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:
Saturday, July 18, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple locations) |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Showing All World Cup Matches (times vary) | All Day | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Carnivorous Plant Pop-Up at Charlotte Regional Farmers' Market | 8:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Regional Farmers Market |
| Cartoons & Coffee: Plar Express | 8:30 am | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Free Strength and Self-Defense Day -- Community event for adults | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Core Combat Academies |
| Hands-On Tea Blending Workshop | 9:30 am to 11:30 am | $25.00 | The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary |
| Santa at Unsheltered Tortoise and Turtle Sanctuary (Registration is required!) | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | $10.00 | UnshelteredNC — Tortoise and Turtle Rescue |
| Brickapolis: LEGO Fan Event | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| 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 |
| As You Like It Waxhaw -- free Shakespeare performances | 10:00 am | FREE | Waxhaw Downtown Park |
| Creek Crawl | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Kidz & Co: FREE Make Your Own Bird Feeder | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Queen City Questival: Free gaming festival | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library (new location) |
| Saturday Swap: Kitchen & Cookware Swap | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Ballantyne Village Pop-up Market | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Ballantyne Village |
| People of the World: Argentina | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | International House |
| Pageland Watermelon Festival | 12:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Downtown Pageland |
| Santa at Unsheltered Tortoise and Turtle Sanctuary (Registration is required!) | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $10.00 | UnshelteredNC — Tortoise and Turtle Rescue |
| Screening of The Extraordinary Caterpillar, with reception and Q&A (registration is required) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Independent Picture House |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Pints & Progress | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Wag Fest for a Cause | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Zoom Room Huntersville |
| 36th Street Market | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| Concerts @ The Circles: Buffett & Beyond (Jimmy Buffett Tribute) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius | |
| Mint Hill Family Fun Night Concert: Vinyl Live | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park |
| Stories Under the Stars: B-Rad Kids Magicians | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| 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: The Sandlot | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fourth Ward Park |
| Saturday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
Sunday, July 19, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple locations) |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Showing All World Cup Matches (times vary) | All Day | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Plant Swap & Shop | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Classic Cruisers of Monroe Cruise-In | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Poplin Place Shopping Center, Monroe |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Whimsical Nature Crafts | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Free Musical Theatre Workshop with material from SHREK (registration required) | 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Academy of Music |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Love, Compassion & Comedy: Four short plays (pay what you can) | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Providence Presbyterian Church |
| American Guild of Organists Summer Recital Series: Matthew Noonan | 4:00 pm | FREE | Messiah Lutheran Church |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Free Comedy Open Mic at The Royal Tot | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
Monday, July 20, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Vision to Learn: Free eye exams for kids (registration is required) | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Embrace All Latino Voices |
| Nature Book and Look | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Ben & Jerry's Scooper Olympics | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Ben & Jerry’s Davidson |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Mindful Mondays: 20% off N/A beers and alcohol free drinks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| 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 |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| World Tavern Poker | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 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 |
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| $8 beer flights | Discounted | Crafty Beer Guys Taproom & Bottle Shop, Huntersville | |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Free Kids' Yoga (registration required) | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Puppet Tuesday: Builders (free puppet show from Asheville Creative Arts) | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Taster Tuesdays: half off beer flights, 20% off top shelf bourbon, $4 shooters, and 20% off snacks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Cook Out Summer Shootout. Christmas in July. Wear a Santa hat and get $5 off admission | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $0-13.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Sketchbook Swap | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Movie for Mature Audiences (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Short Pour Wednesdays: $3 12 oz pours of select beers | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Nature Crochet and Crafts | 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel 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 | |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Stitch N' Bitch | 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 |
| Bike Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| 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 |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Free Bingo at The Percantile and Creamery (win prizes!) | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Bark in the Ballpark at Charlotte Knights game (ticket price varies) | 7:04 pm | Truist Field | |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
