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: Sunday, May 10, 2026
Tomorrow: Monday, May 11, 2026
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Movie for Mature Audiences (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| SNAP Triple Bucks at Participating Farmers' Markets and Farm Stands | All Day | Various locations | |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Early Bird Bug Hunt | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| EXPLORE: Community Concert Series: Gigi Mack | 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Gluten Freedom: TWO days of gluten free pizza and beer | 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm | Monday Night Garden Brewing Co. | |
| 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 |
| 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 | |
| 'Egbe: Soul Family' Artist Talk + Rhizome Market May 13 | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | JCSU Arts Factory |
| Eleven Lakes Book Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Vinyl Night at Vintage Vibes | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Vintage Vibes, Concord |
| 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 |
| Weekly Bluegrass Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Open Mic Night w/ Keith Wilson | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| 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 |
| Bark in the Ballpark at Charlotte Knights game (ticket price varies) | 6:35 pm | Truist Field | |
| Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| 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 |
| New Friends Book Club | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Open Shag Dancing | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, May 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| SNAP Triple Bucks at Participating Farmers' Markets and Farm Stands | All Day | Various locations | |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| ArtBreak at Bechtler Museum -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Art in Bloom at TAOH Outdoor Gallery with Charlotte Family Housing: FREE make-n-take bouquets, community mural, more... | 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | TAOH Outdoor Gallery |
| SouthPark After 5: Landslide -- Tribute to Fleetwood Mac | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Symphony Park |
| St. Philip Neri Italian Festival | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | St. Philip Neri Church–Fort Mill |
| Thursdays on the Turf (live music series) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Commonwealth Plaza Midwood |
| Food Distribution Event | 5:30 pm | FREE | Health Sciences Academy at Monroe Middle School |
| 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: Matthew Church | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Pineville Town Hall |
| Live Music: 65 North Pickers | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Neoteric May Book Club | 6:30 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Live Music: Landon Cline | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Percent Tap House, Harrisburg |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
