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:
Monday, July 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple locations) |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Mindful Mondays: 20% off N/A beers and alcohol free drinks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Mountain Island Photography Club | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Mountain Island Library |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | The Barrel Room at Triple C, South End |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| World Tavern Poker | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
| Ghouls Night Out at VisArt Video -- campy movie with commentary by puppets [donations at door] | 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple 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 |
| $8 beer flights | Discounted | Crafty Beer Guys Taproom & Bottle Shop, Huntersville | |
| Dress like a cow for free entrée on Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-fil-A | 7:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A, 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 |
| Free Kids' Yoga (registration required) | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Gluten Freedom: TWO days of gluten free pizza and beer | 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm | Monday Night Garden Brewing Co. | |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Puppet Tuesday: Fab Puppets -- sock puppet workshop | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Taster Tuesdays: half off beer flights, 20% off top shelf bourbon, $4 shooters, and 20% off snacks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Cook Out Summer Shootout. Bring a toy donation and get $5 off admission | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $0-13.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Troop Trope Smutty Book Club | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Wednesday, July 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple 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 |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Storytelling with Donna Washington | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| Live on the Plaza -- free live art and performances at Duke Energy Plaza | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Duke Energy Plaza |
| Gluten Freedom: TWO days of gluten free pizza and beer | 12:00 pm to 10:30 pm | Monday Night Garden Brewing Co. | |
| 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 | |
| Gaston Draws: The Figure Series (Open session; registration required) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station, Dallas |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Stitch N' Bitch | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| The Gaming Lounge Video Gaming Pop-Up | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Open Mic at Jambox | 6:30 pm | FREE | Jambox |
| Weekly Bluegrass Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, July 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Salad Chick: Free scoop for National Chicken Salad Day | All Day | FREE | Chicken Salad Chick, multiple locations |
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple locations) |
| As You Like It Waxhaw -- free Shakespeare performances | 10:00 am | FREE | Waxhaw Downtown Park |
| 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 |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Uptown -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| 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 |
| Storytelling with Donna Washington | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library-Concord |
| 3rd Thursday: Opening Reception for Reimagining the Masters | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Pageland Watermelon Festival (family rides) | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Pageland |
| LaLaCaboosa Downtown Music Series in Huntersville: Shag Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| 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 |
| Meck Sounds: The Hitmen Party Band | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pearl Street Park |
| Art After Dark at the Gantt Center: Family Reunion | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $19.14 | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| The Lost Years Movie Series: The Matrix | 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 |
| Charlotte Chess Center Meet-up at Resident Culture Brewing | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| 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 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple locations) |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| As You Like It Waxhaw -- free Shakespeare performances | 10:00 am | FREE | Waxhaw Downtown Park |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Summer Reading Pizza Party with Beyond Blue -- free book, free pizza, more! | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Beyond Blue Neighborhood Center |
| Pageland Watermelon Festival | 5:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Downtown Pageland |
| 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 |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Live Music: David Childers & The Serpents | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery |
| Gothic Punk Night Market | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius | |
| Pigeon Hole Improv Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Jammin' On the 1 -- jam session at Access 21 Studios | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| 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 |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Movies in the Park: How to Train Your Dragon | 8:45 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
