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: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Tomorrow: Friday, August 14, 2026
Saturday, August 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Upcycle Arts: 50% off School Supplies | All Day | Discounted | Upcycle Arts |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Cartoons & Coffee: Zootopia 2 | 8:30 am | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Free Introductory Flag Rugby Clinics for Girls | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Friendship Sportsplex |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Flip the Fit: Free kids' clothing giveaway/swap, plus STEM activities | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Grace Communion International |
| 3rd Saturday Music: Country artist Drew Nathan | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, NoDa |
| Bounce Back to School Jam | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Eastway Recreation Center |
| Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Workshop | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Free military appreciation day at Billy Graham Library, including a free lunch | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Historic Matthews Cemetery Tour | 10:00 am | FREE | Historic Matthews Cemetery |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Kidz & Co Friendship Rocks | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Back to School Bash at David B. Waymer Rec Center | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| People of the World: Russia | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | International House |
| Back to School Bash with free backpacks and school supplies | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Kingdom Builders Church International |
| Charlotte Pride Festival | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Free drum circle at Goodyear Arts | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Goodyear Arts |
| Dino-Themed Back to School Bash at Charlotte Premium Outlets | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Premium Outlets |
| Bachata in the Library | 1:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Library |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Robot Block Party | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Back to School Bash with The Social Shaker LLC | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | TGI Fridays, University |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, N. Sharon Amity Road |
| Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Night For Me! | 4:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Concerts @ The Circles: Chasing Phoenix (Rock / Variety) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| A Foam Back to School Bash | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius | |
| Mint Hill Family Night Concert: Crystal Aria | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Live Music: David Childers and Special Guest Jason Ringenberg | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Stories Under the Stars: Gravity Check | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Saturday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Movies in the Park | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fourth Ward Park |
| Charlotte FC Watch Parties | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Live Music: DJ Manney | 9:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Pride: Show Your Color Dance Party | 10:00 pm | FREE | Bar Argon |
Sunday, August 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Upcycle Arts: 50% off School Supplies | All Day | Discounted | Upcycle Arts |
| Charlotte Pride Festival | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Charlotte Pride Parade | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Center City Charlotte–festival area |
| Classic Cruisers of Monroe Cruise-In | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Poplin Place Shopping Center, Monroe |
| Tour of Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardeners' Pollinator Garden (registration required) | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Freedom Park |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, W. Arrowood Road |
| Ritmo Latino Dance Social | 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm | $10.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Sunday Sweet Tea Twirl Tea Dance: Twirl to the World | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Bar Argon |
| American Guild of Organists Summer Recital Series: Tomasz Robak -- The Roaring Organ | 4:00 pm | FREE | Myers Park Presbyterian Church |
| Free Concert by The Charlotte Singers: Broadway Bound! | 4:00 pm | FREE | Providence Presbyterian Church |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Stu's Barrel House: Open Funk & Blues Jam Session | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE |
Monday, August 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Upcycle Arts: 50% off School Supplies | All Day | Discounted | Upcycle Arts |
| Hummingbird Challenge | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Hummingbird Week: Family Nature Hour | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Mindful Mondays: 20% off N/A beers and alcohol free drinks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Free line dancing lesson | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | The Barrel Room at Triple C, South End |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Free Country Swing Dancing Lesson | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Animal Trivia with the Humane Society of Charlotte | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Vaulted Oak Brewing |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Regal Cinema: Mystery Movie Monday -- Horror Edition | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Regal Cinema (multiple locations) |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
