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:
Wednesday, July 8, 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 | |
| Pop Up Food Share with Nourish Up | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Stratford Richardson YMCA |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Jeghetto's Workshop | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| 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 | |
| Vinyl Wednesday | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Stitch N' Bitch | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Free Bingo at The Percantile and Creamery (win prizes!) | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Bark in the Ballpark at Charlotte Knights game (ticket price varies) | 7:04 pm | Truist Field | |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, July 9, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| World Cup Watch Parties (start times vary) | All Day | FREE | Belfast Mill |
| Showing All World Cup Matches (times vary) | All Day | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Just Kidding Around: Fun Factory by Sigmon Theatrical | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| 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 |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Jeghetto's Workshop | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library-Concord |
| Uptown Live: Live music and DJs on Thursday evenings | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Truist Center Plaza |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Thursdays on Main: The Embers | 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| 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 |
| Campground Series: Fire Safety | 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| The Lost Years Movie Series: Home Alone | 7:00 pm | $5.00-16.05 | Carolina Theatre, Charlotte |
| 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 |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| 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, July 10, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| National French Fry Day Freebies and Deals | All Day | Various locations | |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| World Cup Watch Parties (start times vary) | All Day | FREE | Belfast Mill |
| Showing All World Cup Matches (times vary) | All Day | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| 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 | Mayfield Memorial Missionary Baptist Church |
| AC/DC PWR/Up Pop-Up | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Gatito Night Market | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | 4410 N Tryon Street |
| 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 |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Rock the Park: The Legacy Motown Revue | 6:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Car Cruise-In in Downtown Monroe | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery |
| Open Mic at Access 21 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| Pineville Rock'n & Reel'n Concert: 20 Ride -- Zac Brown Tribute Band | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pineville Lake Park |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Movies in the Park: Wicked: For Good | 7:30 pm | FREE | McGirt Auditorium, Rock Hill, SC |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Huntersville Movies in the Park: Hoppers | 8:30 pm | FREE | Richard Barry Park, Huntersville |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, July 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Slurpee at 7-Eleven, Speedway & Stripes | All Day | FREE | Participating locations of 7-Eleven and Speedway |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| World Cup Watch Parties (start times vary) | All Day | FREE | Belfast Mill |
| Showing All World Cup Matches (times vary) | All Day | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Free Birding Tours with Carolina Wildlife Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 9:00 am | FREE | Lake Norman State Park |
| Kids' Catfish Tournament | 8:00 am | FREE | Dallas Park |
| AutoBarn's Classic Cars & Coffee | 8:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Free Drive-Thru Market in Kannapolis: Produce and eggs | 9:00 am | FREE | Second Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis |
| Outdoor Women Hiking Group | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Bastille Day Celebration at Renaissance Pâtisserie | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Renaissance Pâtisserie |
| 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 |
| Creek Crawl | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| 2nd Saturday Makers' Meet-Up (Free, but $5 donation suggested for materials) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Christmas in July: A Free Frozen Meet and Greet | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| AC/DC PWR/Up Pop-Up | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Upcycle Arts: Christmas in July Sale -- $10 fill-a-bag | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| 5 Year Anniversary Party | 11:00 am | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| 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 |
| The Summer Spectacular: Live music, live painting, art vendors, more... | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Victoria Yards |
| Second Chance Book Bash (fill a bag for $15) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Urban District Market | |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Free Elote Day | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Beatfreaq and Open Aux | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Cain Center Block Party: Live music on the patio with Edan Aldridge | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Cain Center for the Arts, Cornelius |
| Queen City Art's Summer Juried Art Show | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Queen City Art (formerly Charlotte Art League) |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Gatito Night Market | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | 4410 N Tryon Street |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Herping Tour with Carolina Wildlife Sanctuary | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | McAlpine Creek Park |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius | |
| VAPA Center Night Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Beat the Heat Artist Showcase at DUPP&SWAT | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Dupp & Swat at Camp North End |
| Open Heart Open Mic | 6:30 pm | FREE | Greater Vision United Methodist Church |
| Outdoor Concert Series at Rea Farms: Spiderwebs | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| The Thing: An arthaus blacklight bodypaint experience where you become the art (discount code available) | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Studio 1212 |
| Kannapolis' Summer Concert Series: The Four Tops | 7:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| The Lost Years Movie Series: Home Alone 2 | 7:00 pm | $5.00-16.05 | Carolina Theatre, Charlotte |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Movies in the Park: Remember the Titans | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fourth Ward Park |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Beauty and the Beast | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
Sunday, July 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastille Day Celebration at Renaissance Pâtisserie | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Renaissance Pâtisserie |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| July Plant Swap & Shop | 12:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Free "Shop" Day for Children's Clothing | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $1.00 | Smyrne French SDA Church, Midland |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Mobile Market Pop-Up Pantry -- get a FREE Zealous Meal Kit | 2:00 pm | FREE | Keith Family YMCA |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Gatito Night Market | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | 4410 N Tryon Street |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Sam on Someday Music Event | 6:00 pm | $8.00-15.00 | Petra’s |
| Common Table: Free dinner | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar, 7th Street |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
