UPDATE: This list includes both virtual and in-person events. Please use your own judgment about the safety of those events.
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).
Have you subscribed to Charlotte on the Cheap yet? Subscribers get (at most) one email a day. It's free to subscribe.
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 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.
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: Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Tomorrow: Thursday, May 13, 2021
Friday, May 14, 2021
Saturday, May 15, 2021
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free admission to Mint Museum Uptown for Essential & Frontline Workers | All Day | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Free admission to Mint Museum Randolph for Essential & Frontline Workers | All Day | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Buy one dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts, get "Be Sweet Dozen" for $1 | All Day | $1.00 | Various locations |
| Weekends at Camp North End | All Day | FREE | Camp North End |
| Insomnia Cookies: One free cookie for grads, no purchase required, or one free 6-pack of cookies with purchase | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| National Chocolate Chip Day: Get 12 Nestle Toll House Cookies for $5 | All Day | $5.00 | Various locations |
| Charlotte Open Air Market | 7:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Open Air Market |
| Cartoons and Coffee: Doc McStuffins with PJ Mask | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Free paper shredding with Mecklenburg County Solid Waste Services | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Compost Central and Recycling Center |
| Bike rodeo in Kannapolis | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Kannapolis City Hall |
| Visit to Sweetwater Farms (advance registration is required) | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | $5.00 | Sweetwater Farms |
| Free bike helmet and learn to ride event | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Charlotte Warehouse Sale | 9:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| Donation-based yoga with Habitual Roots | 9:00 am | FREE | Freedom Park |
| Donation-based yoga with Habitual Roots | 9:30 am | FREE | Frank Liske Park |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel Exhibition | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $19.40 | Savona Mill |
| Free outdoor fitness classes with Anytime Fitness | 10:00 am | FREE | Anytime Fitness at the Promenade on Providence |
| $5 for yoga class and unlimited mimosas in Ballantyne (with discount) | 10:00 am | $5.00 | Kosonen Park, Ballantyne |
| Brewhouse Yoga | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | $10.00 | Devil’s Logic Brewing |
| Cardio Funk | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | $10.00 | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| VTGCLT Chroma, a pop-up vintage & handmade shop in Camp North End | 11:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Armenian Spring Food Festival | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Saint Sarkis Armenian Church of Charlotte |
| Virtual Culture Block: Drums Circles on LIVE with Drums 4 Life | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Virtual |
| International Festival at Northside Baptist Church will offer vaccinations, bounce houses, much more | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Northside Baptist Church |
| Summit Seltzer Popup with Starving Artist Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Summit Seltzer |
| Donate Blood (and get a $10 eGift Card) | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Community Disability Fitness Festival | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Back to Independence Rehab |
| Gear Up to Go Out -- free kids' safety event, including free helmets | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | McAlpine Creek Park |
| Pup Pop-Up Day | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing |
| Live music: Cain Arts Center | 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| MusicFest with Off the Wall and DeCarlo | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery |
| Live music: Michael Cansler | 4:00 pm | FREE | Ole Dallas Brewery |
| Model A Concert Series in Tega Cay: On The Border | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Runde Park, Tega Cay |
| Live music: It's Snakes | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Live music: Barcerdo | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live music: Sulli | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| River Jam: Austin Plaine | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Laugh at Lenny | 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Virtual Tosco Music Party: A Year in Review | 8:00 pm | FREE | Virtual |
| Hound's Drive-In (Price per carload) | 8:00 pm | $20.00 | Hound’s Drive-In |
| Badin Road Drive-In | 8:00 pm | $5.00-7.00 | Badin Road Drive-In |
| Dish After Dark -- Live music | 8:00 pm | FREE | Dish |
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
