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:
Thursday, April 9, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| AutoFair | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | $11.95 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Mobile Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Elevation Church, Concord |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| IKEA Spring Break: Paper Rockets | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | IKEA |
| UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale (members and campus community only) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Lot 5, UNC Charlotte (near Botanical Gardens) |
| ArtBreak at Bechtler Museum -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: African Drumming | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | West Charlotte Recreation Center |
| Free Community Night at The Gardens at Stoweden | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Live Music: Raymond Franklin | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| Music on Main in Pineville | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Mooreoke Karaoke w/ KJ Notorious J.A.M. | 8:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, April 10, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| AutoFair | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | $23.90 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Friday Morning Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Lot 5, UNC Charlotte (near Botanical Gardens) |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| IKEA Spring Break: Paint a Plant Pot | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | IKEA |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| 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 |
| Car Cruise-In in Downtown Monroe | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| Live Music Friday | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Live Music: Eternally Grateful | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Belmont Drive-In Opening Weekend: Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary (price is per carload) | 6:00 pm | $25.00 | Belmont Drive-In |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Open Mic at Access 21 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| Whitewater Film Series: A Triple Feature presented by Arc'teryx | 7:15 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Live Music: The Great Octopus Band | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Laugh at Lenny: FREE Comedy Show | 8:00 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Whitewater Film Series: Reel Rock | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Live music: Lilith Rising // No More People // Dark Sun Kult | 8:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, April 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Live Music: The Normz | 8:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| AutoFair | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | $23.90 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Spring Plant Sale at Pascuales' Farm | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Pascuales’ Farm |
| Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale (some free plants!) | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | N.C. Cooperative Extension, Mecklenburg County Center |
| UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens Spring Plant Sale | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Lot 5, UNC Charlotte (near Botanical Gardens) |
| Artist Yard Sale | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Gettys Center, Rock Hill |
| Free Drive-Thru Market in Kannapolis: Produce and eggs | 9:00 am | FREE | Second Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis |
| Lydia's Prom Closet: open for free prom dresses, suits, shoes, accessories | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | First Baptist Church Huntersville |
| Chalk the Walk | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Mount Holly Municipal Compex |
| Repair Cafe at Innovation Barn -- partner with volunteers to repair your stuff (free with $5 suggested donation) | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Charlotte Earth Day | 10:00 am to 3:30 pm | FREE | Independent Picture House |
| VTGCLT Spring Vintage Market | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $3.00-8.00 | Camp North End |
| Sprout n' Shout Spring Festival at Hampton Homestead Farm in Gastonia (price is per car) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | $20.00 | Hampton Homestead Farm, Gastonia |
| Common Market Oakwold Presents Common-Con | 10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| Kids Market at Charlotte SHOUT! | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Super Saturday at ImaginOn -- puppet shows, puppet karaoke, face painting, more... | 10:30 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | ImaginOn |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing SouthPark |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Rice Family's Imagination Weekend at Cabarrus Brewing Co. | 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Maker's Market CLT at Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall |
| Regional Festival of India @ Matthews | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Sweetheart Market: Fairy Tales & Fuzzy Tails | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Saturday Live Music | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Discounted | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music Saturday | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Sugar Creek's Spring Concert Series: Michael Tracey | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| VAPA Center Night Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Belmont Drive-In Opening Weekend: Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Project Hail Mary (price is per carload) | 6:00 pm | $25.00 | Belmont Drive-In |
| Live Music: The Normz | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Requiem: Pterodactyl Night w/ DJ Velvetine // DJ Sanity Ana // DJ Christian Hoefle | 9:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
Sunday, April 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| NC Pint Day | 9:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Wooden Robot Brewery (South End) |
| Lattes & Locals Market | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Night Swim Roastery and Cafe |
| [sold out] Free Intro to Mah Jongg workshops at Savona Mill (registration required) | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Savona Mill |
| Cambodian New Year Celebration | 10:30 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Cambodian Buddhist Society |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| STEAMfest 2025 | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Woodlawn School, Mooresville |
| Charlotte StrEATs Festival | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| April Plant Swap | 12:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| The Trout Who Found the River | 1:00 pm | FREE | Wells Fargo Atrium |
| Charlotte Chili Cookoff | 1:00 pm | $19.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Sunday Live Music | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Rice Family's Imagination Weekend at Cabarrus Brewing Co. | 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| [sold out] Free Intro to Mah Jongg workshops at Savona Mill (registration required) | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Savona Mill |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| The Trout Who Found the River | 3:00 pm | FREE | Wells Fargo Atrium |
| The Trout Who Found the River | 5:00 pm | FREE | Wells Fargo Atrium |
| Downtown Jazz Jam, featuring Winthrop University Swingin' Eagles | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
Monday, April 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| Nature Book and Look | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Nature Nerds Walk & Talk | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Dance for All Abilities | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Afro-Brazilian Fitness | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ivory Baker Recreation Center |
| Free line dancing lesson | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Ghouls Night Out at VisArt Video -- campy movie with commentary by puppets | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Open Mic Mondays | 7:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
