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:
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution at West Boulevard Library | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Pub Trivia | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Birkdale Buds -- free children's activities | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| 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 (Open 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 |
| 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 21, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Mobile Food Pantry | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | St. James the Greater Catholic Church, Concord |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| ArtBreak at Mint Museum Uptown -- free guided lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Mission City Church's Food Pantry Distribution Event | 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm | FREE | Mission City Church |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| SouthPark After 5: Captain Mike & The Shipwrecked | 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 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 22, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Movies in the Park: Inside Out 2 | 8:45 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| 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 |
| Downtown Oakboro Cruise-In | 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Oakboro, NC |
| Cramerton Summer Concert Series: The Catalinas | 6:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Center, Cramerton |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| 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 23, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Document Shredding at Office Depot / Office Max | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| U.S. National Whitewater Center Memorial Day Celebration: live music, yoga, trail race | 8:00 am to 9:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| 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 |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: N-Spire (R&B / Variety) | 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 |
| Charlotte Comedy Theater | 8:00 pm | $12.00-15.00 | VAPA Center |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Homeward Bound | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
