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, December 28, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Figure Drawing | 11:00 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Charlotte Studio Artists' Family Fun Day | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Sunday Drink It | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Discounted | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Boileryard Brunch at Camp North End (free to attend; pay for food and drink) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Sip & Stitch | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Live Music Sunday | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Soul Sundays (free, but donations accepted) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Bluegrass Jam Circle Hosted by Charlotte Folk Society | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Movement School |
Monday, December 29, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Nature Book and Look | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Winter Wonderland: Collages | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Movement School |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| National Bacon Day: 1¢ Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger with any purchase in the app | All Day | $0.01 | Wendy’s (multiple locations) |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Winter Wonderland: Winter Wreaths | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Silent Book Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Movement School |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Baskin Robbins: 31% off scoops | All Day | Discounted | Baskin-Robbins, multiple locations |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| New Year’s Eve Puppet Show and Bubble Party | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Mecklenburg Library — Pineville |
| Noon Year's Eve Party in Matthews for Families | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | $10.00 | Matthews Community Center |
| Noon Year's Eve Celebration | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Myers Park Library |
| Pineville Teen New Year’s Party | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Mecklenburg Library — Pineville |
| Noon Year's Eve at Schiele Museum | 11:00 am | $10.00-12.00 | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Rockin' Noon Year's Eve | 11:15 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | ImaginOn |
| Countdown Storytime | 11:15 am to 12:15 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library (new location) |
| Noon Year's Eve Dance Party | 11:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | North County Regional Library |
| Noon Year's Eve Countdown | 11:30 am to 12:15 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Noon Year's Eve Puppet Show | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Independence Regional Library |
| Early New Year's Eve Party at Ames Street Marketplace (free sandwiches, early ball drop, more) | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
| End of the Year Hike | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| ImaginYOU: Teen Loft New Year’s Eve Hang Out | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | ImaginOn |
| Countdown to Ten: A New Year's Eve Celebration | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| New Year’s Eve BINGO and Bubble Dance Party | 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Mecklenburg Library — Pineville |
| Live music: Crystal Fountains | 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Vaulted Oak Brewing |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| New Year's Eve Luminary Walk (and campfire with s'mores and cocoa) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00-6.00 | Latta Nature Preserve |
| New Year's Eve at Carowinds Winterfest (big discount available!) | 5:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| New Year's Eve at Super Abari Game Bar, with rooftop Mario drop | 5:00 pm | FREE | Super Abari Game Bar |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| New Year's Eve Board Game Ball Drop Party at Luck Factory Games | 5:30 pm | $12.00 | Luck Factory Games, Concord |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Wednesday Crafting Circle | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration and African Marketplace | 6:00 pm to 9:15 pm | FREE | Movement School |
| New Year's Eve Party | 7:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| New Year's Eve at Coyote Joe's, including $1,300 in cash giveaways and more | 7:00 pm | $14.00 | Coyote Joe’s |
| Open Mic at Summit Coffee Basecamp | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Open Hearts Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Puzzle Race and Half-Priced Wine | 7:00 pm | Discounted | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Watch New Year's Eve Ball Drop in Times Square | 8:00 pm | FREE | Virtual |
| CLT NYE | 8:00 pm | $16.00 | Truist Field |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
| NYE Red Carpet Glam at Starlight on 22nd | 9:00 pm | $25.00 | Starlight on 22nd |
| New Year's Eve with Live Music at Snug Harbor | 9:00 pm | $15.00 | Snug Harbor |
| New Year's Eve NEON Party at Seoul Food (South End) | 9:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| New Year's Eve with Randy Franklin & The Sardines | 9:30 pm | FREE | The Tipsy Burro |
Thursday, January 1, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| First Day Hike at Lake Norman State Park (follow link for exact address) | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Lake Norman State Park |
| Historic Rural Hill's New Year's Day First Footin' | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | $6.76 | Historic Rural Hill |
| Free Soup Day for New Year's Day | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| 5th annual Chili Cook-Off (taste for free with one beverage purchase) | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Vaulted Oak Brewing |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Kwanzaa Charlotte Celebration | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Greenville Memorial AME Zion Church |
