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:
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Free Art Kits at Mint Museum Randolph: Kuba Collage | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Puzzle & Pint Night | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| East Charlotte Farmers' Market | 3:00 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | McLawland Farms |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Free Wednesday Evening at Mint Museum Randolph | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Wednesday Night Live: Free Museum Admission | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | |
| Gaston Draws: The Figure Series (Adult session; registration required) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Anne Biggers Furr Learning Station, Dallas |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Wednesday Crafting Circle | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| The Gaming Lounge Video Gaming Pop-Up | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Weekly Bluegrass Jam | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Bike Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Brewhouse Yoga (includes a free beer taster) | 6:30 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Open House at MakerSpace CLT | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Makerspace Charlotte |
| Open Mic at Summit Coffee Basecamp | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Bluegrass Jam | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Wednesday Jazz Jam with The Lovell Bradford Trio and Guests at VisArt Video (suggested $10 donation) | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | VisArt Video | |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Open Shag Dancing | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Puzzle Race and Half-Priced Wine | 7:00 pm | Discounted | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, May 7, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Art Kits at Mint Museum Randolph: Kuba Collage | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| ArtBreak at the Gantt: Free lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| Free Community Night at The Gardens at Stowe | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| SouthPark After 5: On the Border -- Ultimate Eagles Tribute | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Symphony Park |
| Thursdays on Main: Band of Oz | 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, May 8, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Weekly Water Playgroup for Babies & Preschoolers at Charlotte Aquatics | 10:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Charlotte Aquatics |
| Free Art Kits at Mint Museum Randolph: Kuba Collage | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| 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 |
| Matthews Summerfest | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Car Cruise-In in Downtown Monroe | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| Friday Night Live Music: Wes Hamilton & Neil Mauney | 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 9, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| AutoBarn's Classic Cars & Coffee | 8:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Mooresville Day X Race City Festival | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mooresville |
| 9th Annual Foothills Folk Art Festival in Newton | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Newton, NC |
| Hippie Festival at Dallas Lavender Lane (price is per car load) | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | $10.00 | Dallas Lavender Lane Farm |
| Matthews Summerfest | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Free Art Kits at Mint Museum Randolph: Kuba Collage | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Block Party & Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Maker's Market CLT at Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Guateke Sessions: Explore Latin dance styles | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Tega Cay's Best Dam Food Festival | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Catawba Park, Tega Cay |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Ted Vigil (John Denver 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 |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 6:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Rockin' The Burg: Buffet and Beyond | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: The Little Mermaid | 8:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
Sunday, May 10, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hippie Festival at Dallas Lavender Lane (price is per car load) | 10:00 am to 7:00 pm | $10.00 | Dallas Lavender Lane Farm |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
