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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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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Thursday, July 3, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowe's YMCA: Field of Flags | All Day | FREE | Lowes YMCA |
| Trails and Tales: free monthly event for kids at Cabarrus County parks | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Rob Wallace Park, Midland |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| ArtBreak at the Gantt: Free lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| 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 |
| Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration, including fireworks | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Queen Charlotte Fair | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-12.00 | Route 29 Pavilion, Concord |
| Town of Matthews Independence Day Concert and Celebration | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Paws and Pints | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Yappy Hour Thurstdays | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Plaza Midwood |
| Music at the Met | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Bluegrass Jam | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Fort Mill Independence Day Celebration | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Walter Elisha Park, Fort Mill SC |
| Cherryville's Independence Day Celebration | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Cherryville |
| 4th of July Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center (free admission; $12 parking) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Lowe's YMCA: Field of Flags Ceremony and 4th of July Fireworks | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lowes YMCA |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| 4th of July Celebration in Stanley | 6:00 pm | FREE | Harper Park, Stanley |
| Charlotte Knights game, followed by SkyShow fireworks show (price varies) | 6:05 pm | Truist Field | |
| Name the Music at Rhino Market & Deli South End | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rhino Market South End |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Cannon Ballers game, followed by fireworks (price varies) | 6:30 pm | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis | |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Thinkin and Drinkin Trivia | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Music Bingo Night with Mel | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Trivia at Pilot Brewing | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End: Legally Blonde 2 | 8:30 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Watch SkyShow fireworks from Romare Bearden Park (time approximate) | 8:30 pm | FREE | Romare Bearden Park |
| Town of Matthews 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular | 9:30 pm | FREE | Sportsplex at Matthews |
Friday, July 4, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th of July Food Deals and Freebies | All Day | Various locations | |
| Krispy Kreme: free doughnut if you wear red, white and blue | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| Lowe's YMCA: Field of Flags | All Day | FREE | Lowes YMCA |
| Free Fishing Day in North Carolina on 4th of July | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Unionville 4th of July Car Show | 8:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Unionville Elementary School, Monroe |
| 4th of July Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center (free admission; $12 parking) | 8:30 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Tega Cay 4th of July Land Parade | 9:00 am | FREE | Various locations |
| Harrisburg 4th of July Parade | 9:00 am | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Baxter Village July 4th Parade | 9:30 am | FREE | Baxter Village |
| Birkdale Village 4th of July Celebration: bike parade and block party | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Town of Waxhaw's Independence Day Parade | 10:00 am | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| July 4th Parade in Indian Trail | 10:00 am | FREE | Downtown Indian Trail |
| July 4th Celebration at VFW Post 2423 in Indian Trail -- free hot dogs and ice cream, bounce house, more... | 10:45 am | FREE | James B. Crump VFW Post 2423, Indian Trail |
| Independence Day celebration at Charlotte Museum of History, including U.S. Oath and Naturalization Ceremony | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Museum of History |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Rock Hill's Red, White & BOOM! | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration, including fireworks | 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Fourth of July | 4:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| First Fridays Pineville | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| City of Monroe 4th of July Celebration and Fireworks | 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| City of Gastonia Fireworks Show | 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia |
| Asian Night Market | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Free Uber, Lyft and Cab Ride | 5:00 pm | FREE | |
| Davidson's 4th of July Patriotic Stroll | 5:30 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Buffett & Beyond | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| South End Gallery Crawl | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic South End |
| Maker's Market CLT at Primal Brewery Huntersville | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Summer Residency Showcase at Goodyear Arts | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Goodyear Arts |
| Kings Mountain's Revolutionary 4th | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Deal Park Walking Track, Kings Mountain, NC |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Red, White and Belmont -- 4th of July Celebration | 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Belmont's Friday Night Live: 80z Nation | 6:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Indian Land Fireworks Extravaganza | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Indian Land YMCA |
| Fireworks in York, South Carolina | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | York Middle School |
| Friday Night Live Music at Confluence | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Lincolnton 4th of July Parade | 8:30 pm | FREE | Court Square, Lincolnton |
| Tega Cay's 4th of July Fireworks | 9:00 pm | FREE | Glennon Community Center, Tega Cay, SC |
| Lincolnton 4th of July Fireworks | 9:30 pm | FREE | City Park, Lincolnton |
Saturday, July 5, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Lowe's YMCA: Field of Flags | All Day | FREE | Lowes YMCA |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Streetside Classics -- Charlotte Caffeine and Classics | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Streetside Classics Charlotte |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Toucan Mobile | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| 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 |
| Bowl Street Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Tega Cay Boat Parade | 11:00 am to 6:30 pm | FREE | Windjammer Park, Tega Cay |
| Concord Creates: An Exhibition of Local Artists -- Reception and artist talks | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | ClearWater Arts Center & Studios |
| Mash-Up Market -- Father's Day Edition | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
| Queen Charlotte Fair | 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $7.00-12.00 | Route 29 Pavilion, Concord |
| Tega Cay 4th of July: Carolina Show Ski Performance | 12:00 pm | FREE | Windjammer Park, Tega Cay |
| Manifest Market | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Summer Block Party, with Rock, Paper, Scissors Contest | 2:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Live Music: James Delco | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Concerts @ the Circles: Stella Rising | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Maker's Market at Pilot Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Live Music: Elonzo Wesley | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music: Remington Cartee Band | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Tega Cay Music in the Park | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Runde Park, Tega Cay |
| Uncle Sam Jam | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Runde Park, Tega Cay |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: A Goofy Movie | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Open Mic Comedy Night at Dish Restaurant | 10:00 pm | FREE | Dish |
Sunday, July 6, 2025
Monday, July 7, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moe's: Wear a band t-shirt on National Day of Rock-n-Roll for a BOGO entrée | All Day | Discounted | Moe’s Southwest Grill, participating locations |
| 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 |
| Nerd Night + Free Pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| 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 |
