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:
Friday, August 29, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friday Morning Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Matthews Alive (All-You-Can-Ride Wristband Night) | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| Food Truck Friday | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Gardens at Stowe: $5 after 5 | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Live Music: Adam Daniels | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Live music: The Vel Crows | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Live Music: Butter and Grit | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| 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 |
| Outdoor Movie: The Three Muskateers | 7:30 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
Saturday, August 30, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caffeine and Chrome | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Gateway Classic Cars, Concord |
| Labor Day celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center | 9:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Matthews Alive Labor Day Parade | 9:30 am | Downtown Matthews | |
| Smart Start of Mecklenburg County Community Resource Fair | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Ella B. Scarborough Community Resource Center |
| The Battle of Charlotte Battle Reenactment and Living History Weekend | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | Museum of the Waxhaws |
| Matthews Alive | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| 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 |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Mint 2 Move for Kids: Free bilingual program at Mint Museum Randolph | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| OMB Sausage Fest (free admission; pay for food and drink) | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| OMB Sausage Fest (free admission; pay for food and drink) | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Craft Music -- Workshop and Showcase from Charlotte New Music: DJ Workshop and Music/Dance Party | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| 4th Annual Queen City Arts Festival | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| Pride Encore | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Pet Vendor Pop Up | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Three Brothers Animal Rescue Adoption Event | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| K-Pop Stan Fest | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| Pop-Up Market | 1:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Coal Miner's Day | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| 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 |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, E. Arrowood Road |
| Bar Olympics Tournament ($25 per 4-person team) | 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $25.00 | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Beergarden BBQ Cookoff | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Riddim and Brews | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music: Confetti Cannon | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music: Hustle Souls | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live music: Ben Hagerty | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Live Music: Scott Lowder | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music: DJ Teddy Bear (Honky-Tonk Night) | 8:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Matilda | 8:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
Sunday, August 31, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baskin Robbins: 31% off scoops | All Day | Discounted | Baskin-Robbins, multiple locations |
| Birding Basics (1 to 2 mile hike) | 8:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| Labor Day celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center | 9:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| The Battle of Charlotte Battle Reenactment and Living History Weekend | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | Museum of the Waxhaws |
| Sunday Fundays | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Gilde Brewery |
| QC Fitness Games | 11:00 am to 12:15 pm | $5.00 | Pearl Street Park |
| Charlotte Flow Arts in the Park | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Matthews Alive | 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| Something Brewing: Fusion Jam Sessions | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, W. Arrowood Road |
| Live Music: Crystal Fountains Duo | 3:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet at McDowell Nature Preserve (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Soul Sundays (free, but donations accepted) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Live music: Grady Drugg (guitarist for Willi Carlisle) w/ Wes Hamilton | 5:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Free Comedy Open Mic at The Royal Tot | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
| Sam on Someday Music Event | 7:30 pm | $8.00-11.55 | The Evening Muse |
Monday, September 1, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Matthews Alive | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| Charlotte Labor Day Parade | 11:00 am | FREE | Center City Charlotte–Trade and Tryon |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Tuesday, September 2, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple locations) | |
| MODA Digital Arts Open Studio Oasis (pre-registration required) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Bring your own mug (any size) and get it filled for $6 | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 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 |
| Social Paddle Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | King Canary Brewing, Mooresville |
| Tosco Music Open Mic | 6:30 pm | $5.36 | The Evening Muse |
| Bunco at Hoptown | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hoptown Brewing Company, Mooresville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Name the Music at Wobbly Butt Tap Room & Eatery | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Victory Lanes, Mooresville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Piano Karaoke & Sing Along with Ryan Stamey | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00 | Petra’s |
