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:
Today: Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Tomorrow: Thursday, October 8, 2026
Friday, October 9, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Ginning Days | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Dallas Park |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Move Beyond: Learn Contemporary and Cambodian Dance in free classes | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Open Door Studios |
| Pop Up Food Share with Nourish Up | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| The Collectors Showcase | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Fiesta Friday | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| 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 |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Patio Beats: Island Rhythms | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Mount Holly Nights: September (Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| Car Cruise-In in Downtown Monroe | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: Matilda | 6:30 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Food & Film -- Outdoor Movie at Truist Field: Shrek | 6:30 pm | $10.00 | Truist Field |
| 7th Street Concerts: Murder, Music & Caravaggio (discounted tickets) | 7:00 pm | Discounted | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Friday Night Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | High Branch Brewing (Gibson Mill, Concord) |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 7:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Haunted Car Wash at Tiger Xpress | 7:15 pm to 11:30 pm | $29.00 | Tiger Xpress Car Wash, Mount Holly |
| Movies in the Park: The Nightmare Before Christmas | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Craic |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 8:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Whitewater Film Series (free admission; $13 for parking) | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Saturday, October 10, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| College Football Saturdays | FREE | OpenTap | |
| McAdenville Oktoberfest | 8:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | 115 Craft, McAdenville |
| AutoBarn's Classic Cars & Coffee | 8:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Annual Firefighters’ Burned Children Fund Pancake Breakfast | 8:30 am to 11:00 am | The Market at 7th Street | |
| Free class for families: Veggie Planting | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Pike Nurseries, multiple locations |
| Free paper shredding in Kannapolis | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | Myers Park United Methodist Church | |
| Free Drive-Thru Market in Kannapolis: Produce and eggs | 9:00 am | FREE | Second Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis |
| Dance Open House at Piedmont School of Music and Dance | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Piedmont School of Music and Dance, Kannapolis |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Firefighting Plane | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Mindful Together Festival -- Festival Anual de Concientización de la Salud Mental | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Pascuales’ Farm |
| South Charlotte Teen Driver Safety Event | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Calvary Church |
| Pioneer Day at Camp T.N. Spencer Park in Concord: fishing, archery, shelter building, more | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $5.00 | Camp TN Spencer Park |
| Carolina Clay Matters Fall Pottery Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | McAlpine Business Park |
| St. Luke's Fall Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | St. Luke Catholic Church Admin & Education, Mint Hill |
| Fall for Matthews Festival | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Matthews Chamber of Commerce |
| The Collectors Showcase | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Lowe’s gives away lots of free gifts for two days — including MyLowe’s Money | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| 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 |
| Cotton Ginning Days | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Dallas Park |
| Free Saturday Morning Cartoons at Independent Picture House (plus free milk and cookies!) | 10:30 am | FREE | Independent Picture House |
| 2nd Saturday Makers' Meet-Up (Free, but $5 donation suggested for materials) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Fall Dog Adoption Event and Festival | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hillcrest Pharmacy, Indian Trail |
| Charlotte BookPalooza | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Truist Field |
| East Side Sol: Free festival at Charlotte Museum of History, celebrating Charlotte's East Side | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Museum of History |
| Plaza Midwood Artists Studio Crawl | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing SouthPark |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Bard at the Barn: Free outdoor, family-friendly performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream | 11:00 am | FREE | The Barn at MoRA |
| Indie on Wheels: Pops & Popcorn | 11:15 am to 12:15 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library |
| Music & Nature: Concert by Phoenix Down RPG, and cyanotype printing | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Build Your Own Boat (free to watch; $12 for parking) | 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Charlotte VegFest | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Victoria Yards |
| Mountaineer Days Heritage Festival | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Annual Fall Festival | 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Pineville Oktoberfest | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pineville Town Hall |
| Meet the Hornets at Purple and Teal Day Oct. 10 -- free, but tickets are required | 12:30 pm | FREE | Spectrum Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Fall Market | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Confluence Music Fest Finale | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Suffolk Punch South End |
| Laketoberfest in Cornelius | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Bailey Road Park |
| South End Fall Festival | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church |
| BBQ & Blues at Five Points Plaza, including free food | 4:00 pm | FREE | Five Points Plaza |
| An Evening in Stars Hollow -- Gilmore Girl-themed Event | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown China Grove |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Davidson College Symphony | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Free outdoor movie: Beauty and the Beast, and Royal Meet and Greet | 6:00 pm | FREE | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| VAPA Center Night Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Rockin' The Burg: Gump Fiction | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Tega Cay Music in the Park: Crystal Aria | 6:30 pm | FREE | Catawba Park, Tega Cay |
| Live Music: Anna J | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Haunted Car Wash at Tiger Xpress | 7:15 pm to 11:30 pm | $29.00 | Tiger Xpress Car Wash, Mount Holly |
| Saturday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Sunday, October 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton Ginning Days | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Dallas Park |
| The Collectors Showcase | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Lowe’s gives away lots of free gifts for two days — including MyLowe’s Money | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Bard at the Barn: Free outdoor, family-friendly performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream | 11:00 am | FREE | The Barn at MoRA |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Open Play Mahjong | 11:30 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Parada Dominicana -- 2nd Annual Dominican Celebration | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| October Plant Swap & Shop | 12:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Free Introductory Flag Rugby Clinics for Girls | 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Sharon Presbyterian Church |
| Maisie's Sunday Market | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Maisie’s Green Brae, Tega Cay |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Live music: Kind Hearted Strangers | 5:00 pm | FREE | The Thirsty Beaver Saloon |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Haunted Car Wash at Tiger Xpress | 7:15 pm to 11:30 pm | $29.00 | Tiger Xpress Car Wash, Mount Holly |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
