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
Friday, August 1, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Friday Morning Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Back to School Splash in China Grove | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | China Grove Police Department |
| Gardens at Stowe: $5 after 5 | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| First Fridays Pineville | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| Asian Night Market | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Keith Clinic Chiropractic North | 5:00 pm | FREE | Keith Clinic North Charlotte |
| Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Keith Clinic Chiropractic South | 5:00 pm | FREE | Keith Clinic – South |
| Free Water Ski Show by Carolina Show Ski Team | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Windjammer Park, Tega Cay |
| First Friday at Clayworks | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Clayworks |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| 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 |
| Maker's Market CLT at Primal Brewery Huntersville | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Movies on the Lawn: The Incredibles | 6:30 pm | FREE | Johnston YMCA |
| Live Music: Cryin Ryan | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Friday Night Live Music at Confluence | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Open Mic at 21 | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Access 21 |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Village Park Movies: Inside Out 2 | 8:45 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
Saturday, August 2, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Streetside Classics -- Charlotte Caffeine and Classics | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Streetside Classics Charlotte |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Space Odyssey | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| 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 |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 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 |
| Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Keith Clinic Chiropractic Gastonia | 10:00 am | FREE | Keith Clinic — Gastonia |
| Back to School Backpack Giveaway at Keith Clinic Chiropractic East | 10:00 am | FREE | Keith Clinic East Charlotte |
| Community Block Party with free school supplies at Hornets Nest Elementary School | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hornets Nest Elementary School |
| Bowl Street Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Kannapolis Micro-Con | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Kannapolis Micro-Con | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Family First: Architect for a Day | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | $10.00 | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| VAPA Center: Open Studios -- art market, music, more... | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| LoSo Block Party 2025 | 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Opening Reception of Nellie Ashford: Remembrance and Renewal, Wisdom from an Elder Folk Artist | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Gaston County Museum |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| 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 |
| Live Music: James Delco | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Nature Remains: Artist talk with Barbara Schreiber and Curator Lia Rose Newman (free, but a $10 suggested donation) | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | McColl Center for Art + Innovation | |
| Festival of Food Trucks in Mooresville | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Mooresville |
| Concerts @ the Circles: Gump Fiction | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Maker's Market at Pilot Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Panthers Fan Fest | 5:00 pm | $5.00 | Bank of America Stadium |
| Music and Dancing with QC Shimmy | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Sounds of Summer: Austin McNeill Band | 6:00 pm | FREE | Les Myers Park, Concord |
| Rock the Park: 38 Special | 6:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Music on the Green at Promenade on Providence | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Stories Under the Stars: Shepherd Shakespeare | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Wreck-It Ralph | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Open Mic Comedy Night at Dish Restaurant | 10:00 pm | FREE | Dish |
Sunday, August 3, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| Front Porch Sundays -- with Charlotte FC | 10:30 am to 4:30 pm | FREE | Atherton Mill |
| QC Fitness Games x NoDa Brewing Workout Class | 11:00 am to 12:15 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Mint Hill Car Show -- Hot Rods on the Lawn | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A Mint Hill |
| Something Brewing: Fusion Jam Sessions | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Alpaca Farm Tours at Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch in Concord | 1:00 pm | $12.00 | Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch, Concord |
| 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 |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet at McDowell Nature Preserve (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Soul Sundays (free, but donations accepted) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Downtown Jazz Jam in Rock Hill | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Power House Rock Hill |
| Mighty Fine Blues Jam | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-10.00 | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Charlotte Blues Society: Blues Sunday with DeJa Blues | 6:00 pm | $0-15.00 | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Free Comedy Open Mic at The Royal Tot | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
Monday, August 4, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free entrance day in the National Parks | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| 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, August 5, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple 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 |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| 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 |
| $2 Off Tuesdays | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| National Night Out event at Cabarrus Arena & Events Center | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| National Night Out and Back to School Bash in Belmont | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| 5 Points National Night Out | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | 5 Points Plaza |
| National Night Out in Indian Trail | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail |
| Social Paddle Club | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | King Canary Brewing, Mooresville |
| Matthews Police Department's National Night Out | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Magic: The Gathering Meetup | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| Tosco Music Open Mic | 6:30 pm | $5.36 | The Evening Muse |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Bunco at Hoptown | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hoptown Brewing Company, Mooresville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| 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 |
| Piano Karaoke & Sing Along with Ryan Stamey | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00 | Petra’s |
