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:
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Eastway Recreation Center |
| The Soft Return: Music Therapy for Postpartum Moms | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 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 |
| Puppet Tuesday: A Midnight Dreary -- From the Mind of Edgar Allen Poe | 4:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Free Fall Fitness Series on the SouthPark Loop | 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | The Colony |
| Troop Trope Smutty Book Club | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Jackpot Karaoke -- sing for a chance to win $100 (no judges, just luck!) | 7:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Stooges Pub & Grill, Mint Hill |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Kids eat free at IKEA Swedish Restaurant, with adult entrée purchase | All Day | FREE | IKEA |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| MilkShake Factory: BOGO Special for National Dessert Day | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | MilkShake Factory, Charlotte Uptown |
| Short Pour Wednesdays: $3 12 oz pours of select beers | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Animal Care Behind the Scenes | 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Indie on Wheels: The Amazing Adventure of Marchello the Cat | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Steele Creek Library |
| 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 | |
| Vinyl Wednesday | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Eleven Lakes Book Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Vinyl Night at Vintage Vibes | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Vintage Vibes, Concord |
| 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. |
| Stories with Flavor: Bilingual Creative Writing Workshop | 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Open Mic Night w/ Keith Wilson | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| 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 |
| Left Right Center Game Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Open House at MakerSpace CLT | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Makerspace Charlotte |
| New Friends Book Club | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Open Mic at Summit Coffee Basecamp | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Hella Spell: A Team-Based Spelling Event | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Ted Lasso Season 2 Watch Party | 7:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Thursday, October 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 off chips & queso | Discounted | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. | |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: African Drumming | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | West Charlotte Recreation Center |
| Mint Hill Madness | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Pineville Fall Fest | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Jack Hughes Park, Pineville |
| Night Market at Pascuales' Farm, including vendors, farm tours, scavenger hunt, more | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Pascuales’ Farm |
| Uptown Live: Live music and DJs on Thursday evenings | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Truist Center Plaza |
| Masks and Magic: Halloween Mask Making at Charlotte Studio Artists | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| 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 |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Horror and Scary Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Charlotte Chess Center Meet-up at Resident Culture Brewing | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Crossroads Cinema: Little Shop of Horrors | 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Friday, October 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Move Beyond: Learn Contemporary and Cambodian Dance in free classes | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Open Door Studios |
| The Soft Return: Music Therapy for Postpartum Moms | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Huntersville Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Mint Hill Madness | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park |
| Matthews Beats 'n Bites: Band of Oz | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| 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 |
| Pineville Fall Fest | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Jack Hughes Park, Pineville |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Blow in the Dark: Halloween Glass Blowing Demo in the Dark at Hot Glass Alley | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Gothic Punk Night Market | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: Nanny McPhee | 6:30 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Museum of the Waxhaws Haunted Trail | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00 | Museum of the Waxhaws |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Jammin' On the 1 -- jam session at Access 21 Studios | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| Line Dancing with Mary Mary | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 7:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Haunted Car Wash at Tiger Xpress | 7:15 pm to 11:30 pm | $29.00 | Tiger Xpress Car Wash, Mount Holly |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Craic |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 8:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Whitewater Film Series (free admission; $13 for parking) | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Saturday, October 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Football Saturdays | FREE | OpenTap | |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Free paper shredding with Mecklenburg County (must reserve a time slot) | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Compost Central and Recycling Center |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | Plaza Midwood Library | |
| Lincoln County Apple Festival | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Court Square, Lincolnton |
| Mush, Music & Mutts: NC Liver Mush Festival | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Uptown Shelby |
| Breast Cancer Awareness Walk | 9:30 am | Royal Giants Park, East Spencer | |
| Charlotte Corgi Club Racing Championship | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Renaissance Park |
| VTGCLT Fall Vintage Market | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $3.00-8.00 | Camp North End |
| Pineville Fall Fest | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Jack Hughes Park, Pineville |
| 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 |
| Silent Book Club | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Edge City Brewery |
| Kidz & Co: Leaf Monsters | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Retro PC and Video Game Swap Meet at Super Abari Game Bar | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Super Abari Game Bar |
| Community Wellness Event | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | American Legion Post 262 |
| The Great Costume Swap at Innovation Barn | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Mint Hill Madness | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park |
| Ballantyne Village Pop-up Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Ballantyne Village |
| Around the World in Objects: A World-Building Adventure with Listening Labs | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library |
| Meck County Golf Community Swing | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Sunset Hills Golf Course |
| Frank's Chili Fest in Plaza Midwood | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $0-20.00 | Thomas and Commonwealth |
| Free basketball clinic for kids (registration is required) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Charlotte Chalk Art Festival | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Cine Familiar Gratis / Free Movie Screening at ImaginOn: Book of Life | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | ImaginOn |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Lake Norman Diwali Celebration | 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Greek Dance Class | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral |
| Fort Mill Fall Festival | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Walter Elisha Park, Fort Mill SC |
| Our Bridge for Kids 13th International Fall Festival | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | OurBRIDGE for KIDS |
| Mischief and a Movie: The Addams Family | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Concerts @ The Circles: N-Spire (R&B / Variety) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| 15th Annual Nature at Night Festival | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $7.00 | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Reed GLOW Mine (advance tickets required) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Reed Gold Mine |
| "My First Checkers Game": Kids get $5 tickets | 6:00 pm | $5.00 | Bojangles — participating locations |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Museum of the Waxhaws Haunted Trail | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00 | Museum of the Waxhaws |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Haunted Car Wash at Tiger Xpress | 7:15 pm to 11:30 pm | $29.00 | Tiger Xpress Car Wash, Mount Holly |
| Saturday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
