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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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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Today: Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Tomorrow: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Thursday, August 7, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free movies for teachers at Cinergy | All Day | FREE | Cinergy Dine-In Cinemas |
| Gaston County OTC Medicine Giveaway and Community Event | 7:30 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Bountiful Blessings Food Pantry, Gastonia |
| Grand Opening of Play It Again Sports Charlotte North -- first 25 people get $25 gift card (plus, free coffee, donuts and pizza) | 10:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Play It Again Sports North |
| Trails and Tales: free monthly event for kids at Cabarrus County parks | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Frank Liske Park |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 10:00 am | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| ArtBreak at the Gantt: Free lunchtime tour | 12:00 pm to 12:30 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Gem Theatre's Summer Matinee | 12:30 pm | $2.00 | Gem Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Life Skills Through Theatre Skills with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte (ages 6-12) | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Tuckaseegee Recreation Center |
| MODA Digital Arts Open Studio Oasis (pre-registration required) | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture |
| Back to School Bash in at Logan Family Medicine | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Logan Family Medicine and Dental Clinic, Concord |
| Industry Professional Night at Gardens at Stowe: Free admission for nonprofit professionals | 4:00 pm | FREE | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| Yappy Hour Thurstdays | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Plaza Midwood |
| 5th Street Live | 5:00 pm | FREE | Truist Center Plaza |
| Marsha Mans’ T-Shirt Launch Party & Hot Dog Making Competition | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Plaza Midwood Chess Club Meetup | 6:00 pm | FREE | Common Market Plaza Midwood |
| Music at the Met | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Weekly Ping Pong Club | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Bluegrass Jam | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Charlotte Fit Fam | 6:00 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Name the Music at Rhino Market & Deli South End | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Rhino Market South End |
| LangTree Live Concert Series | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | LangTree Lake Norman (Mooresville) |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Trivia | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Trivia at Pilot Brewing | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Sundown Sounds: Foo 4 You | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Pearl Street Park |
| Mooreoke Karaoke w/ KJ Notorious J.A.M. | 8:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
| Crossroads Cinema at Camp North End: The Parent Trap | 8:30 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
Friday, August 8, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Chicken and Waffles Day at Metro Dinner: $5 off chicken & waffles | All Day | Discounted | Metro Dinner, multiple locations |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Friday Morning Hike | 9:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Latta Nature Preserve |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Southern Comforts Fiber Market | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $5.00 | Oasis Shriners |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Live at the Amp: Shot Thru the Heart (Bon Jovi tribute) | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | $15.00 | The Amp, Ballantyne |
| Rally Fest -- A National Pickleball Day Celebration | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Rally |
| Gardens at Stowe: $5 after 5 | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| Gothic Punk Night Market | 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Free Water Ski Show by Carolina Show Ski Team | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Windjammer Park, Tega Cay |
| Live Music: Quinn Crowe | 6:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Fridays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Live music: Chanclas | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| Live music: Sunday Union | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Summit Coffee, Basecamp, Davidson |
| Jammin' By the Tracks: Party Parrot Band | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Waxhaw Water Tower Community Corner |
| Pineville Rock'n & Reel'n: Diamond Dixie | 7:00 pm | FREE | Pineville Lake Park |
| North Carolina Baroque Orchestra: Magnificent Orchestral Music of the Baroque | 7:00 pm | FREE | St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Charlotte |
| Friday Night Flicks: Lilo & Stitch | 7:00 pm | FREE | Hartsell Recreation Center, Concord |
| Live music: Brice Parker | 7:00 pm | FREE | Middle James Brewing, Pineville |
| Friday Night Live Music at Confluence | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Bachata-Merengue Night at Pascuales' Farm | 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Pascuales’ Farm |
| Movies in the Park: Mufasa | 7:30 pm | FREE | Rock Hill Sports & Events Center |
| Outdoor Movie: The Bad Guys 2 | 7:30 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Huntersville Movies in the Park: The Wild Robot | 8:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Brews & Views | 8:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| CabCo Movie Series: Men in Black | 8:30 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
Saturday, August 9, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krispy Kreme: One free Original Glazed doughnut if you're wearing Crocs | All Day | FREE | Krispy Kreme — Multiple locations |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Get $1, $2 & $3 National Frozen Custard Day Deals at Freddy’s | All Day | $1.00-3.00 | Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — participating locations |
| Free Rabies Clinic at Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | CMPD Animal Care and Control |
| Back to School Bash at Northern Regional Recreation Center | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| 11th Annual Back to School Community Health Fair at C.W. Williams Community Health Center | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | C. W. Williams Community Health Center |
| Free yoga class at Blakeney | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Blakeney |
| Charlotte Doodle Meetup | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Skiptown |
| Saturday Morning Yoga | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | $5.00 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Outdoor Women Hiking Group | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Southern Comforts Fiber Market | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | $5.00 | Oasis Shriners |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and Superheroes Super Saturday Event | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| Back to School Bash at KidsStreet Urgent Care -- free food, backpacks, prizes | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | KidsStreet Urgent Care, Charlotte |
| Arbor Glen Outreach Center Back 2 School Bash | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Arbor Glen Outreach Center |
| CMPD Independence Festival: Back to School Bash with free school supplies and more | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | CMPD Independence Division |
| Back to School Book Bag Giveaway at New Foundation Church International | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | New Foundation Church International |
| Collidoscope: de la Torre Brothers Retro-Perspective Community Day | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Mint Museum Uptown |
| Kaleidoscope Dance & Movement Festival at Urban District Market -- many free and low-priced classes | 11:00 am to 7:00 pm | FREE | |
| 7th Anniversary Party | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Charlotte Ballet Open House for Kids | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance |
| Vinyl Record Pop-Up | 12:00 pm | FREE | Eleven Lakes Brewing, Cornelius |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Hopfly Bike and Brew | 1:30 pm | FREE | HopFly Brewing Company |
| Pickin' on the Porch -- free acoustic music series at Stowe Conservancy Trailhead Store | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Trailhead Store at Daniel Stowe Conservancy, Belmont |
| Watermelon Fest | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. |
| Live Music: Drew Nathan | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, N. Tryon Street |
| Back to School celebration at Compare Foods with free school supplies | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, Concord |
| North Carolina Baroque Orchestra: Magnificent Orchestral Music of the Baroque | 3:00 pm | FREE | Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Mooresville |
| Independencia de Equador | 4:00 pm | FREE | Camino Community Center |
| Nebel's Alley Night Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Superica |
| Food truck and movie night at The Green at Prosperity Village: Ferris Bueller | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Green at Prosperity Village |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: Shake the Dust | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Live Music Saturdays | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| VAPA Center: Night Market Studios | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | VAPA Center |
| Rockin' The Burg: Krystal King | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Live Music: Ephraim Scott Sommers | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music: Philip Funderburk | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Rock the Hops Summer Concert Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Lights, Camera, Birkdale: Madagascar | 7:30 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Movies in the Park: 27 Dresses | 8:00 pm | FREE | Wilmore Centennial Park at South End |
| Outdoor Movie Night: Twister | 8:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
| Requiem Goth Dance Night w/ DJ Velvetine & DJ Sanity Ana | 9:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
