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: Thursday, July 9, 2026
Tomorrow: Friday, July 10, 2026
Saturday, July 11, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Slurpee at 7-Eleven, Speedway & Stripes | All Day | FREE | Participating locations of 7-Eleven and Speedway |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| World Cup Watch Parties (every game; time varies) | All Day | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| World Cup Watch Parties (start times vary) | All Day | FREE | Belfast Mill |
| Showing All World Cup Matches (times vary) | All Day | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Free Birding Tours with Carolina Wildlife Sanctuary | 8:00 am to 9:00 am | FREE | Lake Norman State Park |
| Kids' Catfish Tournament | 8:00 am | FREE | Dallas Park |
| AutoBarn's Classic Cars & Coffee | 8:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Free Rabies Vaccination Clinic | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | Charlotte Vehicle Operations Center |
| Free Drive-Thru Market in Kannapolis: Produce and eggs | 9:00 am | FREE | Second Presbyterian Church, Kannapolis |
| Outdoor Women Hiking Group | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Bastille Day Celebration at Renaissance Pâtisserie | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Renaissance Pâtisserie |
| Lowe’s gives away lots of free gifts for two days — including MyLowe’s Money | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Creek Crawl | 10:30 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Stevens Creek Nature Preserve and Center |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| 2nd Saturday Makers' Meet-Up (Free, but $5 donation suggested for materials) | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Studio Artists |
| Christmas in July: A Free Frozen Meet and Greet | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| AC/DC PWR/Up Pop-Up | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Charlotte Beer Garden |
| Upcycle Arts: Christmas in July Sale -- $10 fill-a-bag | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | Upcycle Arts |
| 5 Year Anniversary Party | 11:00 am | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Second Saturdays in SouthPark Market | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Legion Brewing SouthPark |
| The Summer Spectacular: Live music, live painting, art vendors, more... | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Victoria Yards |
| Second Chance Book Bash (fill a bag for $15) | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Urban District Market | |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Summer Puppy Pawty: Adoptable dogs, raffles, more... | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Free Elote Day | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Live Music Saturdays | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Beatfreaq and Open Aux | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Live Music Saturdays | 4:00 pm | FREE | Frank’s Beer Shop |
| Cain Center Block Party: Live music on the patio with Edan Aldridge | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Cain Center for the Arts, Cornelius |
| Queen City Art's Summer Juried Art Show | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Queen City Art (formerly Charlotte Art League) |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music Saturdays | 5:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Charlotte (Metropolitan) |
| Herping Tour with Carolina Wildlife Sanctuary | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | McAlpine Creek Park |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius | |
| VAPA Center Night Market | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Beat the Heat Artist Showcase at DUPP&SWAT | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Dupp & Swat at Camp North End |
| Open Heart Open Mic | 6:30 pm | FREE | Greater Vision United Methodist Church |
| Outdoor Concert Series at Rea Farms: Spiderwebs | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| The Thing: An arthaus blacklight bodypaint experience where you become the art (discount code available) | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Studio 1212 |
| Kannapolis' Summer Concert Series: The Four Tops | 7:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| The Lost Years Movie Series: Home Alone 2 | 7:00 pm | $5.00-16.05 | Carolina Theatre, Charlotte |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $13) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Movies in the Park: Remember the Titans | 7:30 pm | FREE | Fourth Ward Park |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Beauty and the Beast | 8:30 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
Sunday, July 12, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastille Day Celebration at Renaissance Pâtisserie | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Renaissance Pâtisserie |
| Lowe’s gives away lots of free gifts for two days — including MyLowe’s Money | 10:00 am | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Figure Drawing | 11:00 am | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Birkdale Village Commons Market: A Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| July Plant Swap & Shop | 12:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Free "Shop" Day for Children's Clothing | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $1.00 | Smyrne French SDA Church, Midland |
| Something's Brewing: A Fusion Jam Session | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Mobile Market Pop-Up Pantry -- get a FREE Zealous Meal Kit | 2:00 pm | FREE | Keith Family YMCA |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Live Music: Jack Lawrence and Patrick Crouch | 3:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Animal Ambassador Meet 'n' Greet | 4:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | McDowell Nature Center and Preserve |
| CLT Food Not Bombs: Free Food Distribution (and more) | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | First Ward Park |
| Sam on Someday Music Event | 6:00 pm | $8.00-15.00 | Petra’s |
| Common Table: Free dinner | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hawthorne’s New York Pizza and Bar, 7th Street |
| NASCAR Cup Series Race Days | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
Monday, July 13, 2026
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Dilly Bar with $1 purchase (can redeem one time) | All Day | FREE | DQ (Multiple 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 |
| Mountain Island Photography Club | 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Mountain Island Library |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| 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 |
| Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| World Tavern Poker | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| 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 |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $8.24 | The Evening Muse |
| Ghouls Night Out at VisArt Video -- campy movie with commentary by puppets [donations at door] | 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | VisArt Video |
