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, September 4, 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 |
| National Wildlife Day | 9:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Grand Opening of Rewind: A Goodwill Record & Media Store | 10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Rewind: A Goodwill Record & Media Store, Matthews |
| 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 |
| Matthews Alive (All-You-Can-Ride Wristband Night) | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| 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 |
| Asian Night Market | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Rock the Park: Big 80s Tribute Band | 6:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| South End Gallery Crawl | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic South End |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Open Mic at Access 21 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, September 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Home Depot Kids Workshop: School Bus Organizer | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Labor Day celebration at Whitewater Center (free, but $13 for parking) | 9:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Caffeine and Classics Car Show at Streetside Classics | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Streetside Classics Charlotte |
| Matthews Alive Labor Day Parade | 9:30 am | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| Charlotte Soul Fest | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Matthews Alive | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown 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 |
| Belmont Bookshop's Literary Festival | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Bowl Street Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Front Porch Charlotte | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte |
| VAPA Center Open Studios | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Concerts @ The Circles: Rivermist (Variety) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Live Music: Adam Daniels | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Movies in the Park: Barbie | 6:30 pm | FREE | Wilmore Centennial Park at South End |
| 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 6, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Labor Day celebration at Whitewater Center (free, but $13 for parking) | 9:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Labor Day Weekend Market | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The River District |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| Shop Local Sundays Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | Camp North End | |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Matthews Alive | 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| Mint Hill Car Show -- Hot Rods on the Lawn | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A Mint Hill |
| Mobile Market Pop-Up Pantry -- get a FREE Zealous Meal Kit | 2:00 pm | FREE | Keith Family YMCA |
| Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Kids | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $15.00 | Discovery Place Kids |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Free Live Music Sundays | 3:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Downtown Jazz Jam | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill |
Monday, September 7, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews Alive | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Matthews |
| Charlotte Labor Day Parade | 11:00 am | FREE | Center City Charlotte–Trade and Tryon |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Labor Day Bash with Josh Daniel | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| 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 |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Star Wars Summer Movie Series | 7:15 pm | FREE | Ben & Jerry’s Davidson |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
Tuesday, September 8, 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 |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 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 |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Troop Trope Smutty Book Club | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
