Your kids can have fun in the Charlotte area during their summer break without putting a hurting to your wallet. Most of these activities are free, and the ones that aren’t are pretty cheap. Follow the links for details on each.
This list is for 2025.
Also, scroll down for a huge, constantly updated, list of upcoming free and cheap events for kids.
Find all the best (and cheapest) kids’ activities on our list of upcoming kids’ events in Charlotte!
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Summer Movie Programs for Kids
There are six different movie theaters and chains that are offering very inexpensive kids’ movie programs on weekdays through the summer: AMC’s Summer Movie Camp, Regal Entertainment Group’s Summer Movie Express, Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse, Poppy’s Summer Movie Magic, Gem Theatre’s Summer Matinees, and Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas Kids Summer Movie Series. Tickets range from $1 to $3. Some theaters also offer sensory-friendly screenings. Get the details on all the summer movie series for kids.
Super Saturdays at ImaginOn
ImaginOn is presenting free shows for kids Pre-K and up on select Saturdays. Super Saturdays at ImaginOn may include bubble shows, science shows, kid-friendly music, kid-friendly Shakespeare, and more. There’s no registration for the shows. First come, first served, so get there early!
Bowl for free (or cheap) All Summer
Kids Bowl Free allows kids to bowl two free games every day. Just pay for shoe rental. AMC Bowling requires the purchase of a pass for the summer, but shoes are included. Read about Kid Bowl Free and the AMC Summer Pass Program here.
Cook Out Summer Shootout
Cook Out Summer Shootout is back at Charlotte Motor Speedway this summer! This race series provides plenty of good family-friendly entertainment at family-friendly prices — $10 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. On fireworks nights, tickets are $14 for adults.
In addition, most events offer discount admission if you bring in a canned food donation. Some even offer free admission in some cases.
Watch racing’s future stars battle in Legend Cars and Bandoleros on the front-stretch quarter-mile!
The series takes place from June 9 to July 29, 2025, from 5 to 9 p.m.
CLT Airport Overlook
The new CLT Airport Overlook is a major upgrade from the last one. It features two aviation-themed play sets, runways for kids, tons of parking, educational displays, a covered picnic area, and restrooms! Of course, it still features stunning views of planes taking off against the backdrop of Charlotte’s iconic skyline.
Free Kids’ DIY Workshops
Both Lowe’s and Home Depot offer a free kids’ workshop one Saturday a month. Kids can learn to use hand tools to build things like a toy fire rescue truck or a mini-sandbox. These are both year-long programs.
Cheap Swimming
Check out our list of places to swim and splash in and near Charlotte this summer. The list includes pools and spraygrounds, as well as lakes and quarries where you can swim. Prices vary, but there are some very inexpensive options. Swimming lessons are FREE at Charlotte’s two outdoor public pools.
ImaginOn’s Summer Exhibit: Curious George — Let’s Get Curious
ImaginOn has a new summer exhibit! Curious George: Let’s Get Curious will be available from May 17 to August 23, 2025, Mondays through Saturday. It’s free to visit, as is the rest of ImaginOn. The 1,500-square-foot display contains interactive features like an apartment building, sidewalk produce stand, construction site, mini golf, space rocket and more.
Culture Blocks
ASC Culture Blocks, which is a partnership with Mecklenburg Parks and Recreation and Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, presents a staggering number of free workshops, performances and more for both adults and kids. Learn to dance or play an instrument, try out different art techniques, go to a concert, and much more. Check out the list of Culture Blocks programs.
Summer Reading Programs
There are several summer reading programs that not only keep kids engaged in learning throughout the summer, but also offer prizes or other benefits. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Pizza Hut, and Scholastic all have summer reading programs.
Skate for Free
Join the Skate for Free program and skate at participating rinks for free this summer. In the Charlotte area, Kate’s Skating Rinks are participating.
It’s important to know that “Kids Skate Free” is not totally free. Each child has to be a member of the “Kids Skate Free” club, which costs $4.99 per year for each child, for each rink. Skate rental is not included. And in some cases, Saturday skating is not totally free — the membership might just offer a discount.
To sum it up — if your child loves to skate and wants to go several times this summer (and can go during the week), and especially if your child owns skates, it’s a GREAT deal. If not, it might not be a great deal for you.
Mecklenburg County Nature Centers and Preserves
One of the Charlotte area’s most valuable resources is the four nature centers that are part of Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. They’re all free to visit. Each is within a nature preserve. The nature centers and preserves host countless free and inexpensive events for kids (and adults), including guided hikes, animal meet-and-greets, crafts, nature programs, stream explorations and much more. Learn about Mecklenburg County Nature Centers and Preserves.
