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, May 1, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| QDOBA Offers Free Chips & Queso for Every Full Moon | All Day | FREE | Qdoba, participating 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 |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| South Carolina Strawberry Festival | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Walter Elisha Park, Fort Mill SC |
| 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 |
| Asian Night Market | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Mount Holly Nights: Buffet and Beyond | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| BOOM Charlotte Fringe Festival | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| 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 Night Live Music: Zach Reader DJ set | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Spoke Easy |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms | 7:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, May 2, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goat Island Games (many competitions are free) | All Day | FREE | Goat Island Park |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Hot Wheels Legends Tour | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Walmart Monroe |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Keepsake Box | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Caffeine and Classics Car Show at Streetside Classics | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Streetside Classics Charlotte |
| Piedmont Arts and Cultural Experience | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| South Carolina Strawberry Festival | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Walter Elisha Park, Fort Mill SC |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| RiverFest in McAdenville | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Dynamo 31, McAdenville |
| Concord Micro-Con | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Kings Drive Art Walk | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Carolina Bongomela: Bengali Festival | 11:00 am | FREE | Porter Ridge High School, Indian Trail |
| Bowl Street Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Front Porch | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte |
| BOOM Charlotte Fringe Festival | 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| Derby Day Party | 12:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Cinco de Mayo party at Camp North End | 3:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Concerts @ The Circles: Hard 2 Handle (Black Crowes Tribute) | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| 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 |
| RiverFest at Confluence | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Live Music at Patriots Park: Ace Party Band | 7:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
Sunday, May 3, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Lattes & Locals Market | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Night Swim Roastery and Cafe |
| Rock 'n' Reel Student Album Movie Premiere (pay what you want) | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | Independent Picture House | |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| Kings Drive Art Walk | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| BOOM Charlotte Fringe Festival | 12:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| Hello Huntersville | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Mint Hill Car Show -- Hot Rods on the Lawn | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A Mint Hill |
| 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 |
| Downtown Jazz Jam | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill |
Monday, May 4, 2026
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Improv Comedy Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall |
| Open Mic Mondays | 7:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Senior Day: 20% off for rewards members age 55+ | All Day | Walgreens (multiple locations) | |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Ed's Dinosaurs Live at ImaginOn | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | ImaginOn |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Cinco De Mayo: Free Taco Day | 5:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Board Game Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| BYO Craft Night | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Tosco Music Open Mic | 6:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
| 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. |
