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).
Have you subscribed to Charlotte on the Cheap yet? Subscribers get one email a day. It's free to subscribe.
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:
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Learning for Littles Story Time at Stowe's Trailhead Store | 9:00 am to 9:45 am | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| 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 |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $6.00-8.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| 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 |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Bring your own mug (any size) and get it filled for $6 | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Two Can Tuesday at Cabarrus County Fair: Bring two canned food items and get $2 off admission | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $6.00-8.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| 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 |
| Social Paddle Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | King Canary Brewing, Mooresville |
| Wildlife Trivia (includes free drink) | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| An Unusually Lovely Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| 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, September 10, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 | |
| 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 |
| Live on the Plaza -- free live art and performances at Duke Energy Plaza | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Duke Energy Plaza |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $6.00-8.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Wednesday Night Live: Free admission to Uptown museums | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Wednesday Evening at Museum Museum Randolph | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Free Yoga | 5:30 pm | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Potions & Pixels Playtest Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel 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) |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Eleven Lakes Book Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Vinyl Wednesday | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| The OG Boot Camp | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| 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, Pineville |
| Wednesday Night Yoga | 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
Thursday, September 11, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| September 11th Memorial Ceremony in Mooresville (after silent walk from Richard's Coffee Shop) | 9:00 am | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| ArtBreak at Bechtler Museum -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art |
| Free "Explore Creative Art" classes for adults and teens | 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| 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 |
| Carload Night at Cabarrus County Fair: Pay $90 for up to 6 fair admissions and ride wristbands | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $6.00-8.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Yappy Hour Thurstdays | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Plaza Midwood |
| 5th Street Live | 5:00 pm | FREE | Truist Center Plaza |
| Thursdays on Main: The ToneZ | 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Name the Music at Rhino Market & Deli South End | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rhino Market South End |
| LangTree Live Concert Series | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Beer and Boardgames | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Trivia at Pilot Brewing | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End: The Notebook | 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
Friday, September 12, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB LoSo | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Cheers to 6 Years | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lower Left Brewing |
| Panda Fest | 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00-14.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Food Truck Friday | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 4:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $6.00-8.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Live at the Amp: Beginnings (Tribute to Chicago) | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | $15.00 | The Amp, Ballantyne |
| LaLaCaboosa Downtown Music Series in Huntersville -- Latino Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Matthews Beats 'n Bites Outdoor Concert: Blue Monday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Gothic Punk Night Market | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Veterans Appreciation Event at University City United Methodist Church: music, free dinner, more | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | University City United Methodist Church |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Friday Night Live Music at Confluence | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Movies in the Park: Wicked | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
Saturday, September 13, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte International Arts Festival | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Hickory Grove Library |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Charlotte Asian Film Festival | 9:30 am to 3:00 pm | $12.00 | UNC Charlotte Center City |
| Open house at Hoyle Historic Homestead, the oldest house in Gaston County | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Hoyle Historic Homestead |
| Hot Glass Alley's Pumpkin Palooza | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Panda Fest | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | $12.00-16.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Serb Fest | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church |
| 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. |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Children's Entrepreneur Market -- part of Stallings Fest | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Stallings Municipal Park |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Mecktoberfest at OMB LoSo | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Cheers to 6 Years | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lower Left Brewing |
| Kids Try Hockey for Free at Extreme Ice Center | 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Extreme Ice Center |
| Free performance by Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center: Dance & Circus Throughout History | 1:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Cabarrus County Fair | 1:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $6.00-8.00 | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Montford Park Block Party | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Park Road and Mockingbird Lane |
| Pickin' on the Porch -- free acoustic music series at Stowe Conservancy Trailhead Store | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| Cornelius Festival of Cultures | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Cain Park, Cornelius |
| Mooresville's Bands Brews & BBQ Festival | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Nebel's Alley Night Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Superica |
| Food truck and movie night at The Green at Prosperity Village: E.T. | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Green at Prosperity Village |
| Silent Disco | 5:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Gospelfest | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Greggie & The Jets | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| VAPA Center: Night Market Studios | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Rockin' The Burg: Absolute Queen | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Rock the Hops Summer Concert Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Lights, Camera, Birkdale: Inside Out | 7:30 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Outdoor Movie Night: Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? | 7:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
