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 it's also possible that we can make a mistake. In addition, we can not guarantee that all events adhere to the safety measures that are necessary at this time, so we encourage you to ask any questions of the organizer, to make your best decision, and to stay safe.
Please verify all deals and events with the venue or organizer before you go.
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You might also be interested in one of these more specific calendars:
- Free things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Upcoming free and cheap comedy events in Charlotte
Today: Thursday, December 2, 2021
Tomorrow: Friday, December 3, 2021
Saturday, December 4, 2021
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save 10% on Target GiftCards | All Day | ||
| Free cookies (and cookie deals) on National Cookie Day December 4 | All Day | FREE | |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures (contactless experience) | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures (contactless experience) | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | North Carolina Transportation Museum | |
| ChristmasVille in Rock Hill (click for various events and activities) | All Day | Old Town Rock Hill | |
| Free cookie at Insomnia Cookies | FREE | ||
| Free yoga with Cramerton Parks & Recreation | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Cramerton Community Center |
| Christmas Marketplace at Avondale | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Avondale Presbyterian Church |
| Cuthbertson Band Holiday Bazaar (with music from the bands) | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Cuthbertson High Shool |
| Charlotte Warehouse Sale Liquidation Sale | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Warehouse Sale |
| Free yoga class at Dish | 9:00 am | FREE | Dish |
| Bootcamp and BBQ (free bootcamp with Camp Gladiator) | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Sweet Lew’s BBQ |
| Merry Marketplace at Light of Christ -- kids can create gifts | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Light of Christ Methodist Church |
| Nature Photography | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Free visit with Santa, presented by Coalition for Cultural Compassion | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | The Grove Presbyterian Church |
| Cramerton Holiday Bazaar | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | C.B. Huss Recreation Center, Cramerton |
| Christmas Nativity Festival at New Life Fellowship Church in Concord | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | New Life Fellowship Church Concord |
| Toys, Games & Trains exhibit | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Kings Mountain Historical Museum |
| Starving Artist Market: Metropolitan Market | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Holiday Pop-Up Market at Naughty Donkey Farm -- meet alpacas, donkeys, and more... | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $15.00 | Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary, Albemarle |
| Free admission to Matthews Heritage Museum | 10:00 am to 4:30 pm | FREE | Matthews Heritage Museum |
| Spirit of Christmas Past at Kings Mountain Historical Museum | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Kings Mountain Historical Museum |
| VTGCLT Pop | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Holiday Spectacular at Ballantyne Village | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Ballantyne Village |
| Cocoa with Santa at Quail Corners | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Quail Corners Shopping Center |
| Candy Land Holiday Open House in Mooresville -- free candy, crafts, photo booth, more... | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Main Street Antiques & Design Gallery, Mooresville |
| Pop-Up Artisan Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Old Town Public House |
| Shop Small Saturday Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Design Center of the Carolinas (South End) |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Fort Mill Christmas Parade | 11:00 am | FREE | |
| Town of Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade | 11:00 am | FREE | Mount Pleasant Town Hall |
| Christmas at the Museum (after Mount Pleasant Christmas Parade) | 11:30 am | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Family First: African Dance Experience | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | $10.00 | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Waverly Wonderland Holiday Event -- visit Santa, and get a free hot chocolate and Tiff's Treats cookie | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Waverly |
| Free Santa pictures at Cuthbertson Band Holiday Bazaar | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Cuthbertson High Shool |
| Pets get free pictures with Santa at PetSmart (reservations required) | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| Cannon Ballers Trees of Hope | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Christmas Village and Light the Knights | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Truist Field |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery | 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery |
| Free Santa pictures at Black Lion | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | BlackLion Park Road |
| MAKRS Market at Lenny Boy Brewing Co. | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Work for Your Beer's Fifth Birthday Party | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Get your dog's picture taken with Santa or Grinch | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $10.00 | Lucky Dog Bark & Brew Charlotte |
| Pet photos with Santa (suggested donation is $10) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $10.00 | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
| Frost or Froth Holiday Market | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | NoDa Brewing | |
| Santa at Dallas Lavender Lane (pictures are $5) | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $5.00 | Dallas Lavender Lane Farm |
| Regal Classic Holiday Movies Series: Gremlins | 1:00 pm | $5.00 | |
| Rhythm & Brews -- free concert series | 1:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| North Mecklenburg Holiday Parade | 1:00 pm | FREE | |
| Discover the Winter Birds of Mecklenburg County | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Black Owned Pop-Up Shop | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Christmas in Huntersville | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Family First: African Dance Experience | 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm | $10.00 | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Mistletoe Market | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Waxhaw Holiday Festival of Lights -- carnival rides, games, Santa, music, vendors, more | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Reindog Parade at Mistletoe Market | 4:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Matthews Hometown Holiday Celebration & Tree Lighting | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Matthews Town Hall |
| Charlotte Nativity Drive-Through | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Weddington |
| Free Santa visits in Lincolnton | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Court Square, Lincolnton |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.95-14.95 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| McGill Rose Garden's Festive Lights (Rosie's Coffee & Wine Bar) | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | McGill Rose Garden |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | |
| Holiday Light Spectacular in Mooresville | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Mooresville Town Hall |
| Mint Hill Christmas Parade | 5:30 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Town Hall |
| New Moon Hike | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Quest (Latta Nature Preserve) |
| University City Night Market | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| Live music: Michael Tracy | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park |
| Zootastic Park's Christmas Wonderland of Lights | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00 | Zootastic |
| Speedway Christmas | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $30.00-40.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| 11th Annual Lake Norman Christmas Flotilla and Parade | 6:00 pm | FREE | |
| Tega Cay's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting | 6:00 pm | FREE | Glennon Community Center, Tega Cay, SC |
| A Living Nativity Drive-Thru in Conover | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Oxford Baptist Church, Conover |
| Carriage and Wagon rides in Historic Downtown Lincolnton | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Court Square, Lincolnton |
| Mint Hill Christmas Tree Lighting | 6:30 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Town Hall |
| The Charlotte Chorale presents "Together at Christmas" | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $20.00 | St. John’s Baptist Church |
| Live music: Toxic Spouse | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Laugh at Lenny | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Live music: Casey Clark | 8:30 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | JackBeagle’s NoDa |
Sunday, December 5, 2021
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Save 10% on Target GiftCards | All Day | ||
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures (contactless experience) | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures (contactless experience) | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | North Carolina Transportation Museum | |
| ChristmasVille in Rock Hill (click for various events and activities) | All Day | Old Town Rock Hill | |
| Free cookie at Insomnia Cookies | FREE | ||
| Fitness Hike | 9:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Latta Nature Center and Preserve |
| VTGCLT Pop | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Christmas Musical Celebration | 10:30 am | FREE | Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church |
| Front Porch Sundays | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Concord Christmas Market Dec 5 | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Kathryn Plaza, Concord |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Pets get free pictures with Santa at PetSmart (reservations required) | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| Holiday Ornament Decorating (and Santa) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Christmas in Cornelius | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Cornelius Town Hall |
| Charlotte Warehouse Sale Liquidation Sale | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Warehouse Sale |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery |
| Charlotte Christmas Village and Light the Knights, plus Bark in the Park | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Truist Field |
| Cannon Ballers Trees of Hope | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $10.00 | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis |
| Poptopia Holidays--A Pop-Up Shop in Uptown Charlotte | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Victoria Yards |
| Sunday Fun Day Maker's Market at D9 Brewing Uptown | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | D9 Brewing Uptown |
| Santa's Workshop: Paint Your Own Ornament | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Santa at Dallas Lavender Lane (pictures are $5) | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $5.00 | Dallas Lavender Lane Farm |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Free Live Tunes | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Indian Trail Christmas Parade | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail |
| Gastonia Christmas in the City | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Gastonia |
| Indian Trail Christmas Parade | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail |
| Jingle City Pop-Up Bar | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00-15.00 | The Tavern |
| Live music: Dick and Tammy | 4:00 pm | FREE | Ole Dallas Brewery |
| Gastonia Christmas Parade | 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Gastonia |
| Annual NoDa Tree Lighting Celebration | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Johnston YMCA |
| Charlotte Nativity Drive-Through | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Weddington |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.95-14.95 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Free Christmas Concert with African Community Choir | 5:00 pm | FREE | Mont Carmel International Christian Center |
| Lessons & Carols | 5:00 pm | FREE | South CLT Pres Church |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | |
| Holiday Light Spectacular in Mooresville | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Mooresville Town Hall |
| The Grinch Drive-In Movie Night | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park |
| Zootastic Park's Christmas Wonderland of Lights | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00 | Zootastic |
| Speedway Christmas | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $30.00-40.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| A Living Nativity Drive-Thru in Conover | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Oxford Baptist Church, Conover |
| Providence Chamber Music Recital Series: Let Heaven and Nature Sing | 7:00 pm | FREE | Providence United Methodist Church |
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