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, July 1, 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 |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| The Happening -- Collaborative arts/music/dance event | 8:00 pm | FREE | Jackalope Jack’s |
Thursday, July 2, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Piedmont Music Therapy: Community Grooves for Adolescents (registration required) | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Independence Regional Library |
| 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 |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Free recycling class for kids | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| 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 | Percent Tap House, Harrisburg |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Charlotte Chess Center Meet-up at Wooden Robot Brewery | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Wooden Robot Brewery (South End) |
| 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, July 3, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 11:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration, including fireworks | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| 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 |
| Belmont's Friday Night Live Concert Series (part of Red White & Belmont) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| 4th of July Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center (free admission; $13 parking) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Indian Land Fireworks | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Indian Land Middle School |
| Lowe's YMCA: Field of Flags Ceremony and 4th of July Fireworks | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Lowes YMCA |
| Red, White and Belmont -- 4th of July Celebration | 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| 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 |
| Troutman Independence Day Festival and Fireworks | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Iredell County Fairgrounds, Troutman |
| Tega Cay Music in the Park: Uncle Sam Jam with Laura Vinson Band | 6:30 pm | FREE | Runde Park, Tega Cay |
| Karaoke Idol | 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
Saturday, July 4, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| 4th of July Celebration at U.S. National Whitewater Center (free admission; $13 parking) | 8:30 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Harrisburg 4th of July Parade | 9:00 am | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Town of Waxhaw's Independence Day Parade | 10:00 am | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| July 4th Parade in Indian Trail | 10:00 am | FREE | Downtown Indian Trail |
| 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 |
| Bowl Street Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Front Porch | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | 2200 Thrift Road, Charlotte |
| VAPA Center Open Studios | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Harrisburg 4th of July Celebration, including fireworks | 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| City of Gastonia Fireworks Show | 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia |
| Davidson's 4th of July Patriotic Stroll | 5:30 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Yacht Rock Radio (Yacht Rock) | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Kings Mountain's Revolutionary 4th | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Deal Park Walking Track, Kings Mountain, NC |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Game Night | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Stars and Stripes Spectacular, including Charlotte Symphony concert and SkyShow fireworks (price varies) | 7:00 pm | Truist Field | |
| Watch SkyShow fireworks from Romare Bearden Park | 9:15 pm | FREE | Romare Bearden Park |
Sunday, July 5, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Mint Hill Car Show -- Hot Rods on the Lawn | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A Mint Hill |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Kids | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $15.00 | Discovery Place Kids |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Downtown Jazz Jam | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill |
