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:
Monday, August 24, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| 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 |
| August Book Club | 6:30 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Adult Trail Trekkers | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Taster Tuesdays: half off beer flights, 20% off top shelf bourbon, $4 shooters, and 20% off snacks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Family Bingo Night at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in Concord | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — Concord |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Speed Puzzles ($15 per team) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $15.00 | Pilot Brewing |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| 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 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
Wednesday, August 26, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Movie for Mature Audiences (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Short Pour Wednesdays: $3 12 oz pours of select beers | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Nature Crochet and Crafts | 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| 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 | |
| Latin Music at the Mint -- Boleros | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Gaston Draws: The Figure Series (Portrait session; registration required) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station, Dallas |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Stitch N' Bitch | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Free wine tasting at 115 Craft | 6:00 pm | FREE | 115 Craft, McAdenville |
| Artist Trading Cards Events -- swap cards and craft new ones | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Bluegrass Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| 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 in the courtyard of Optimist Hall | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Optimist Hall |
| 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 |
| Hella Spell: A Team-Based Spelling Event | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Stu's Barrel House: Open Mic (music, comedy, poetry) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stu’s Barrel House, NoDa |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Free Bingo at The Percantile and Creamery (win prizes!) | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Ted Lasso Season 2 Watch Party | 7:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, August 27, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| IKEA Swedish Restaurant: 50% off meatball (or plant ball) entrée (must be IKEA Family member) | All Day | Discounted | IKEA |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Grand Opening of City Thrift | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | City Thrift |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Randolph: Free lunch-time tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Piedmont Music Therapy: Community Grooves for Elementary School Youth (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Night Market at Pascuales' Farm, including vendors, farm tours, scavenger hunt, more | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pascuales’ Farm |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| LangTree Live Concert Series | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Drag Bingo Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Comedy Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Charlotte Idol | 7:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Stu's Barrel House: Jazz Jam | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Stu’s Barrel House, NoDa |
| Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End | 8:30 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, August 28, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| QDOBA Offers Free Chips & Queso for Every Full Moon | All Day | FREE | Qdoba, participating locations |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Smooth Monkey's Grand Opening: 20% off your whole order | 7:30 am to 7:00 pm | Discounted | Smooth Monkey, Uptown |
| Grand Opening of City Thrift | 9:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | City Thrift |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 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 |
| Fiesta Friday | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Free Wrestling Show | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius | |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Friday Live Music | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Music Without Borders | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Loyd Studios, Camp North End |
| Friday Night Flicks: Zootopia 2 | 7:00 pm | FREE | Caldwell Park, Concord |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | King Canary Brewing, Mooresville |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Pineville Rock'n & Reel'n Movie: Zootopia 2 | 7:45 pm | FREE | Pineville Lake Park |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Mooresville Movie Nights: GOAT | 8:30 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
