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).
Have you subscribed to Charlotte on the Cheap yet? Subscribers get one email a day. It's free to subscribe.
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
Thursday, September 11, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center | |
| 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 |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Thursdays on Main: The ToneZ | 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| 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) |
| Beer and Boardgames | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| 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 |
| Thinkin and Drinkin Trivia | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| 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 |
Friday, September 12, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Cheers to 6 Years | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lower Left Brewing |
| Panda Fest | 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-14.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center | |
| Live at the Amp: Beginnings (Tribute to Chicago) | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | $15.00 | The Amp, Ballantyne |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| LaLaCaboosa Downtown Music Series in Huntersville -- Latino Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Matthews Beats 'n Bites Outdoor Concert: Blue Monday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| 2nd Friday Street Festival in Old Town Cornelius | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Oak Street Mill |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Friday Night Live Music at Confluence | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| 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 |
| Movies in the Park: Wicked | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
Saturday, September 13, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Rabies Clinic at Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | CMPD Animal Care and Control |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Hickory Grove Library |
| 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 |
| Panda Fest | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | $12.00-16.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Cheers to 6 Years | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lower Left Brewing |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center | |
| 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 |
| Nebel's Alley Night Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Superica |
| Food truck and movie night at The Green at Prosperity Village: E.T. | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Green at Prosperity Village |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Gospelfest | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Greggie & The Jets | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| VAPA Center: Night Market Studios | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Rockin' The Burg | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Rock the Hops Summer Concert Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Lights, Camera, Birkdale: Inside Out | 7:30 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Outdoor Movie Night: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? | 7:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
Sunday, September 14, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Panda Fest | 10:00 am to 8:00 pm | $10.00-14.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| QC Fitness Games | 11:00 am to 12:15 pm | $5.00 | Veterans Park (Central Avenue) |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Something Brewing: Fusion Jam Sessions | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Alpaca Farm Tours at Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch in Concord | 1:00 pm | $12.00 | Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch, Concord |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Free Comedy Open Mic at The Royal Tot | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
Monday, September 15, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| 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 |
