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: Sunday, August 23, 2026
Tomorrow: Monday, August 24, 2026
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Adult Trail Trekkers | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Taster Tuesdays: half off beer flights, 20% off top shelf bourbon, $4 shooters, and 20% off snacks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Family Bingo Night at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in Concord | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — Concord |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Speed Puzzles ($15 per team) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $15.00 | Pilot Brewing |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Movie for Mature Audiences (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Short Pour Wednesdays: $3 12 oz pours of select beers | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Nature Crochet and Crafts | 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| 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 | |
| Latin Music at the Mint -- Boleros | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Gaston Draws: The Figure Series (Portrait session; registration required) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station, Dallas |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Stitch N' Bitch | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Free wine tasting at 115 Craft | 6:00 pm | FREE | 115 Craft, McAdenville |
| Artist Trading Cards Events -- swap cards and craft new ones | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Weekly Bluegrass Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Bike Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Brewhouse Yoga (includes a free beer taster) | 6:30 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Bark in the Ballpark at Charlotte Knights game (ticket price varies) | 6:35 pm | Truist Field | |
| Trivia in the courtyard of Optimist Hall | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Optimist Hall |
| 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 |
| Hella Spell: A Team-Based Spelling Event | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Stu's Barrel House: Open Mic (music, comedy, poetry) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stu’s Barrel House, NoDa |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Free Bingo at The Percantile and Creamery (win prizes!) | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Ted Lasso Season 2 Watch Party | 7:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, August 27, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA Swedish Restaurant: 50% off meatball (or plant ball) entrée (must be IKEA Family member) | All Day | Discounted | IKEA |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Grand Opening of City Thrift | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | City Thrift |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Randolph: Free lunch-time tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Piedmont Music Therapy: Community Grooves for Elementary School Youth (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Night Market at Pascuales' Farm, including vendors, farm tours, scavenger hunt, more | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pascuales’ Farm |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| LangTree Live Concert Series | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Drag Bingo Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Comedy Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Charlotte Idol | 7:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Stu's Barrel House: Jazz Jam | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Stu’s Barrel House, NoDa |
| Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End | 8:30 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
