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, December 5, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Bandcamp Friday: Bandcamp waives its revenue share and artists keep all the revenue | All Day | Virtual | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Ice Skating at The Bowl at Ballantyne (time varies by day) | All Day | $12.00-20.00 | |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Green Jeans Consignment: Men's Consignment + Women's Luxury Accessory Sale | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Old Town Event Center, Cornelius |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| 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 | 10:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Friday Fire and S'mores | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Meet animals at the Billy Graham Library | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Free Art Kits at Mint Museum Randolph: Skateboard Mini | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| 5th Annual Tree Festival at Chickadee Hill Farms | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Chickadee Hill Farms |
| Photos with Santa (Free, but donations accepted) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Jingle Bowl at The Bowl at Ballantyne -- free pictures with Santa and more | 5:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| First Fridays Pineville | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| 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 |
| Clayworks Holiday Sale | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Clayworks |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Huntersville Tree Lighting | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Children's Entrepreneur Market -- part of Winterfest | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail |
| Indian Trail's Winter Fest and Tree Lighting | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail |
| Deck the Hall -- tree lighting and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Grand Hall, Mount Holly |
| South End Gallery Crawl | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic South End |
| Christmas in Davidson | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Davidson |
| Maker's Market CLT at Primal Brewery Huntersville | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Rock Hill Christmas Parade | 6:30 pm | FREE | Old Town Rock Hill |
| CabCo Movie Series: The Santa Clause (drive-in movie) | 6:30 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| 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 |
| Gottaswing: Five Buck Friday Dance ($5 for social dance and $5 for intro lesson) | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | First United Methodist Church, Charlotte |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
Saturday, December 6, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $42.00-49.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Ice Skating at The Bowl at Ballantyne (time varies by day) | All Day | $12.00-20.00 | |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Green Jeans Consignment: Men's Consignment + Women's Luxury Accessory Sale (most items 1/2 price) | 8:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Old Town Event Center, Cornelius |
| Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Holiday Cocoa Mug | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Caffeine and Chrome and Holiday Party | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Gateway Classic Cars, Concord |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | North County Regional Library |
| A Christmas Market at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, including visits with Santa | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Huntersville |
| Winter Holiday Market at Anne Springs Close Greenway (cost is per car) | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | $5.00-15.00 | Anne Springs Close Greenway |
| 12th Annual Winter Native American Art & Craft Festival | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Native American Studies Center, Lancaster, SC |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 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 |
| Photos with Santa at Pet in the City (donation requested) | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | Pet in the City | |
| Swedish Christmas Fair | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | $5.00-8.00 | Lower Providence Community House |
| Meet animals at the Billy Graham Library | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Free Art Kits at Mint Museum Randolph: Skateboard Mini | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Family Day at Cabarrus Arts Council, including free performance by Criss Cross Mangosauce | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Galleries at Cabarrus Arts Council |
| Korea in the Queen City: Taste of Korea -- Korean Food Festival | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery |
| Korea in the Queen City: Korean Playground -- learn Korean folk games | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Nine Eighteen Nine Studio Gallery |
| Maker's Market CLT at Fonta Flora | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall |
| VAPA Center: Open Studios -- art market, music, more... | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| A December to Remember at Promenade on Providence -- Santa visits and carriage rides | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Photos with Santa (Free, but donations accepted) | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Santa Paws at Vaulted Oak ($15 for whole family) | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $15.00 | Vaulted Oak Brewing |
| Holidays in Huntersville | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Mount Holly Christmas Parade | 3:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| 5th Annual Tree Festival at Chickadee Hill Farms | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Chickadee Hill Farms |
| Maker's Market at Pilot Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Mint Hill Christmas Parade | 5:30 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Town Hall |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Christmas in Davidson | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Davidson |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Mint Hill Tree Lighting | 6:30 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Town Hall |
Sunday, December 7, 2025
Monday, December 8, 2025
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Skating at The Bowl at Ballantyne (time varies by day) | All Day | $12.00-20.00 | |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, 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 |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| Haylo Healing Arts Lounge's 10th Annual Winter Market & Art Gallery | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Haylo Healing Arts Lounge |
| 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 |
| Santa comes to Ben & Jerry's ($10 per family) | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $10.00 | |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Troop Trope Smutty Book Club | 5:30 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Queen City Ringers at St.Luke’s Lutheran Church | 7:00 pm | FREE | St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Monroe |
| Dart League | 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 |
| Davidson College Jazz Combos Fall Concert | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Tyler-Tallman Hall in Sloan Music Center (Davidson College) |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
