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, November 14, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Military Appreciation Week at North Carolina Zoo - free admission for military member plus a guest | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | North Carolina Zoo |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 10:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Friday Fire and S'mores | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Food Truck Friday | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| 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 |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Outdoor Movie Night at Triple C | 7:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Live Music: FULLER | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
Saturday, November 15, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Pilates in the Park at Prosperity Village | 8:00 am to 9:00 am | FREE | The Green at Prosperity Village |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Free Tree Pruning Workshop and Arboretum Tour at Tuckaseegee Arboretum & Gardens | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Arboretum and Gardens |
| 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 | FREE | Mint Hill Library |
| TurnUp for College -- event for students and parents | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Harding University High School |
| Free Produce Drive-Through | 9:00 am | FREE | Second Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids Workshop: Letter Box | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| The Geekery Market (parking is $10) | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Rural Hill |
| Free Mobile Food Distribution with Food for Families NC | 10:00 am | FREE | Elevation Church Matthews |
| 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 |
| Mini Pop-Up Art Market at Native American Studies Center in Lancaster, SC | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Native American Studies Center, Lancaster, SC |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Sunny's Market Pop-Up Market | 10:30 am to 4:30 pm | FREE | Atrium Health Ballpark, Kannapolis |
| Autumn Artisans Workshop | 11:00 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Romanian-American Festival | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Santa picture with dogs | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $10.00 | Subaru South Charlotte |
| Maker's Market CLT at Burial Beer Co. | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Burial Beer Co., Charlotte |
| Native American Studies Center: Gallery Gatherings Guided Tour | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Native American Studies Center, Lancaster, SC |
| Starving Artist Market at Prosperity Village | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Docia Crossing Road |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Free recycling class for kids | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Maker's Market CLT at Primal Brewery Huntersville | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Coulwood Hills Fall Festival | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Coulwood Hills Clubhouse |
| Langtree Lake Norman Tree Lighting | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Kannapolis Tree Lighting Ceremony | 6:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| CabCo Movie Series: Harry Potter 3 | 6:30 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Saturday Live Music | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Night Market: Christmas Edition | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Sunday, November 16, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials and Dog Festival | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Historic Rural Hill |
| Sunday Fundays | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Gilde Brewery |
| Free Health Clinic | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Free Figure Drawing | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Sunday Drink It | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Discounted | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Fall Storytime and Craft | 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Classic Cruisers of Monroe Cruise-In | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Poplin Place Shopping Center, Monroe |
| Something Brewing: Fusion Jam Sessions | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Shakedown Sundays | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Korea in the Queen City: Korean Culture Lecture Series -- Understanding "Hanok" | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery |
| Live Music Sunday | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Appalachian Folk Tunes by Old Time Band | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Soul Sundays (free, but donations accepted) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Korea in the Queen City: Korean Cooking Class -- Roll Your Own Kimbab | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $15.00 | Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
Monday, November 17, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| 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 |
| Van Jams: Singer Songwriter Round | 7:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Arts at the Abbey: Kevin Lawrence, violin, with Polina Khatsko, piano | 8:00 pm | FREE | Belmont Abbey College |
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Southern Christmas Show (Save $4 on advance tickets with promo code) | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| 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 |
| BYOM Tap It Tuesdays | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC Tree Lighting Festival | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bank of America Stadium |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Dart League | 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 |
