map | |||
| Sonic Drive-In: Half price shakes | All Day | Discounted | Sonic Drive-In (multiple locations) |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Shop Amazon's best holiday deals | All Day | Virtual | |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 9:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | West Charlotte Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Dance for All Abilities | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tab for teachers, faculty & staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Ice skating at Union County Ice Rink | 2:00 pm to 9:15 pm | $12.00 | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Santa at Compare Foods Charlotte -- Milton Road | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, Milton Road |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Rainbow Express Live Nativity in Matthews | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | 9915 Talbot Court, Matthews |
| Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Craft Night with Thrift Pony and Upcycle Arts | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Thrift Pony, Camp North End |
| Nerds + Pizza Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Percent Tap House, Harrisburg |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail -- free attraction with Christmas lights, a donkey, alpaca, miniature horses and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Christmas on the Farm, Indian Trail |
| Open Mic Night at Old Town Public House | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Town Public House |
| Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Puppets Everywhere Festival: Straight from the puppet's mouth | 7:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Nerd Night + Free Pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $5.00 | The Evening Muse |
| The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Tosco Music Holiday Party | 7:30 pm | $22.50-56.51 | Knight Theater |
Tuesday, December 17, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour the Best Christmas Lights in the Charlotte area -- a list and map | |||
| Half Price Bays at Topgolf (2 locations) | All Day | $15.00-30.00 | Various locations |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Shop Amazon's best holiday deals | All Day | Virtual | |
| Space Explorers: THE INFINITE (various start times and prices -- discount available on some days) | All Day | Blume Studios | |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Free Art Class: Explore Creative Art | 10:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Public Tour at Innovation Barn (register in advance) | 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Ice skating at Union County Ice Rink | 2:00 pm to 9:15 pm | $12.00 | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Santa at Compare Foods Charlotte -- E. Arrowood | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, E. Arrowood Road |
| Mugs, Jugs, and Suds: Tap it Tuesdays | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| $2 Off Tuesdays | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| A Very Merry Uptown Market at The Market at 7th Street -- pictures with Santa and the Grinch, and more... | 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Song Request Night | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $18.00-28.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Trivia Tuesdays with DJ BBurg | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Casual Pint (Rivergate) |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail -- free attraction with Christmas lights, a donkey, alpaca, miniature horses and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Christmas on the Farm, Indian Trail |
| Tabletop Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| One Band with Charlotte is Creative | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Yoga | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | $8.00 | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| The Open Art Club | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Comedy Night at Starlight on 22nd | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Pre-Chanukah Chocolates & Cocktails with Chabad Lake Norman | 6:30 pm | $18.00-25.00 | Chabad Lake Norman |
| Winter Coat Drive | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Name the Music at Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Queen City Ringers at Community Christ Lutheran | 7:00 pm | FREE | Community in Christ Lutheran Church, Cornelius |
| Matthews Concert Band: Holiday Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | First Baptist Matthews |
| Tuesday Line Dancing at The Rose | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Rose Honky Tonk |
| Gingerbread house making contest at The Blind Pig | 8:00 pm | FREE | The Blind Pig |
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