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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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, October 23, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews Playhouse's Haunted Trail -- "not so spooky" and "full fright" options, plus Halloween Fun Zone | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00 | Matthews Community Center |
| 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 | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Mallard Creek Recreation Center |
| Move Beyond: Learn Contemporary and Cambodian Dance in free classes | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Open Door Studios |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Goodies & Goblins: Trick or Treating and Movie at Promenade on Providence -- Wicket: For Good | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| 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 |
| Downtown Oakboro Cruise-In | 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Oakboro, NC |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: Super Mario Galaxy Movie | 6:30 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Voices From the Past -- After Dark (multiple start times) | 7:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $30.00 | Elmwood/Pinewood Cemetery |
| Charlotte Area Paranormal Society Ghost-Hunting at Elmwood Cemetery (3 start times) | 7:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $30.00 | Elmwood/Pinewood Cemetery |
| Friday Night Flicks: Toy Story 5 | 7:00 pm | FREE | Les Myers Park, Concord |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Friday Night Karaoke | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | High Branch Brewing (Gibson Mill, Concord) |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 7:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Haunted Car Wash at Tiger Xpress | 7:15 pm to 11:59 pm | $29.00 | Tiger Xpress Car Wash, Mount Holly |
| Mooresville Movie Nights: Hocus Pocus | 7:30 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | The Craic |
| Friday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Haunted Dallas Ghost Tour | 8:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Gaston County Museum |
| Whitewater Film Series (free admission; $13 for parking) | 8:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Saturday, October 24, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews Playhouse's Haunted Trail -- "not so spooky" and "full fright" options, plus Halloween Fun Zone | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00 | Matthews Community Center |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| College Football Saturdays | FREE | OpenTap | |
| TreesMatthews tree adoption event | 7:30 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library (formerly Beatties Ford Regional Library) | |
| Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month Storytime Series | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Repair Cafe at Innovation Barn -- partner with volunteers to repair your stuff (free with $5 suggested donation) | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Spooky Market | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| Flocktoberfest at Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary (price is per car) | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | $20.00-25.00 | Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary, Albemarle |
| MrBeast Day at Lowe's: first 100 rewards members get free Swarms | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| 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 |
| Romanian-American Festival | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Blakeney Fall Fest | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Southern Soul Music Festival | 11:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Royal Giants Park, East Spencer |
| Around the World in Objects: A World-Building Adventure with Listening Labs | 11:30 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | University City Regional Library |
| Day of the Dead themed Trunk or Treat | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Sharon Memorial Park |
| Really Really Free Market | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Galilee Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Zombie Daze | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
| Free order of egg rolls with the purchase of any drink | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| New Works: Staged Readings | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Overcash Building, CPCC |
| Korean Music -- A Music Journey Through Time: Chamber Ensemble & Choir (free, but registration is required) | 5:00 pm | FREE | Rowe Arts Building, UNC Charlotte |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| NoDa Ghosts and Legends Tours | 6:30 pm to 10:15 pm | FREE | Stu’s Barrel House, NoDa |
| Fright Fights -- live wrestling | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| 9th Annual Mount Holly Lantern Parade | 7:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| Voices From the Past -- After Dark (multiple start times) | 7:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $30.00 | Elmwood/Pinewood Cemetery |
| Charlotte Area Paranormal Society Ghost-Hunting at Elmwood Cemetery (3 start times) | 7:00 pm to 11:59 pm | $30.00 | Elmwood/Pinewood Cemetery |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Saturday Live Music | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Sunday, October 25, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthews Playhouse's Haunted Trail -- "not so spooky" and "full fright" options, plus Halloween Fun Zone | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00 | Matthews Community Center |
| Birkdale Village Farmers Market presented by Shop Local QC | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Open Play Mahjong | 11:30 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Queen City Creative Arts Festival: Public Networking Event | 12:00 pm to 2:30 pm | FREE | Overcash Building, CPCC |
| Boileryard Brunch: music, live painting (pay for food and drink) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Makers' Market CLT at The Boardwalk | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Boardwalk at University City |
| Sip & Stitch | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Maisie's Sunday Market | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Maisie’s Green Brae, Tega Cay |
| Party in the Park at Mint Museum Randolph | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Kids in Nature Day | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Park |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Fall Festival and Trunk or Treat at St. John's Baptist Church, with petting zoo and pony rides, Oct. 26 | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | St. John’s Baptist Church |
| NoDa Downtown Business Candy Crawl | 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Halloween in Huntersville Festival, including drone show | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Huntersville Athletic Park |
| Trunk or Treat at Matthews UMC | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Matthews United Methodist Church |
| Lighting of the Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall | 6:00 pm | FREE | 2017 Greenway Avenue |
| Silent Cinema Café: Phantom of the Opera, with live accompaniment | 7:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $10.00 | VisArt Video |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
Monday, October 26, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| QDOBA Offers Free Chips & Queso for Every Full Moon | All Day | FREE | Qdoba, participating locations |
| Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall | All Day | FREE | 2017 Greenway Avenue |
| Children's Theatre of Charlotte: Life Skills Through Theatre Skills | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| 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 |
| Comedy Open Mic: Heckle Edition | 7:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
| 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 |
| Ayrsley Retro Horror Series | 9:00 pm | $5.00 | Ayrsley Grand Cinemas |
