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
Sunday, May 25, 2025
Monday, May 26, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Buy one get one free Whopper | All Day | Discounted | Burger King, participating locations |
| Carowinds: Free admission for military members | All Day | FREE | Carowinds |
| Memorial Day program at at Cornelius Town Hall | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Cain Center for the Arts, Cornelius |
| Memorial Day Ceremony at Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens |
| Memorial Day at Museum of the Waxhaws -- free for children and military | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Museum of the Waxhaws |
| 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 |
| Matthews Concert Band: Performance before Memorial Day Ceremony | 10:30 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Memorial Day Ceremony with Town of Huntersville | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Memorial Day Ceremony in Matthews | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Memorial Day Ceremony in Indian Trail | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | VFW Post 2423, Indian Trail |
| FREE Memorial Day lunch giveaway: Bacon Double Cheeseburger | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Keith Clinic West Charlotte |
| Memorial Day: Veterans get first beer free | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Memorial Day Party | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. |
| 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 |
| Memorial Day Program at VFW Mecklenburg Post 1160 | 1:00 pm | FREE | VFW Post 1160 |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm | FREE | Tyvola Senior Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Afro Beats Fitness Dance | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ivory Baker Recreation Center |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Charlotte Contra Dancers -- live music | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Mecklenburg Shrine Club |
| 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 |
| Regal Cinema: Mystery Movie Monday | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Regal Cinema (multiple locations) |
| 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 |
| Movie Night Monday: Return of the Jedi | 8:00 pm | FREE | The Cotton Room at Belfast Mill |
Tuesday, May 27, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Price Bays at Topgolf (2 locations) | All Day | $15.00-30.00 | Various locations |
| Burger King: Free Original Chicken Sandwich with $1 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, 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 |
| 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 |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Jazz Fitness | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Explore The Homage Exhibit at Allegra Westbrooks Library | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (formerly Beatties Ford Regional Library) |
| $2 Off Tuesdays | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| 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 |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Fitness in the Park: Move & Groove | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Romare Bearden Park |
| 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) |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| 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 |
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| National Hamburger Deal freebies and deals | All Day | Various locations | |
| Smashburger: $5.28 Single for National Hamburger Day | All Day | $5.28 | Smashburger (participating locations) |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Movie for Mature Audiences (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Krispy Kreme: Class of 2025 grads get 3 free doughnuts | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| Get a Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for 1¢ with purchase | All Day | $0.01 | Wendy’s (multiple locations) |
| Burger King: Free Hamburger with $1 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| Wine Wednesday -- half priced bottles of wine | All Day | Discounted | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| 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 |
| Uptown Unplugged: Chris Taylor & The Rumor | 11:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Romare Bearden Park |
| Wear flip flops and get a free smoothie at Tropical Smoothie Café | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Tropical Smoothie Cafe (multiple locations) |
| East Charlotte Farmers' Market | 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | McLawland Farms |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Chess Club at Matthews Library | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Matthews Library |
| Wednesday Night Live: Free admission to Uptown museums | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Silent Book Club at Troubadour Booksellers | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Troubadour Booksellers |
| Free Yoga | 5:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Chess Time! At West Boulevard Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Chess Club at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (formerly Beatties Ford Regional Library) |
| Adult (Off)Color Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Red Clay Ciderworks |
| Potions & Pixels Game Industry Gathering | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Stitch 'n' Bitch Craft Circle | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| The OG Boot Camp | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Brewhouse Yoga | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | $5.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Yoga for Mental Health | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | HopeWay |
| Games with Glen | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| 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 |
| Open Hearts Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| 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. |
Thursday, May 29, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habit Burger & Grill: Free Double Charburger with Cheese for teachers, nurses, military and first responders with $2 purchase | All Day | FREE | Habit Burger & Grill, participating locations |
| Get a Wendy's Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for 1¢ with purchase | All Day | $0.01 | Wendy’s (multiple 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 |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Chess Free Play at Mountain Island Library | 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm | FREE | Mountain Island Library |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| The Square Table: Community Chess | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Library |
| 5th Street Live | 5:00 pm | FREE | Truist Center Plaza |
| Fitness in the Park: Move & Groove | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Romare Bearden Park |
| Community Run Club | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Patagonia Charlotte |
| Oh, You’re Reading Again Book Club Meetup | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | That’s Novel Books |
| Music at the Met | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| The Bridges Project Launch Party at Charlotte Art League | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Art League |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Anne Springs Close Greenway's Rooted Rhythm Concert Series: Party Parrot Band | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.00 | Anne Springs Close Greenway |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Gastonia Concert Series: Gabriel Sanchez presents The Prince Experience | 6:00 pm | FREE | Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia |
| Name the Music at Rhino Market & Deli South End | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rhino Market South End |
| LangTree Live Concert Series | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Live music: Colby Dobbs & The Matthews House Cats | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moo & Brew, Matthews |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Trivia at Pilot Brewing | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Line Dancing at The Rose, including a lesson for beginners | 8:30 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | The Rose Honky Tonk |
