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 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:
- 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, December 7, 2022
Tomorrow: Thursday, December 8, 2022
Friday, December 9, 2022
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $34.00-40.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Live Music Weekends | All Day | FREE | Buzzed Viking Brewing Company |
| FIFA World Cup Watch Parties | All Day | Various locations | |
| Firehouse Subs: Free sub with any purchase if you have the "name of the day" | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Toys, Games & Trains exhibit | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Kings Mountain Historical Museum |
| VTGCLT Pop | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 12:00 pm to 9:30 pm | High Seas Miniature Golf | |
| Light the Knights / Charlotte Christmas Village | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Truist Field |
| World Cup Watch Party at Gilde | 1:30 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Free matinee at VisArt Video (verify with store -- changes possible) | 2:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Strolling Holiday Entertainment at Blakeney | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Birkdale on Ice -- outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $14.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Stowe Family YMCA Family Night -- It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas (cookie decorating and hot chocolate) | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Family YMCA, Belmont |
| Free Santa visits in Lincolnton | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | First Federal Park, Lincolnton |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-20.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| UCITY Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Costner's Christmas Light Extravaganza | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 3rd Annual Krampus Night Market | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Sippin' Santa Christmas-themed bar at The Royal Tot | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Lights at Whitewater Center | 5:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Free interactive Christmas drama: Walk Thru Bethlehem | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp Wesley |
| Live music: Dave Desmelik | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park |
| Speedway Christmas | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $30.00-40.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Super Smash Bros. Tournament | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Carriage and Wagon rides in Historic Downtown Lincolnton | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Court Square, Lincolnton |
| Campfire Movie Club: Die Hard | 7:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Holiday Movie Series, including free popcorn | 8:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
Saturday, December 10, 2022
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $34.00-40.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Sabor Latin Street Grill: Amigos Margaritas $6 | All Day | $6.00 | Sabor Latin Street Grill (multiple locations) |
| Live Music Weekends | All Day | FREE | Buzzed Viking Brewing Company |
| Holiday Headquarters -- Low-priced Christmas photo shoot from LaLa Photography (various time slots) | All Day | $29.00 | LaLa Photography |
| FIFA World Cup Watch Parties | All Day | Various locations | |
| Firehouse Subs: Free sub with any purchase if you have the "name of the day" | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Uptown Farmers' Market | 8:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Uptown Farmers’ Market |
| Queen City Sports League -- free weekly sports league | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Marie G. Davis Middle School |
| Santa Pictures (price is per family) | 9:00 am to 11:30 am | $7.00 | Matthews Community Center |
| Charlotte Warehouse Sale Liquidation Sale | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Warehouse Sale |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Woodland Christmas | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | $5.00 | Camp TN Spencer Park |
| Cookies with Santa at Optimist Hall | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Optimist Hall |
| Toys, Games & Trains exhibit | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Kings Mountain Historical Museum |
| Free photos and firetruck rides with Santa and the Grinch in Salisbury | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Bell Tower Green, Salisbury |
| Small Business Saturday at three locations, with vendors, Santa (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.) and music | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic South End |
| VTGCLT Pop | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Birkdale on Ice -- outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | $14.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| World Cup Watch Party at Gilde | 10:00 am | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Monthly Saturday Yoga | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | $10.00 | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | $10.00 | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Santa and Mrs. Claus visit Kings Mountain Historical Museum | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Kings Mountain Historical Museum |
| Letters to Santa at Arboretum Shopping Center -- free Santa picture and gift | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Arboretum Shopping Center |
| Grand Opening of Pineville Branch of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Mecklenburg Library — Pineville |
| Art Walk on Union | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Concord |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 11:00 am to 9:30 pm | High Seas Miniature Golf | |
| College Football Gameday Blitz Watch Party | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery |
| Santa Paws -- family pictures, including pets (price is per family) | 11:30 am to 12:15 pm | $7.00 | Matthews Community Center |
| Pets get free pictures with Santa at PetSmart (reservations required) | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| ChristmasTown Outdoor Market at The River Room in McAdenville | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | The River Room, McAdenville |
| Light the Knights / Charlotte Christmas Village | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Truist Field |
| Funky Festivus | 12:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Outdoor Women Hiking Group | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Free Santa pictures at Black Lion | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | BlackLion Park Road |
| 2nd Annual "A Santa Like Me" | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | $10.00 | T.E.A.M. Event Space |
| Free introductory squash clinic | 1:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Squash Club |
| Regal Holiday Classics | 1:00 pm | $5.00 | Various locations |
| Santa's Slamboree NAWA Pro Wresting (includes Ugly Sweater Contest) | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus (no charge, but donations encouraged) | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Free Santa pictures, cookies, cocoa and ornament making with Steve Carpou -- State Farm Agent | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Steve Carpou — State Farm Agent |
