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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Saturday, August 2, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiff's Treats: Free Tiffwich for rewards members or BOGO Tiffwich for everyone | All Day | FREE | Tiff’s Treats Uptown |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free movies for teachers at Cinergy | All Day | FREE | Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Space Odyssey | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Streetside Classics -- Charlotte Caffeine and Classics | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Streetside Classics Charlotte |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Summer Send-Off at Carolina Raptor Center: Free admission for teachers, and free ice pops for first 400 guests | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Raptor Center |
| Lowe's is giving away kids' soccer balls -- one day only | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Keith Clinic Chiropractic Gastonia | 10:00 am | FREE | Keith Clinic — Gastonia |
| Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Keith Clinic Chiropractic East | 10:00 am | FREE | Keith Clinic East Charlotte |
| Free yoga class at Blakeney | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Blakeney |
| Charlotte Doodle Meetup | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Skiptown |
| 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 |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| First 200 guests at Cara's Cookies grand opening at Camp North End get a free half-pound cookie | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Cara’s Cookie Company, Camp North End |
| Community Block Party with free school supplies at Hornets Nest Elementary School | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hornets Nest Elementary School |
| Kannapolis Micro-Con | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Bowl Street Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Family First: Architect for a Day | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | $10.00 | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| LoSo Block Party (Many venues in LoSo) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| NoDa Bizarre: All Arts Festival, with live music | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Johnston YMCA |
| VAPA Center: Open Studios -- art market, music, more... | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Opening Reception of Nellie Ashford: Remembrance and Renewal, Wisdom from an Elder Folk Artist | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Gaston County Museum |
| Queen City Margarita Festival | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blush CLT |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Pickin' on the Porch -- free acoustic music series at Stowe Conservancy Trailhead Store | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| Live Music: James Delco | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Nature Remains: Artist talk with Barbara Schreiber and Curator Lia Rose Newman (free, but a $10 suggested donation) | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | McColl Center for Art + Innovation | |
| Independencia de Bolivia | 4:00 pm | FREE | Camino Community Center |
| Concerts @ the Circles: Gump Fiction | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Optimist Hall's 6th Anniversary Extravaganza -- ferris wheel, musical swings, more... | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Optimist Hall |
| Panthers Fan Fest | 5:00 pm | $5.00 | Bank of America Stadium |
| Festival of Food Trucks in Mooresville | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Mooresville |
| Maker's Market at Pilot Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Music and Dancing with QC Shimmy | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Sounds of Summer: Austin McNeill Band | 6:00 pm | FREE | Les Myers Park, Concord |
| Rock the Park: 38 Special | 6:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Stories Under the Stars: Shepherd Shakespeare | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Outdoor movie Night: Sound of Hope | 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Trinity Worship Center |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Wreck-It Ralph | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Open Mic Comedy Night at Dish Restaurant | 10:00 pm | FREE | Dish |
Sunday, August 3, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free movies for teachers at Cinergy | All Day | FREE | Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| Front Porch Sundays -- with Charlotte FC | 10:30 am to 4:30 pm | FREE | Atherton Mill |
| Book Swap at That's Novel Books | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | That’s Novel Books |
| QC Fitness Games x NoDa Brewing Workout Class | 11:00 am to 12:15 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Mint Hill Car Show -- Hot Rods on the Lawn | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A Mint Hill |
| Something Brewing: Fusion Jam Sessions | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Play Ultimate Human Battleship, with Water Balloons | 2:00 pm | FREE | Vaulted Oak Brewing |
| Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Kids | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $15.00 | Discovery Place Kids |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Live Music: McKinney Gap | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet at McDowell Nature Preserve (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Soul Sundays (free, but donations accepted) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Back to School Celebration with school supply giveaway | 5:00 pm | FREE | Forest Hills United Methodist Church, Gibson Village, Concord |
| Mighty Fine Blues Jam | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Charlotte Blues Society: Blues Sunday with DeJa Blues | 6:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Downtown Jazz Jam in Rock Hill | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Power House Rock Hill |
| Live music: Mucho Gumbo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| Free Comedy Open Mic at The Royal Tot | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
Monday, August 4, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free entrance day in the National Parks | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| National Chocolate Chip Cookie Deals and Freebies | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free movies for teachers at Cinergy | All Day | FREE | Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Culver's University City Blvd: First 100 kids to buy kids' meal get free backpack filled with school supplies | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Culver’s of University City Blvd | |
| Culver's Mooresville: First 100 kids to buy kids' meal get free backpack filled with school supplies | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Culver’s, Mooresville | |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Providence Swing Dance -- open dance floor | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Assurance United Methodist Church, Huntersville |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night + Free Pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Comedy Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $5.00 | The Evening Muse |
| The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free movies for teachers at Cinergy | All Day | FREE | Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas |
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple locations) | |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Library Mobile Food Pantry with Hope Street Food Pantry (click to see location each week) | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| National Oyster Day -- $1.50 oysters all day | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | $1.50 | The Waterman Fish Bar — South End |
| National Oyster Day -- $1.50 oysters all day | 11:30 am to 10:00 pm | $1.50 | Sea Level NC |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| MODA Digital Arts Open Studio Oasis (pre-registration required) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| National Night Out event at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Free-to-play BINGÖ at IKEA: Win an As-Is prize | 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | IKEA |
| National Night Out and Back to School Bash in Belmont | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Kannapolis National Night Out -- including free school supplies, live music and free food | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| NoDa National Night Out Celebration | 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| National Night Out at Richard "Stick" Williams Dream Fields, including free baseball clinic and hot dogs | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Richard “Stick” Williams Dream Fields |
| 5 Points National Night Out | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | 5 Points Plaza |
| National Night Out in Indian Trail | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail |
| Matthews Police Department's National Night Out | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Social Paddle Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | King Canary Brewing, Mooresville |
| Magic: The Gathering Meetup | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| Tosco Music Open Mic | 6:30 pm | $5.36 | The Evening Muse |
| Bunco at Hoptown | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hoptown Brewing Company, Mooresville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Name the Music at Wobbly Butt Tap Room & Eatery | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Victory Lanes, Mooresville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Piano Karaoke & Sing Along with Ryan Stamey | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00 | Petra’s |
Wednesday, August 6, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Free movies for teachers at Cinergy | All Day | FREE | Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse | 9:30 am | $1.75 | Cinemark (multiple locations) |
| Birkdale Buds -- activities for preschool children | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Golden Bull Bite Wednesdays at the West Complex | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Complex |
| Free "Explore Creative Art" classes for adults and teens | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Wednesday Night Live: Free admission to Uptown museums | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Whoop! Whoop! Wednesdays: local artists pop-up and open mic | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| Free Wednesday Evening at Museum Museum Randolph | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Free Yoga | 5:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Book Swap Bash | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Phoebe’s, Pineville |
| Adult Trading Card Night | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Charlotte 54 Fashion and Flash | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Chess Time! At West Boulevard Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Adult (Off)Color Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Red Clay Ciderworks |
| Book Club: The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand | 6:30 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Brewhouse Yoga | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | $5.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| The OG Boot Camp | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Tommy's Trivia | 6:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| 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 |
| Bunco! | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Open Hearts Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Jazz Night at Old Town Public House | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Town Public House |
| Puzzle Race and Half-Priced Wine | 7:00 pm | Discounted | Middle James Brewing |
| Wednesday Night Yoga | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
