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:
Friday, May 22, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shake Shack: Spend $10 and get a free burger | All Day | Discounted | Shake Shack, participating locations |
| Circle M Safari: Park: Free admission for active military and veterans | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Circle M Safari Park, Shelby | |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Pop Up Food Share with Nourish Up | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| World Turtle Day (Drop-In) | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Disco Luau -- A Funky Dance Party at Camp North End | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| 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 |
| Downtown Oakboro Cruise-In | 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Oakboro, NC |
| Live Music: Ben Mignogna | 5:30 pm | FREE | Frank’s Beer Shop |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Cramerton Summer Concert Series: The Catalinas | 6:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Center, Cramerton |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Friday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Friday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Live music: Rusty Knox and Jim Ashton | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Live Music: Beau Norwood | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: How to Train Your Dragon 2 | 7:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| North Carolina Baroque Orchestra Concert | 7:00 pm | FREE | Morning Star Lutheran Church, Matthews |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Fountain Green Music Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stonecrest at Piper Glen |
| Steinway at Free Range Brewing: Opening hang with music by Sweat Transfer | 7:30 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Live Music: My Better Half | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Movies in the Park: Inside Out 2 | 8:45 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, May 23, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free flag at Ace Hardware | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Shake Shack: Spend $10 and get a free burger | All Day | Discounted | Shake Shack, participating locations |
| U.S. National Whitewater Center Memorial Day Celebration: live music, yoga, trail race | 8:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Cars & Coffee | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Historic Matthews Walking Tour | 9:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Tortoise Meet & Greet at Unsheltered Tortoise and Turtle Sanctuary (Registration is required!) | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | $10.00 | UnshelteredNC — Tortoise and Turtle Rescue |
| 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 |
| Circle M Safari: Park: Free admission for active military and veterans | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Circle M Safari Park, Shelby | |
| Saturday Swap: Outdoor and Sports Equipment | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Meck Dec Day Celebration | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Charlotte Museum of History |
| Spring Into Summer at Johnston YMCA: Family Art Day | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Johnston YMCA |
| IKEA Charlotte: Loading Dock Sale | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Discounted | IKEA |
| Free youth baseball and softball clinic, and meet and greet with Otis Nixon (clinic free; meet and greet $15, but free for kids) | 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Richard “Stick” Williams Dream Fields |
| Tortoise Meet & Greet at Unsheltered Tortoise and Turtle Sanctuary (Registration is required!) | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $10.00 | UnshelteredNC — Tortoise and Turtle Rescue |
| Really Really Free Market | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Galilee Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| 36th Street Market | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| Live Music: Hunter's Travesty | 2:00 pm | FREE | Frank’s Beer Shop |
| Saturday Live Music | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Hazy Daze Summer Kickoff Party | 3:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Saturday Live Music | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Discounted | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: N-Spire (R&B / Variety) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Live Music: Adam Daniels | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| 80s Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Steinway at Free Range Brewing: Beatles Night, presented by Tosco Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Fountain Green Music Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stonecrest at Piper Glen |
| Live Music: The Normz | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Explore the night sky in Huntersville with the Charlotte Amateur Astronomers Club | 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bradford Park Trailhead, Huntersville |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Homeward Bound | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
Sunday, May 24, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shake Shack: Spend $10 and get a free burger | All Day | Discounted | Shake Shack, participating locations |
| U.S. National Whitewater Center Memorial Day Celebration | 9:30 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Birkdale Village Farmers Market presented by Shop Local QC | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Circle M Safari: Park: Free admission for active military and veterans | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Circle M Safari Park, Shelby | |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Plant Swap & Shop | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Local Block Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Silent Cinema Café (suggested donation is $5) | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | VisArt Video | |
| Sunday Live Music | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Live Music: Ellie Morgan | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Live Music: Ellie Morgan | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Steinway at Free Range Brewing: Live music by Mike Strauss Band | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Live Music: Maggie Lowe | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Karaoke Sundays (suggested $5 donation) | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $5.00 | VisArt Video |
| Celebration: National Day of Cuba | 4:00 pm | FREE | Aldersgate UMC Charlotte |
| Bluegrass Jam Circle Hosted by Charlotte Folk Society | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
Monday, May 25, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shake Shack: Spend $10 and get a free burger | All Day | Discounted | Shake Shack, participating locations |
| Memorial Day Ceremony at Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens |
| Memorial Day program at at Cornelius Town Hall | 10:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Cornelius Town Hall |
| Memorial Day ceremony in Waxhaw | 10:00 am | FREE | Military Wall of Honor, Waxhaw |
| Memorial Day service at Sharon Memorial Park | 10:00 am | FREE | Sharon Memorial Park |
| Memorial Day Ceremony in Kings Mountain | 10:00 am | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Fort Mill Memorial Day Ceremony | 10:00 am | FREE | Unity Cemetery, Fort Mill, SC |
| Circle M Safari: Park: Free admission for active military and veterans | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | Circle M Safari Park, Shelby | |
| Memorial Day Ceremony in Indian Trail | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | James B. Crump VFW Post 2423, Indian Trail |
| Memorial Day Block Party with Keith Clinic (free burgers and more) | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Keith Clinic West Charlotte |
| Our American Story Roadshow: storytelling project | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Walmart Supercenter, Pineville Matthews Road |
| Memorial Day Ceremony in Huntersville | 11:00 am | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Memorial Day Fest | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Kannapolis Memorial Day Ceremony | 12:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Dance for All Abilities | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Colorful Dreams Junior Art Exhibition | 6:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Igneus Self Defense: Practice in the Park | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Cordelia Park |
| 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 |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shake Shack: Spend $10 and get a free burger | All Day | Discounted | Shake Shack, participating locations |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Silent Book Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Speed Puzzles ($15 per team) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $15.00 | Pilot Brewing |
| Steinway at Free Range Brewing: Tuesday Trivia LIVE! presented by WDAV | 7:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
