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, November 19, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Learning for Littles Story Time at Stowe's Trailhead Store | 9:00 am to 9:45 am | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| EXPLORE: Community Concert Series: Kenya Templeton | 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Free Wednesday Evening at Museum 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 | |
| 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 |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| The OG Boot Camp | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| 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, Pineville |
| Wednesday Night Yoga | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
Thursday, November 20, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birding at Stevens Creek | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Uptown -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Free "Explore Creative Art" classes for adults and teens | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| 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 |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Yappy Hour Thurstdays | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Plaza Midwood |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Name the Music at Rhino Market & Deli South End | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rhino Market South End |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Clockwork Knotwork | 6:30 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
Friday, November 21, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Friday Morning Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Friday Fire and S'mores | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks in Concord | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Concord |
| Karaoke Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Karaoke Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Karaoke Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
Saturday, November 22, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Skating at The Bowl at Ballantyne (time varies by day) | All Day | $12.00-20.00 | |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Arts & Crafts Extravaganza at Matthews UMC | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Matthews United Methodist Church |
| LKN Cars and Coffee | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Help with Rail Trail Clean-Up and get a free drink | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | New Bern Light Rail Station |
| Yap Ye Iswa Festival (celebration of Catawba culture) | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Catawba Cultural Center, Rock Hill |
| 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 |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| People of the World: Mexico | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | International House |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| 97th Concord Christmas Parade | 2:30 pm | Downtown Concord | |
| Sensory Hour at Waxhaw Touch-a-Truck | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Children's Entrepreneur Market -- part of Touch-a-Truck and tree lighting | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Waxhaw Downtown Park |
| Waxhaw Touch-a-Truck and Tree Lighting (including visits with Santa) | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| Good Vibes Market | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing, W Morehead |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Frozen | 6:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
