In the warmer months, there’s no shortage of opportunities to enjoy music outdoors, for free. Check out some of these concert series around the Charlotte area. Settings range from urban parks to shopping centers to museum lawns and much more. Click on the links to find the detailed schedule for each venue. In addition to these music series there are also free festivals that feature music. Make sure to subscribe to Charlotte on the Cheap so that you’ll hear of these as soon as they’re announced.
This is a work in progress and will be updated as details are announced.
This list is organized by location. Scroll down to see a calendar of upcoming outdoor concerts, day by day.
You might also be interested in:
- Free things to do this week
- The Calendar of Charlotte Events
- Charlotte live music calendar
- Upcoming free and cheap for kids to do
- Charlotte Spring Festivals
Uptown Outdoor Concerts
Bearden Music Series
July 13 (Grupo Fantasma), August 10 (Eric Gales), September 7 (Spyro Gyra)
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Romare Bearden Park, 300 South Church Street
Party in the Park
Twice a month on Wednesdays, from May 15th to September 18th, 2019
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Romare Bearden Park, 300 South Church St.
Sounds of Summer in First Ward Park (formerly Live on the Green)
Four Fridays: May 3, June 14, August 9, September 13
Usually 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
First Ward Park, 301 East 7th Street
High profile touring roots and Americana bands: Yonder Mountain String Band, Hiss Golden Messenger, Brett Dennen, Keller & the Keels, plus local/regional opening bands/artists.
Alive After Five
Charlotte Alive After Five
Thursdays April 4 to September 12, 2019
5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Rooftop 210, EpiCentre, 210 E. Trade Street
Sounds in the Square
4 Fridays: May 24( Blue Honey), June 21 (Tony Lucca), July 26 (Caleb Hawley), August 16 (Southern Avenue)
7 p.m.
Outside Spirit Square, 345 N. College Street
Bring a lawn chair. Concessions will be available for purchase.
Midtown Outdoor Concert Series
Music at the Met
Thursdays from April 25th to June 13th
5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Metropolitan, 1111 Metropolitan Avenue
West and Southwest Charlotte Outdoor Concert Series
Whitewater River Jam
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, from May 2 to September 28, 2019
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway
Parking is $6.
Steele Creek Live
Thursdays from April 25 to May 30
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ayrsley, 9224 Kings Parade Boulevard
Ballantyne Outdoor Concert Series
Stonecrest Music at the Fountain
Fridays and Saturdays, March 30 to September 28, 2019
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Stonecrest Shopping Center, Piper Glen Estates, 7900 Rea Rd Charlotte
Blakeney Summer Music Series
Thursdays June-August, 2019 (Plus a Wine Walk the 3rd Thursday of each month)
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Ardrey Kell and Rea Road, at Village Green at Blakeney
Music on the Green
Fridays and Saturdays from May 3rd to September 20th, 2019
7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Promenade on Providence, 10844 Providence Road
There are a couple of kids’ movies in the mix too.
Ballantyne Rocks
TBA
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Ballantyne Village, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way
South End Outdoor Concert Series
Spring Concert Series at The Music Yard
TBA
6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The Music Yard, 2433 South Blvd., between Mac’s Speed Shop and SouthBound.
Two bands each night, plus a fun activity such as an art show, pop-up shop, or mixology lesson for you to enjoy while you listen. Follow above link to reserve your free ticket.
Dilworth Outdoor Concert Series
Freedom Summer Jazz Series
June 15 (Marqueal Jordan), July 27 (Marcus Johnson), August 24 (Michael Manson)
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Freedom Park, 1900 East Boulevard
University City and North Charlotte Concert Series
Shoppes at University Place
Shoppes at University Place Spring Concert Series
Thursdays in May
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Shoppes at University Place, W.T. Harris Boulevard and Hwy. 29
Friday Nights at Camp North End
Fridays from May 10 to November 1, 2019
5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Camp North End, 1824 Statesville Avenue
One or more bands, food trucks, drinks from NoDa Company Canteen
East Charlotte Outdoor Concert Series
Thursdays Live
3rd Thursday of month, from April to September
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Embrace Sculpture, 6621 Monroe Road
The 3rd Thursday of the month, from April to September, Monroe Road Advocates (MoRa) will present Thursdays Live, which will bring live music, art, food and craft beer to Monroe Road.
Matthews and Mint Hill Outdoor Concert Series
Matthews Food Truck Fridays
2nd and 4th Friday April through September, with the exception of May 10th, 2019
Stumptown Park
200 South Trade Street, Matthews
There will also be kids’ activities, lawn games, a beer pavilion and food trucks.
Mint Hill Family Fun Nights
Once a month from June to October: June 8, July 13, August 17, September 7, October 5
Events start at 6:30 p.m., except for October 5, which goes from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Lawn of Mint Hill Town Hall, 4430 Mint Hill Village Lane, Mint Hill
Live music, kids’ activities, food for sale.
Cabarrus County Outdoor Concert Series
Kannapolis Summer Entertainment Series
Many dates throughout summer
Events include concerts, fireworks, movies, and stories for kids, held at a number of locations in Kannapolis. There is a huge amount of entertainment offered at different venues in Kannapolis. Follow the above link for the complete schedule.
Kannapolis Jazz Series
Sundays in May
1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Veterans Park, 118 N. Main Street, Kannapolis
Rockin’ the Burg
2nd Saturday of May, June, August, September, October.
Harrisburg Park, 191 Sims Parkway, Harrisburg
Two bands, food trucks, beer and wine garden
Gaston County Outdoor Concert Series
Friday Night Live Concert Series in Belmont
Two Fridays a month in May and June, 2019 plus the 4th of July
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Stowe Park, 24 South Main Street, Belmont
City of Mount Holly Summer Concert Series
Select Fridays from April 5th through September 13th, 2019
South Main Street in Downtown Mount Holly
Some concerts also feature Food Truck Friday and a free Kid Zone. Follow above link to see which weeks include Food Truck Friday.
Downtown Gastonia Summer Concert Series
Every other Friday from May 17th to July 26th
6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Rotary Pavilion, 100 N. South Street, Gastonia
Lake Norman Outdoor Concert Series
LangTree Live
Jazz Concert Series
Saturdays in April
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Veterans Park, Huntersville
Free
LaLaCaboosa Downtown Music Series in Huntersville
Select Thursdays and Fridays from June to October, 2019
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Veterans Park, Huntersville
Free
LangTree Live
Thursdays, May 2nd, through September, 2019
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
LangTree Lake Norman, Mooresville
Lake Norman Summer Concert Series
Last Saturday a month, April through October
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
D9 Brewing Company, 11138 Treynorth Dr, Cornelius
Davidson’s Concerts on the Green
Select Sundays, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Davidson’s Village Green
Birkdale Village Mingling on the Greens
June 1st through August 31st, 2019
Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
June 1 through August 25
Birkdale Village, 8712 Lindholm Drive, Huntersville
South Carolina Outdoor Concert Series
Tega Cay Concert Series
One Saturday a month from April to September, except July. April 27, May 18, June 15, August 17, September 21
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Runde Park, 5116 Windward Drive, Tega Cay, SC
Also, bounce house, food trucks, drink vendors
Union County Outdoor Concert Series
Downtown Waxhaw’s Jammin’ By the Tracks
First Friday from May to September
7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Under Water Tower
Indian Trail’s Hits After Six
April 4th, May 16th, August 15th, September 19th, 2019
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Crossing Paths Park, 120 Blythe Drive, Indian Trail
There is also food for purchase and free bounce houses and face painting for the kids.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
