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:
Today: Friday, August 21, 2026
Tomorrow: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Sunday, August 23, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upcycle Arts: 50% off School Supplies | All Day | Discounted | Upcycle Arts |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Hummingbird Week: Bird Banding with Susan Campbell | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Hummingbird Week: Gardening for Hummingbirds | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Birkdale Village Farmers Market presented by Shop Local QC | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Plant Swap & Shop | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Boileryard Brunch: music, live painting (pay for food and drink) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Silent Cinema Café | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $10.00 | VisArt Video |
| Summer Market | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Hummingbird Week: Open Classroom | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Live Music: Heidi SIdelinker | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, Concord |
| Color in Concert: An afternoon of live Indian classical music and intuitive coloring | 3:30 pm to 6:00 pm | $15.00 | Freedom Park |
| American Guild of Organists Summer Recital Series: Timothy Belflowers -- Heralds of Light | 4:00 pm | FREE | Sardis Presbyterian Church |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Live music: Anders Thomsen Trio | 5:00 pm | FREE | The Thirsty Beaver Saloon |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Gospelfest | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Stu's Barrel House: Open Funk & Blues Jam Session | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE |
Monday, August 24, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Mindful Mondays: 20% off N/A beers and alcohol free drinks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Free line dancing lesson | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Dance With Me: Line Dancing -- beginning lesson and open dance | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00 | The Barrel Room at Triple C, South End |
| August Book Club | 6:30 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Nerd Night: games and free pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:30 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rita's ice: Buy custard cone, get free Italian ice | All Day | Rita’s Ice — participating locations | |
| Back to School Special: Free kids' meal with adult purchase | All Day | Discounted | The Improper Pig, multiple locations |
| Free car washes for teachers and school staff all August | All Day | FREE | The RipTide Car Wash, multiple locations |
| Adult Trail Trekkers | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Kids eat free at Sonny's BBQ (with adult entrée purchase) | 11:00 am to 9:00 pm | Sonny’s BBQ, various locations | |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Student discount at The Percantile and Creamery: 15% off | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | Discounted | The Percantile and Creamery, Concord |
| Taster Tuesdays: half off beer flights, 20% off top shelf bourbon, $4 shooters, and 20% off snacks | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Hike For Your Health | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve | |
| Family Bingo Night at Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers in Concord | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — Concord |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Gamer's Social | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Market at 7th Street |
| Speed Puzzles ($15 per team) | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | $15.00 | Pilot Brewing |
| Dart League | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Taps & Tiles Mahjong Open Play | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. Taproom, South End |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
