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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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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Today: Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Tomorrow: Thursday, November 21, 2024
Friday, November 22, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Starbucks: half-on one handcrafted drink | All Day | Discounted | Starbucks — multiple locations |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Southern Christmas Show | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Public Tour at Innovation Barn (register in advance) | 10:30 am to 11:15 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Cook Out Tubing Hill (price is for unlimited rides for one night) | 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | |
| UCITY Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration in Weddington | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Weddington Town Hall |
| Ribbon Cutting for Light the World Giving Machine | 5:30 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Outdoor Movie Night: Inside Out 2 | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| Christmas Tree Lighting and Fireworks in Concord | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Concord |
| Piedmont Town Center tree lighting | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Piedmont Town Center |
| Journey to Bethlehem at Homeplace Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Homeplace Bed & Breakfast, Lancaster, SC |
| Friday Night Music Series at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Movie Night in the Biergarten: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation | 6:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live music: Dylan RP Allen | 6:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| #JamByTheVan | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Friday Night Live Music at Confluence | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Friday Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Live music: Stephen Evans | 7:00 pm | FREE | Great Wagon Road Distilling Co. |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Karaoke | 8:00 pm | FREE | Hickory Tavern, Harris Blvd. |
Saturday, November 23, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Light the World Giving Machine at Promenade on Providence -- free activities & entertainment | All Day | Promenade on Providence | |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Christmas in the Village | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Historical Society — Carl J. McEwen Historic Village |
| Carolina Renaissance Festival Final Huzzah -- kids enter for free with canned food donation | 9:30 am to 5:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Renaissance Festival |
| Charlotte Doodle Meetup | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Skiptown |
| VHS Fitness Potluck at VisArt Video: free workouts to vintage fitness tapes | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | VisArt Video |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Yap Ye Iswa Festival (celebration of Catawba culture) | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Catawba Cultural Center, Rock Hill |
| Southern Christmas Show | 10:00 am to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Free Saturday Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Beginner Boxing Class | 10:00 am | FREE | Middle James Brewing |
| Opening Celebration of Women of Land and Smoke -- free admission to Mint Museum Randolph | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Visit Santa at Christmas in the Village | 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Historical Society — Carl J. McEwen Historic Village |
| Cookbook + Recipe Swap | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Open Studio Saturday at McColl Center (free, with $10 suggested donation) | 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | McColl Center for Art + Innovation |
| Midnight Alley Asian Street Food Festival | 12:00 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Alley 51, Pineville |
| Books and Buddies | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Vibe n Shop Popup Market | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| Maker's Market | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| BYOT (Bring Your Own Textile): Free screen printing at MacFly Fresh Printing Co. | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | MacFly Fresh Printing Company |
| Birkdale Village: Santa Arrival and Tree Lighting | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| TrueCare Pharmacy Concord Christmas Parade | 2:30 pm | Downtown Concord | |
| Waxhaw Touch-a-Truck and Tree Lighting (including visits with Santa) | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Waxhaw |
| All is Bright -- A Holiday Celebration | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| Holiday Magic at Rea Farms: Free pictures with Santa, train rides, much more | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| UCity Lights Winter Celebration -- Tree Lighting Celebration at Shoppes at University Place | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Shoppes at University Place |
| Cook Out Tubing Hill (price is for unlimited rides for one night) | 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | |
| Live music: Chris Clark | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Stein Holding Competition | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Journey to Bethlehem at Homeplace Bed & Breakfast in Lancaster | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Homeplace Bed & Breakfast, Lancaster, SC |
| "WKRP in Cincinnati Turkey Drop" at The Casual Pint (free to attend; $10 per "turkey") | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00 | The Casual Pint (Rivergate) |
| Latino Dance performances at Light the World Giving Machine | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Promenade on Providence |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Gremlins | 6:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| Ice skating performance | 6:15 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Live Music: Bobby Thomas Jazz Trio | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music | 7:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Comedy Open Mic at The Landing | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Landing at 4th Ward |
| Movie Night: The Nightmare Before Christmas | 8:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing |
Sunday, November 24, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Light the World Giving Machine at Promenade on Providence -- free activities & entertainment | All Day | Promenade on Providence | |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Carolina Renaissance Festival Final Huzzah -- kids enter for free with canned food donation | 9:30 am to 5:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Renaissance Festival |
| Free ice skating lessons | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Southern Christmas Show | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | Discounted | Park Expo & Conference Center |
| Sunday Funday | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Free Figure Drawing | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Jazz Brunch | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Concord |
| Hot Stuff Holiday Market | 11:30 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Petra’s |
| Football Sundays | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Discounted | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Midnight Alley Asian Street Food Festival | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Alley 51, Pineville |
| Opening Celebration of Women of Land and Smoke -- free admission to Mint Museum Randolph | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Randolph |
| Maker's Market CLT at Burial Beer | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Burial Beer Co., Charlotte |
| Maker's Market CLT | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| 71st Annual Union County Christmas Parade | 2:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Monroe |
| Charlotte Jeep Meetup | 2:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Free Live Tunes | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| "Giving Thanks" Concert by A Sign of the Times | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Memorial Presbyterian Church, Beatties Ford Road |
| Live music: James Delco | 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Sunday Supper Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Live music: Rattle and Hum | 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Soul Sundays, hosted by DJ Stylus and Friends | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Starlight on 22nd |
| Try LED Saber Combat and Choreography for Free | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Independence Park |
| Cook Out Tubing Hill (price is for unlimited rides for one night) | 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | |
| Bluegrass Jam Circle Hosted by Charlotte Folk Society | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Speedway Christmas (Price varies per day of week. Price is per vehicle.) | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $35.00-45.00 | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Comedy Open Mic | 7:00 pm | FREE | The Royal Tot |
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