July starts off with a bang, but even after the fireworks end, there’s plenty to do and celebrate in Charlotte, North Carolina!
Read on for a list of some of the top events in the Charlotte area in July.
Museums on Us
Bank of America’s “Museums on Us”
Date: The first weekend of the month — July 5 and 6, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, Charlotte Museum of History, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, Mint Museum Randolph, and Mint Museum Uptown
Cost: Free for Bank of America or Merrill card holders
Features: If you have a Bank of America or Merrill credit or debit card, you can get into any of the above museums for free the first weekend of the month. Special exhibits might not be included in the free admission.
We focus on the “free and cheap” so many of these events will be easy on your wallet. Read about some highlighted events, or jump right to our day by day list of July events.
July Highlights in Charlotte
4th of July Fireworks and Celebrations
Fireworks and 4th of July celebrations in Charlotte
Date: Many on July 4, but some are on other dates
Time: Times vary
Place: Many places
Cost: Most are free
Features: Big list of fireworks, parades, street festivals and more. The list includes an interactive map.
Summer Movie Programs
Weekday Summer Movie Programs
Date: Various weekdays
Time: Usually in the morning
Place: Several theaters
Cost: Price ranges from $1 to $3
Features: Six movie theaters and chains offer a summer family matinee program with low-priced tickets. It’s a great way to cool off during these hot days.
Swim and Splash
Swim and Splash
Date: Varies
Time: Varies
Place: Many!
Cost: Varies
Features: Use this guide to find swimming pools, splashpads and more in the Charlotte area.
Front Porch Sunday
Front Porch Sundays
Date: Sunday, July 6, 2025
Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Place: Atherton, 2105 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Shop from 100+ local vendors and artisans, enjoy food trucks, music, coffee and more. Charlotte FC will be there. You can win prizes!
Cook Out Summer Shootout
Cook Out Summer Shootout
Date: Tuesdays in July, 2025
Time: 5 to 9 p.m.
Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1555 Concord Pkway S., Concord, NC
Cost: $10 for adults, free for kids 12 and under. On July 1, admission is $15 for adults and there’s a fireworks show after the races. There are several nights were you can get a discount or free admission in some cases.
Features: Watch racing’s future stars battle in Legend Cars and Bandoleros on the front-stretch quarter-mile.
Bechtler Family Day
Bechtler Family Day
Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Place: Bechtler Museum, 420 S Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Free admission to the museum, with a focus on family activities. There will be performances by Expand Movement dancers, sketching activities, a dance party and more.
Where’s Waldo in Davidson?
Where’s Waldo?
Date: Starting July 1, with a grand finale party on June 26, 2025
Time: Business hours
Place: Businesses throughout Davidson, with the closing party at Davidson Farmers Market, 120 S Main Street, Davidson, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Find the Waldo hiding in Davidson businesses and get your passport stamped, for a chance to win prizes.
Free Water Ski Show with Carolina Show Ski Team
Carolina Show Ski Team Water Ski Show
Date: Every Friday through August 8, 2025 (except July 4)
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Windjammer Park, 8999 Windjammer Drive, Tega Cay, SC
Cost: Free
Features: Watch the team perform flips, trio acts and human pyramids. Parking is very limited, so please plan to get to the park by 6 p.m. Food trucks are often on site.
Bastille Day Celebration
Bastille Day Celebration
Date: July 12 and 13, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day
Place: Renaissance Pâtisserie, 6401 Carnegie Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free (pay for food and drink)
Features: Crepes (for purchase) made on teh patio, open-air dance café, French accordion music and more.
Sam on Someday
Sam on Someday
Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Time: 8 p.m. Doors at 7 p.m.
Place: Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $12 in advance, and $15 a the door. $8 for local artists (use CLTfam code.)
Features: Sam on Someday is an ongoing music series that brings together some of the best musicians from Charlotte and North Carolina, as well as touring musicians, for one-night-only performances.
Outdoor Concerts
Outdoor Concert Series
Date: Many dates
Time: Times vary
Place: Many locations
Cost: Most are free
Features: Charlotte’s huge calendar of outdoor concerts continue! Our expansive list can be perused by area or date.
Outdoor Movies
Outdoor Movies
Date: Many dates
Time: Usually at dusk
Place: Many locations
Cost: Free
Features: The summer of free outdoor movies continues! Check out our day by day list for movies at parks, breweries, shopping centers, churches and more. Many movies are for the whole family. There are often special features, like free retro video games, too.
Super Saturdays at ImaginOn
Super Saturdays at ImaginOn
Date: July 5, July 12, July 19, 2025 (Also, August 10)
Time: 2 p.m.
Place: ImaginOn, 300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: On select Saturdays, bring the kids to a fun show at ImaginOn. Intended for ages PreK and older. No reservations. Seating is first come, first served.
“Pay What You Can” to Matthews Playhouse’s “Peter and the Starcatcher”
“Pay What You Can Night” at Matthews Playhouse’s “Young Frankenstein”
Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Place: Matthews Community Center, 100 E McDowell Street, Matthews, NC
Cost: Pay what you can. Suggested $10 donation.
Features: Tony Award-winning play that reimagines the timeless tale of how a downtrodden orphan transforms into the iconic Peter Pan.
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Pageland Watermelon Festival
Date: July 17 to 19, 2025
Time: Starts at 5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and around noon on Saturday
Place: Downtown Pageland, South Carolina
Cost: Admission is free, but there’s a cost for rides and some activities.
Features: Live music, rodeo, parade, seed spitting contest, rides, more.
Queen’s Feast — Charlotte Restaurant Week
Queen’s Feast — Charlotte Restaurant Week
Date: July 18 to 27, 2025
Time: Varies
Place: Many restaurants
Cost: Prix fixe dinners for $30 to $50, depending on the restaurant.
Features: This twice-a-year event is a popular time to try new restaurants. Reservations are recommended.
Hot Glass Alley Open Demo
Hot Glass Alley’s Open Demo
Date: Friday, July 18, 2025
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
Place: Hot Glass Alley, 438 Atando Avenue, Charlotte, NC
Cost: Free
Features: Watch an incredible piece of glass art be created, from start to finish.
Touch-a-Truck
Touch-a-Truck
Date: Friday, July 25, 2025
Time: 5 to 7 p.m.
Place: Stowe Family YMCA, 196 YMCA Drive, Belmont, NC
Cost: Fere
Features: Kids can climb on a variety of vehicles and meet the drivers and operators of the vehicles. Everything from fire trucks to construction vehicles, emergency response units and big rigs.
5th Annual Charlotte Peruvian Festival
Charlotte Peruvian Festival
Date: Sunday, July 27, 2025
Time: 12 to 8:30 p.m.
Place: Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC
Cost: $10 before 4 p.m. $20 4 p.m. or later. Kids under 10 admitted for free.
Features: Live music, folkloric dances of Peru, crafts by artisans, delicious food, entertainment for kids and more.
