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, December 24, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: 2 free cookies with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| 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 | |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Christmas Eve Party | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Wednesday Crafting Circle | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Open Mic at Summit Coffee Basecamp | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| 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 |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, December 25, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, December 26, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Primal's Born to be Wild 11th Birthday Bash | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church |
| Outdoor Movie: Smallfoot | 6:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Friday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Queen City Siren | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Josh Sanders | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
Saturday, December 27, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Winter Wonderland: Coloring & Cocoa | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| 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 |
| Kwanzaa Celebration at the Gantt Center | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Howlidays at Skiptown: New Year's Pawty | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Skiptown |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Live Music: Adam Daniels | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Live Music: Marissa Lundsten | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Movement School |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Xtreme World Wrestling Winter Bash | 7:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music: Thrill the Band | 7:30 pm | FREE | The Casual Pint (Rivergate) |
| Live Music: Uptown Dueling Pianos | 8:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
Sunday, December 28, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Figure Drawing | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Charlotte Studio Artists' Family Fun Day | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Sunday Drink It | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Discounted | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Boileryard Brunch at Camp North End (free to attend; pay for food and drink) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Sip & Stitch | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Live Music Sunday | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Bluegrass Jam Circle Hosted by Charlotte Folk Society | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Movement School |
