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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Saturday, May 10, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tega Cay's Best Dam Food Festival | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Catawba Park, Tega Cay |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Free Rabies Clinic at Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | CMPD Animal Care and Control |
| Lydia's Prom Closet: open for free prom dresses, suits, shoes, accessories | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | First Baptist Church Huntersville |
| Shred Day in Indian Trail | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Indian Trail Town Hall |
| Charlotte Doodle Meetup | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Skiptown |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Free yoga class at Blakeney | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Blakeney |
| Mecklenburg 250: Charlotte History Festival | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Park |
| Eastside Farm and Community Day -- free petting zoo, farm tours, more... | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Moms: free admission to Carolina Raptor Center on Mother's Day Weekend | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Raptor Center |
| 7th Annual Foothills Folk Art Festival in Newton | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Newton, NC |
| Carolina Clay Matters Spring Pottery Festival | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Matthews Summerfest | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Gaston ReStore Spring Festival | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Gaston ReStore |
| Echoes of Africa: Free West African Dance Workshop | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Mother's Day Weekend Cinderella Meet and Greet | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Mall, Concord |
| Karaoke Night and Fundraiser | 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Family Chess Club at Mint Hill Library | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Library |
| Mocktail Class — Craft refreshing non-alcoholic drinks | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Steele Creek Community Place |
| Spring Starving Artist Market at High Branch Brewing | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | High Branch Brewing (Gibson Mill, Concord) |
| Nebel's Alley Night Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Superica |
| Live Music: Matt McKinley | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: The Chain | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Rockin' The Burg | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Live Music: Chris Wayne | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music: Crystal Fountains | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Rock the Hops Summer Concert Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Stonecrest Music at the Fountain Stage | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stonecrest at Piper Glen |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Outdoor Concert Series at Rea Farms: Diamond Dixie | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Stories Under the Stars: Shadow Puppets | 7:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Comedy Open Mic at Queen City Grounds | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Queen City Grounds |
| Pink Party | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
Sunday, May 11, 2025
Monday, May 12, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Dance for All Abilities | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm | FREE | Tyvola Senior Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Afro Beats Fitness Dance | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ivory Baker Recreation Center |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Puzzle Challenge | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night + Free Pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Comedy Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $5.00 | The Evening Muse |
| The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Price Bays at Topgolf (2 locations) | All Day | $15.00-30.00 | Various locations |
| Library Mobile Food Pantry with Hope Street Food Pantry (click to see location each week) | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Jazz Fitness | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| 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 |
| $2 Off Tuesdays | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 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 |
| An Unusually Lovely Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| 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 |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
| 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 | |
| Wine Wednesday -- half priced bottles of wine | All Day | Discounted | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Birkdale Buds -- activities for preschool children | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Golden Bull Bite Wednesdays at the West Complex | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Complex |
| Uptown Unplugged: CJ Baker Band | 11:30 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Romare Bearden Park |
| East Charlotte Farmers' Market | 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | McLawland Farms |
| Chess Club at Matthews Library | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Matthews Library |
| Wednesday Night Live: Free admission to Uptown museums | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Yoga | 5:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Chess Time! At West Boulevard Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Chess Club at Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (formerly Beatties Ford Regional Library) |
| QueerSpace Support Group with Creative Perspectives in Mt. Holly (age 18+) | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | $10.00 | Creative Perspectives, PLLC (Mt. Holly) |
| Eleven Lakes Book Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Adult (Off)Color Coloring Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Red Clay Ciderworks |
| Charlotte Craft Circle | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| The OG Boot Camp | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Brewhouse Yoga | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | $5.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Yoga for Mental Health | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | HopeWay |
| Games with Glen | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Tommy's Trivia | 6:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore 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 |
| 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 |
| Wednesday Night Yoga | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
