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, September 10, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Piedmont Music Therapy: Community Grooves for Adolescents (registration required) | 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Thursdays on Main: Jim Quick & The Coastline | 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| 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 |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Percent Tap House, Harrisburg |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, September 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Music Therapy: Community Grooves for Seniors (registration required) | 9:30 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| LaLaCaboosa Downtown Music Series in Huntersville -- Latino Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Mount Holly Nights: 20 Ride | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Car Cruise-In in Downtown Monroe | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Movies in the Park: Coco | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, September 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | Mint Hill Library | |
| 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 |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| 2nd Saturday Makers' Meet-Up (Free, but $5 donation suggested for materials) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Free "Learn to Ride" Bike Event (free helmets available) | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Arbor Glen Outreach Center |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing SouthPark |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Robot Block Party | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Gastonia Concert Series: Finesse | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: The Chain (Fleetwood Mac Tribute) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| 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 |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Rockin' The Burg: Departure (Journey tribute band) | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Town of Dallas Summer Concert & Cruise-In: Daniel Jeffers | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | 210 N Holland Street, Dallas |
| Live Music at Patriots Park: Travis Powell as Elvis | 7:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
Sunday, September 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Common Table: Free dinner | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar, 7th Street |
Monday, September 14, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | The Barrel Room at Triple C, 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 |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
