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, August 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Movie for Mature Audiences (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 |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Short Pour Wednesdays: $3 12 oz pours of select beers | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| 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 | |
| Eleven Lakes Book Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Vinyl Night at Vintage Vibes | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Vintage Vibes, Concord |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Stitch N' Bitch | 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 |
| Open Mic Night w/ Keith Wilson | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| 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 |
| New Friends Book Club | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Trivia Night | 7:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Free Bingo at The Percantile and Creamery (win prizes!) | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, August 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Piedmont Music Therapy: Community Grooves for Elementary School Youth (registration required) | 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Thursdays on Main: Too Much Sylvia | 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Kannapolis) |
| Live Music Thursdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Music Bingo | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Karaoke Contest | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., South End |
| Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End | 8:30 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Karaoke Thursdays | 9:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
Friday, August 14, 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 |
| Mount Holly Nights: The Catalinas | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mt. Holly |
| 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 Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Pineville Rock'n & Reel'n Concert: The Return -- A Tribute to the Beatles | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pineville Lake Park |
| 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 |
| Movies in the Park: Zootopia 2 | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fountain Park, Rock Hill |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, August 15, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Cartoons & Coffee: Zootopia 2 | 8:30 am | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Free recycling class for kids | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Flip the Fit: Free kids' clothing giveaway/swap, plus STEM activities | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Grace Communion International |
| 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 |
| People of the World: Russia | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | International House |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Robot Block Party | 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm | FREE | Waymer Park, Huntersville |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirates Night For Me! | 4:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Mint Hill Family Night Concert: Crystal Aria | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Veterans Memorial Park |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Stories Under the Stars: Gravity Check | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus County Library, Kannapolis Branch |
| 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 |
Sunday, August 16, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Classic Cruisers of Monroe Cruise-In | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Poplin Place Shopping Center, Monroe |
| 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 |
| American Guild of Organists Summer Recital Series: Tomasz Robak -- The Roaring Organ | 4:00 pm | FREE | Myers Park Presbyterian Church |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Free Comedy Open Mic at The Royal Tot | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
