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:
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 |
| 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. |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| [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 |
Tuesday, April 14, 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 Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Eastway Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Ben & Jerry’s, multiple locations |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Board Game Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Troop Trope Smutty Book Club | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Charlotte VegFest Jr. | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Victoria Yards |
| Reception, Performance and Conversation for The Trout Who Found the River | 6:30 pm | FREE | Wells Fargo Atrium |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Pub Trivia | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| GospelSHOUT Concert | 7:30 pm | FREE | United House of Prayer for All People |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| 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 Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| EXPLORE: Community Concert Series: Spoken word artist Jah Smalls | 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Puzzle & Pint Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| East Charlotte Farmers' Market | 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | McLawland Farms |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| FOMO: Museum Block Party | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Levine Center for the Arts |
| 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 | |
| Food Distribution Event | 5:30 pm | FREE | |
| Gaston Draws: The Figure Series (Open session; registration required) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station, Dallas |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Wednesday Crafting Circle | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| The Gaming Lounge Video Gaming Pop-Up | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Weekly Bluegrass Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Brewhouse Yoga (includes a free beer taster) | 6:30 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Open House at MakerSpace CLT | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Makerspace Charlotte |
| Open Mic at Summit Coffee Basecamp | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Left Right Center Game Night | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Wednesday Jazz Jam with The Lovell Bradford Trio and Guests at VisArt Video (suggested $10 donation) | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | VisArt Video | |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Open Shag Dancing | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Puzzle Race and Half-Priced Wine | 7:00 pm | Discounted | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, April 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| 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 |
| Birding at Stevens Creek | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Eastway Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Uptown -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| 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 |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| SouthPark After 5: Coconut Groove Band | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Symphony Park |
| Small Business Networking Event | 6:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| 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 |
| Neoteric April Book Club | 6:30 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Sketchbook Swap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| 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 |
