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, August 7, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Rock the Park: Yacht Rock Radio | 6:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Free intro yoga class for teens & adults with neurodivergence | 6:00 pm | FREE | Creative Perspectives, PLLC (Mt. Holly) |
| 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 |
| Jammin' By the Tracks: Petty Rewind | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Waxhaw Water Tower Community Corner |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Huntersville Movies in the Park: The Super Mario Galaxy Movie | 8:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, August 8, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:30 pm | Independence Regional Library | |
| 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 |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Outdoor Women Hiking Group | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| 2nd Saturday Makers' Meet-Up (Free, but $5 donation suggested for materials) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing SouthPark |
| Carolina Vet Fest | 12:30 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Free order of egg rolls with the purchase of any drink | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Cain Center Block Party: Live music on the patio with HC Oakes | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Cain Center for the Arts, Cornelius |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Sail On (Beach Boys Tribute) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| VAPA Center Night Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Tega Cay Music in the Park: Pluto for Planet | 6:30 pm | FREE | Runde Park, Tega Cay |
| Rockin' The Burg: September (Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute) | 6:30 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Kannapolis' Summer Concert Series: Andy Grammer, with Walk Off the Earth | 7:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Movies in the Park | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fourth Ward Park |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: The Emperor's New Clothes | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
Sunday, August 9, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| American Guild of Organists Summer Recital Series: Owen Peck | 4:00 pm | FREE | St. Peter’s Episcopal Church |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Common Table: Free dinner | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar, 7th Street |
Monday, August 10, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Mindful Mondays: 20% off N/A beers and alcohol free drinks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Mountain Island Photography Club | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Mountain Island Library |
| 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 |
| World Tavern Poker | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
| Ghouls Night Out at VisArt Video -- campy movie with commentary by puppets [donations at door] | 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| $8 beer flights | Discounted | Crafty Beer Guys Taproom & Bottle Shop, Huntersville | |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Free Kids' Yoga (registration required) | 11:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Taster Tuesdays: half off beer flights, 20% off top shelf bourbon, $4 shooters, and 20% off snacks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Troop Trope Smutty Book Club | 5:30 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 |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 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 |