| Light Up The Night (free event, $5 suggested donation) | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Children of the World Learning Center |
| Free interactive Christmas drama: Walk Thru Bethlehem | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp Wesley |
| Free matinee at VisArt Video (verify with store -- changes possible) | 2:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| World Cup Watch Party at Gilde | 2:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| A December to Remember: Free Santa visits and free carriage rides (reservations required) | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Live music: Cosmic Collective | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Sippin' Santa Christmas-themed bar at The Royal Tot | 3:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
| Charlotte's 22nd Annual Santa Bar Crawl | 3:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $8.00-20.00 | Various locations |
| Mistletoe Market | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Stranger Days Independent Film Festival | 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Indian Land Christmas Parade | 4:00 pm | FREE | |
| Northern Lights of Lake Norman Lighted Boat Parade | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Apps & Taps, Mooresville |
| Free Santa visits in Lincolnton | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | First Federal Park, Lincolnton |
| Maker's Market at Pilot Brewing | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-20.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Enchantment in the Garden at Mount Holly Community Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mount Holly Community Garden |
| Costner's Christmas Light Extravaganza | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Lights at Whitewater Center | 5:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Queen City Ringers at Christ UMC Charlotte | 5:00 pm | FREE | Christ UMC Charlotte |
| Downtown Holiday Artisan Market, Kings Mountain | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Joy Performance Center |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park |
| Speedway Christmas | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $30.00-40.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Kannapolis Christmas Parade | 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Kannapolis |
| Lake Wylie Holiday Boat Parade | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Papa Doc’s Shore Club |
| Carriage and Wagon rides in Historic Downtown Lincolnton | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Court Square, Lincolnton |
| Santa and Mrs. Claus at Sippin' Santa at The Royal Tot for pictures | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
| Truth or Dare Comedy | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| 2nd Saturday | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Live music: Matt McKinley | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Improv Comedy Shows with CATCh | 7:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | CATCh — Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte |
Sunday, December 11, 2022
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures | All Day | FREE | Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $34.00-40.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Live Music Weekends | All Day | FREE | Buzzed Viking Brewing Company |
| Sippin' Santa Christmas-themed bar at The Royal Tot | All Day | FREE | The Royal Tot |
| Holiday Headquarters -- Low-priced Christmas photo shoot from LaLa Photography (various time slots) | All Day | $29.00 | LaLa Photography |
| Firehouse Subs: Free sub with any purchase if you have the "name of the day" | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Skatefest: Free ice skating lessons at Truist Field | 9:15 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Truist Field |
| VTGCLT Pop | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery |
| Letters to Santa at Northcross -- free Santa pictures | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Northcross Shopping Center |
| Cocoa with Santa at Quail Corners | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Quail Corners Shopping Center |
| Free pictures of your dog with Santa at Dog Supplies Warehouse | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Dog Supplies Warehouse, Huntersville |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | High Seas Miniature Golf | |
| Sangria Sunday at Pinhouse: 75¢/ounce Sangria, and half price bowling | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | Pinhouse | |
| Pets get free pictures with Santa at PetSmart (reservations required) | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | PetSmart (multiple locations) |
| Charlotte Warehouse Sale Liquidation Sale | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Warehouse Sale |
| Birkdale on Ice -- outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $14.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Light the Knights / Charlotte Christmas Village | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Truist Field |
| Weekly Cornhole League | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Regal Holiday Classics | 1:00 pm | $5.00 | Various locations |
| Guided tour at Hugh Torance House and Store in Huntersville | 1:15 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Free matinee at VisArt Video (verify with store -- changes possible) | 2:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Build Your Own Menorah (workshop for kids) | 2:00 pm | $1.00 | The Home Depot, 17111 Statesville Road, Cornelius |
| Free concert by Queen City Community Orchestra | 2:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Country Day School |
| Waxhaw Christmas Parade | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Free Live Tunes Every Sunday | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Stories and Songs with Santa and Mrs. Claus | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Charlotte Music Club: Handel's Messiah | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church |
| Guided tour at Hugh Torance House and Store in Huntersville | 3:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Second Sunday | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Carolina Panthers Watch Party | 4:30 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-20.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Costner's Christmas Light Extravaganza | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Lights at Whitewater Center | 5:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Queen City Ringers at Saint Mark's Lutheran Church | 5:00 pm | FREE | St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Charlotte |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Flashlight Candy Cane Dash in Cornelius | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Cornelius Town Hall |
| Journey to Bethlehem at St. Giles | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | St. Giles Evangelical Presbyterian Church |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park |
| Speedway Christmas | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $30.00-40.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| The Glory of Christmas Concert | 6:00 pm | FREE | Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Studio VisArt -- animated film | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00 | VisArt Video |
| Holiday Concert with The Charlotte Singers | 7:00 pm | FREE | Providence Presbyterian Church |
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