Enjoy an Outdoor Concert
Outdoor concerts are back in full force this summer! Many are family-friendly. And most are free. Check out our day-by-day list of outdoor concerts in and near Charlotte.
Go to an Outdoor Movie
Outdoor movies are scheduled throughout the summer and beyond all around the Charlotte area. Most of the movies are free. Sometimes there are food trucks and additional activities for kids. Our list of outdoor movies around Charlotte is packed with movies!
Go Boating
There are many ways to get out on the water, even if you don’t own a boat of any kind. Read about opportunities to kayak, paddleboat, and more, in the Charlotte area.
Go on a Hike (near or far)
We have put together a detailed list of more than 50 walks and hikes in and near Charlotte. Explore a Greenway, nature preserve, state park, a historical neighborhood and more. The hikes range from extremely easy to very challenging. Pick the ones that’s right for you and your child!
Pick Berries
There’s nothing like picking your own produce. Check out our list of U-pick farms in the Charlotte area. This list spans the year, so you can see what you can pick, and when.
Visit a Garden
Learn about 8 beautiful public gardens in the Charlotte area. Each one is very different from the others. Most are free, and a few have a fee to visit, but none are very pricey.
Visit Dan Nicholas Park
Dan Nicholas Park, 6800 Bringle Ferry Road, Salisbury, NC, is a wonderland for kids, and a bargain for their parents. It’s free to enter, and most of the attractions, including the carousel (you can ride a giraffe, a zebra, or a sea horse, if a regular horse is not your thing!), Rowan Wildlife Adventures, and more, are just a dollar. Learn more about Dan Nicholas Park here. Please note that the miniature train ride, sadly, has not been running for quite some time.
Climb on a Huge Rock
It seems unbelievable, but these giant rocks are right in Charlotte. Big Rock Nature Preserve is at 6500 Elmstone Drive, near Stonecrest at Piper Glen. These are the largest known exposed boulders in Mecklenburg County, by a long shot. It’s pretty majestic. Archaeologists have unearthed American Indian artifacts at this site from as early as 7,000 years ago.
Village Park in Kannapolis
Village Park, 700 West C Street, Kannapolis, NC, offers so much for families, including the Rotary Express Train, the Carousel, and Splash Pad. Each are just $1.50 per person. Also, check out the Kannapolis Summer Entertainment Series, which includes free movies, concerts and kids’ events, some of which are at Village Park.
Day Trips
We’ve put together a list of 18 day trips from Charlotte, many of which are low-priced and great for families.
Cool off at a Waterfall
The western part of North Carolina boasts some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the country. Start exploring with our photo guide to 9 North Carolina waterfalls. Obviously, none of these waterfalls are in Charlotte, but they are worth the drive. Please make sure to check the website of the waterfall or park, as some are still closed because of Hurricane Helene damage.
Shop at a Farmers’ Market
It’s fun and important for kids to learn how to plan and cook a meal. Start at one of these farmers’ markets and go from there.
Get discounts
Use Groupon to find discounts on everything from bounce houses to trampoline parks to summer camps.
Fly a kite
There are plenty of open places to fly kites. Try Freedom Park or Romare Bearden Park in Charlotte, or Frank Liske Park in Concord.
Pan for Gold
Go to Reed Gold Mine, at 9621 Reed Mine Road, Midland, and visit the underground mine. It’s free to visit, and $3 per pan if you’d like to try your luck. Reed Gold Mine is the site of one of the first documented gold finds in the United States.
Go fishing
Use this map of fishing areas in North Carolina to find a place to fish. Adults need fishing licenses, but youth under age 16 do not. A 10-day license for inland fishing is $8 for North Carolina residents.
At-Home Activities
For times when you’re stuck at home, check out our list of 100 screen-free things to do with cooped up kids. None of them require any hard-to-find materials, and many don’t require a backyard.
Even more free and cheap stuff
Every Sunday night, Charlotte on the Cheap publishes a free and cheap event list for the week. Learn about festivals, special events, free food, and more. Subscribe to the email list, and follow on Facebook so you don’t miss a thing.
Find all the best (and cheapest) kids’ activities on our list of upcoming kids’ events in Charlotte!
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.
New to Charlotte on the Cheap? You might also be interested in:
More Events for Kids
Check out our huge list of upcoming events for kids in the Charlotte area, or look at a few of them here:
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