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, April 17, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Free Fun Fridays with YScholars at Johnston YMCA | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Johnston YMCA |
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 43rd Annual Showcase of Woodcarvings | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Worrell Building, CPCC |
| Free Acting Workshop with material from The Spongebob Musical (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Academy of Music |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| 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 |
| Live Music: Avery Creek | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Backyard at Burial Artisan Market | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Mint Hill Rodeo | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-15.00 | McWhirter Rodeo Arena |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Friday Night Live Music: La Brava | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Spoke Easy |
| Nerd Nite Charlotte | 7:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Jammin' On the 1 -- jam session at Access 21 Studios | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Uptown Dueling Pianos | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Whitewater Film Series: The Badwater 135 | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| "Rockabilly Riot! The Revival" w/ DJ Christian Hoefle & DJ Dil3mma ( Emma Hoefle) | 9:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, April 18, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voices from the Past at Old Settlers' Cemetery | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $15.00 | Settlers’ Cemetery |
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Mint Hill Rodeo | 9:00 am to 10:00 pm | $5.00-15.00 | McWhirter Rodeo Arena |
| Lydia's Prom Closet: open for free prom dresses, suits, shoes, accessories | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | First Baptist Church Huntersville |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Socrates Academy Spring Carnival | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Socrates Academy Charter School, Matthews |
| 6th Annual "Momma I Don't Want To Go To College" Skill & Trade Expo April 18 | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Lowe's DIY-U Kids' Workshop: Terrarium | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| STEAM Day at Latta -- Carolina Raptor Center | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | $0-16.00 | Carolina Raptor Center |
| NoDa Pottery Market Spring Event | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Pottery Market |
| 43rd Annual Showcase of Woodcarvings | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Worrell Building, CPCC |
| Healthy Kids Day at YMCA | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | YMCA, multiple locations |
| Charlotte Robot Rumble -- watch robots battle it out | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Belk Gym — UNC Charlotte |
| Halftoberfest | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Kings Mountain: Earth Day at the Gateway Trail | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Kings Mountain Gateway Trail |
| CLT Edgefest: live painting, music, dancing, more... | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Happy Roots Earth Day Jam | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Bell Tower Green, Salisbury |
| People of the World: Cambodia | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | International House |
| Buds & Brews | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Empanada Fest | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Charlotte Folk Music Festival | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $10.00 | St. Martin’s Episcopal Church |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Spring Fling | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Guateke Sessions: Explore Latin dance styles | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Earth Jam in Cornelius | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Robbins Park, Cornelius |
| Meditative Melodies 2026 – Connecting Cultures Through Heartfulness | 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Crossway Community Church |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music: Adam Daniels | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Sugar Creek Brewing's Spring Concert Series: Aaron Michael | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Huntersville Jazz Appreciation Concert | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | 8:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Live music: Wilde Green // The Oyster // DJ Blondzai | 8:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
Sunday, April 19, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| Charlotte SHOUT! | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Lattes & Locals Market | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Night Swim Roastery and Cafe |
| Just Us Girls Market by Shop Local QC (promo code for half off) | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | $7.70-13.42 | The Suffolk Punch South End |
| Camden Commons | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Camden Road, South End |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Healthy Kids Day at Camp Thunderbird | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Camp Thunderbird |
| 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 |
| Street SHOUT! on the Green -- kid-friendly entertainment | 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Green |
| SHOUT! Showcase -- live outdoor music | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
Monday, April 20, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| Nature Book and Look | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Dance for All Abilities | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Afro-Brazilian Fitness | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ivory Baker Recreation Center |
| Free line dancing lesson | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night w/ Tim Hong | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Open Mic Mondays | 7:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Come See Me Festival (various locations in Rock Hill -- click for details) | All Day | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| Greater Charlotte Book Crawl | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Subway: Buy One Get One Free Footlong Sub | All Day | Subway — Multiple locations | |
| North Carolina Science Festival (events all month -- click for schedule) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Movement | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills -- Creative Drama | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Eastway Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Board Game Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Pub Trivia | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
