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:
Monday, December 15, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Free Frozen Fanta Carbonated Beverage with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Nature Book and Look | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Family Nature Hour -- Winter Solstice | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Menorah Lighting at StoneCrest | 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Stonecrest at Piper Glen |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Santa & Movies | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Regal Cinema: Mystery Movie Monday | 7:00 pm | $5.00 | Regal Cinema (multiple locations) |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Van Jams: Singer Songwriter Round | 7:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Tosco Music Holiday Party (price varies -- group discount available) | 7:30 pm | Knight Theater |
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Free cheeseburger with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| MODA Digital Arts Open Studio Oasis (pre-registration required) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Menorah Lighting in Matthews | 5:30 pm | FREE | Matthews Town Hall |
| Menorah Lighting in Waxhaw | 5:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Queen City Ringers at Stallings Church | 7:00 pm | FREE | Stallings Methodist Church |
| Elf Trivia | 7:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Matthews Concert Band's Holiday Concertoncert | 7:30 pm | FREE | Matthews Community Center |
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students: buy one ticket get one free at Independent Picture House on Wednesdays | All Day | Discounted | Independent Picture House |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Burger King: Whopper Wednesday -- $3.99 Whopper | 12:00 am | Burger King, participating locations | |
| Wellness Wednesday Fitness Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| Disc Golf League | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Holiday Card Making | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Bechtler Museum of Modern Art |
| 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 | |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Holiday Pop-up Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Chamber by Wooden Robot (NoDa) |
| Chess Time! At West Boulevard Library | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | West Boulevard Library |
| Free Yoga at Hindu Center of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hindu Center of Charlotte |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Open Mic Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Plaza Midwood |
| Wednesday Crafting Circle | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| December Book Club and Cookie Exchange | 6:30 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Ugly Sweater Contest | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| 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 |
| Open Hearts Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| 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, December 18, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King: Free Croissan'wich with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Birding at Stevens Creek | 9:00 am to 10:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Meet animals at the Billy Graham Library | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| 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 |
| MODA Digital Arts Open Studio Oasis (pre-registration required) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| The Line Holiday Market | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | The Line |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Live Nativity and Food Distribution | 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Bethesda Presbyterian Church, York, SC |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village 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 |
| Drunk Journaling at the Bar | 6:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Bar, Camp North End |
| Queen City Ringers at Cokesbury UMC | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cokesbury United Methodist Church, Charlotte |
| South End Spanish Club | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
Friday, December 19, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carowinds Winterfest (promoted event -- price varies) | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Carowinds | |
| Burger King: Free French Toast Sticks with $5 purchase | All Day | FREE | Burger King, participating locations |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Belmont Festival of Trees | All Day | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Free Santa photos and more at Bass Pro Shops Santa's Wonderland | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops, multiple locations |
| Free Birding Walks on trails of Stowe Conservancy | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| North Carolina Zoo Just $5 | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm | $5.00 | North Carolina Zoo |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 10:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Friday Fire and S'mores | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Meet animals at the Billy Graham Library | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Upcycle Arts' Holiday Pop-Up Market | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Photos with Santa (Free, but donations accepted) | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| 20% off Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular (price varies per day and time) | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-25.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| Return of the Light: A Community Solstice Celebration | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00-6.00 | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Live Music: David Childers | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Muddy River Distillery, Mount Holly |
| Outdoor Movie: The Christmas Chronicles | 6:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| Hot Glass Alley's Open Demo | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hot Glass Alley |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Friday Live Music | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Unsilent Night -- bring a bluetooth speaker and participate in this outdoor roving sound sculpture | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Goodyear Arts |
| Charlotte Bronze Handbell Ensemble Holiday Concert | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | St. John’s United Methodist Church, Rock Hill |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
