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:
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| VAPA Center Night Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| 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 |
Monday, May 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Nerds Walk & Talk | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Ghouls Night Out at VisArt Video -- campy movie with commentary by puppets | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
| 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 |
| Open Mic Mondays | 7:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
