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, April 13, 2026
Tomorrow: Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krispy Kreme: Buy dozen, get dozen free | All Day | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations | |
| Chill Out Day at Kona Ice -- Free Shaved Ice on Tax Day (various times and locations) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| EXPLORE: Community Concert Series: Spoken word artist Jah Smalls | 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Charlotte Symphony Live on the Plaza: Free lunchtime brass quintet concert | 12:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Puzzle & Pint Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| East Charlotte Farmers' Market | 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | McLawland Farms |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| FOMO: Museum Block Party | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Levine Center for the 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 | |
| Food Distribution Event | 5:30 pm | FREE | |
| Gaston Draws: The Figure Series (Open 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 |
| Wednesday Crafting Circle | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| The Gaming Lounge Video Gaming Pop-Up | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Ladies' Bunco Night at Gibson Mill Market | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Gibson Mill Market |
| 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 |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| 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 |
| Left Right Center Game Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Wednesday Jazz Jam with The Lovell Bradford Trio and Guests at VisArt Video (suggested $10 donation) | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | VisArt Video | |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Open Shag Dancing | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Puzzle Race and Half-Priced Wine | 7:00 pm | Discounted | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, April 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Latino Film Festival | All Day | $15.66 | Independent Picture House |
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Wing Haven's Spring Plant Sale -- admission free to the garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Wing Haven |
| Birding at Stevens Creek | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Eastway Recreation Center |
| 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 Uptown -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: African Drumming | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | West Charlotte Recreation Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| SouthPark After 5: Coconut Groove Band | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Symphony Park |
| Small Business Networking Event | 6:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| 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 |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| Music on Main in Pineville | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| Neoteric April Book Club | 6:30 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Sketchbook Swap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Mooreoke Karaoke w/ KJ Notorious J.A.M. | 8:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, April 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLT Taco Week | All Day | $4.00 | Various locations |
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Charlotte Latino Film Festival | All Day | $15.66 | Independent Picture House |
| Wing Haven's Spring Plant Sale -- admission free to the garden | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Wing Haven |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Free Fun Fridays with YScholars at Johnston YMCA | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Johnston YMCA |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 43rd Annual Showcase of Woodcarvings | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Worrell Building, CPCC |
| Free Acting Workshop with material from The Spongebob Musical (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Academy of Music |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Gatito Night Market | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | 4410 N Tryon Street |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery |
| Clayworks Spring Studio Festival | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clayworks |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Live Music: Avery Creek | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Backyard at Burial Artisan Market | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Mint Hill Rodeo | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-15.00 | McWhirter Rodeo Arena |
| Cramerton Summer Concert Series: KRVE Band | 6:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Center, Cramerton |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Live Music Friday | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Live music: Edan Aldridge Band | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Friday Night Live Music: La Brava | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Spoke Easy |
| Nerd Nite Charlotte | 7:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Jammin' On the 1 -- jam session at Access 21 Studios | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Big O Bingo | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Uptown Dueling Pianos | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Whitewater Film Series: The Badwater 135 | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Cramerton Outdoor Cinema Series: Lilo & Stitch (2025) | 8:15 pm | FREE | Centennial Center, Cramerton |
| "Rockabilly Riot! The Revival" w/ DJ Christian Hoefle & DJ Dil3mma ( Emma Hoefle) | 9:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
