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
Saturday, December 21, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour the Best Christmas Lights in the Charlotte area -- a list and map | |||
| Smashburger: Buy one, get one free | All Day | Discounted | Smashburger (participating locations) |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Shake Shack: Free burger with $10 purchase | All Day | Shake Shack, participating locations | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Shop Amazon's best holiday deals | All Day | Virtual | |
| Space Explorers: THE INFINITE (various start times and prices -- discount available on some days) | All Day | Blume Studios | |
| Cars and Coffee Concord | 8:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Charlotte Motor Speedway |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| 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 |
| Free Santa Pictures at He's Alive Church | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | He’s Alive Church, Kannapolis |
| Turkey & Gifts Community Giveback Event with Harding Law | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Harding Law, North Charlotte |
| Santa and Mrs. Claus at Blackhawk Hardware | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Blackhawk Hardware |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| David French Open Studio Event in NoDa: free art, live print making, more... | 10:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | David French Studio |
| Puppets Everywhere Festival: Tangle of Tales by Grey Seal Puppets | 10:00 am | VisArt Video | |
| Free Saturday Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Meet animals at the Billy Graham Library | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| DaBaby's 4th Annual Christmas Giveaway | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Garinger High School |
| Pilot Beer's Holiday Party (movie, ugly sweater contest, more) | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne | 11:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Mount Holly Holiday Market Series | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Free Picture with Santa at The Local Scoop Parktowne Village | 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Local Scoop Parktowne Village |
| Toy Giveaway in Concord with Pearls of Purpose Foundation | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Grace Lutheran Church, Concord |
| Santa at Southern Lion (free pictures!) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Southern Lion |
| Santa visits Piedmont Social House | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Piedmont Social House |
| Photos with Santa (Free, but donations accepted) | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Blakeney |
| North Carolina Christmas Festival, including free Santa pictures and free toy giveaway | 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Arena and Events Center |
| Free pictures with Santa at The Bank Food Hall in Kannapolis | 1:00 pm | FREE | The Bank Food Hall, Kannapolis |
| Winter Solstice Nature Walk | 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Reedy Creek Nature Center and Preserve |
| Santa at OMB Christmas Market LoSo | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Monarch Market |
| Santa at OMB Christmas Market Ballantyne | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Maker's Market | 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Heist Brewery & Barrel Arts |
| Cosmic Solstice (live stream) | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Virtual |
| Cosmic Solstice Global Party | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Thomas Street Tavern |
| Ice skating at Union County Ice Rink | 2:00 pm to 9:15 pm | $12.00 | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Queen City Ringers at Cooks Memorial Presbyterian Church | 2:00 pm | FREE | Cooks Memorial Presbyterian Church |
| Live music: Jennifer Alvarado | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Santa at Compare Foods Charlotte -- Freedom Drive | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, Freedom Drive |
| Mistletoe Market | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| BCDI Winter Literacy Fest | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Lawrence Orr Elementary |
| Holiday Hayrides (and more) at The Healing Chamber Farm (admission and attractions are free; hayrides are $15) | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Healing Chambers Farm, Davidson |
| Cosmic Solstice Global Party | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | The Union |
| Charlotte Bronze Handbell Ensemble Holiday Concert | 4:00 pm | FREE | Christ Episcopal Church Charlotte |
| Cook Out Tubing Hill (price is for unlimited rides for one night) | 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $18.00-28.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Pirates Christmas at High Seas Miniature Golf | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $10.00-15.00 | High Seas Miniature Golf |
| Christmas at the Library | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Billy Graham Library |
| Christmas Light Extravaganza in Kings Mountain | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| 6th Annual Lake Norman Christmas Lighted Boat Parade | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | EnergyExplorium |
| Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Stein Holding Competition | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Winter Solstice Celebration at Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte |
| The Chutes Winter Tubing at Crowder Springs | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Crowder Springs, Gastonia | |
| Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail -- free attraction with Christmas lights, a donkey, alpaca, miniature horses and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Christmas on the Farm, Indian Trail |
| 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 |
| Bart's Mart's Last Minute Gifts Holiday Market | 6:00 pm | FREE | Bart’s Mart |
| Truth or Dare Comedy (pay what you can) | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Birdsong Brewing Co. |
| Christmas Karaoke and Holiday Sweater Contest | 7:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| 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 |
| CATCh: Harry Potter themed Christmas Improv Comedy Special | 7:30 pm | $15.00 | CATCh — Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte |
| Over the Counter Holiday Improv Show (promo code for 50% off) | 8:00 pm | $15.00 | Fort Mill Community Playhouse |
| Hip Hop Holiday w/ B. Villainous + TBA | 9:00 pm | FREE | Tommy’s Pub |
Sunday, December 22, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour the Best Christmas Lights in the Charlotte area -- a list and map | |||
| Smashburger: Buy one, get one free | All Day | Discounted | Smashburger (participating locations) |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| Santa's Wonderland, with free pictures, at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's | All Day | FREE | Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s |
| The Polar Express Train Ride (various start times; prices vary) | All Day | $36.00-42.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Outdoor ice skating at Birkdale Village (time varies) | All Day | $16.00-18.00 | Birkdale Village |
| Shake Shack: Free burger with $10 purchase | All Day | Shake Shack, participating locations | |
| Light the Knights (click for times and prices) | All Day | $12.00-40.00 | Truist Field |
| Shop Amazon's best holiday deals | All Day | Virtual | |
| Space Explorers: THE INFINITE (various start times and prices -- discount available on some days) | All Day | Blume Studios | |
| Discount for Cirque du Soleil's 'Twas the Night Before (while available) (time varies) | Discounted | Ovens Auditorium | |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Christmas with Camino: Toy Giveaway | 10:00 am to 11:30 am | FREE | Camino Church |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery LoSo | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — LoSo |
| Sunday Funday | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Gilde Brewery |
| Christmas Market at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Ballantyne |
| Jazz Brunch | 11:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Southern Strain Brewing Company, Concord |
| Football Sundays | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Discounted | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| Holiday Bake Sale at St. Sarkis Armenian Church (order in advance for pick-up) | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | St. Sarkis Armenian Church | |
| Maker's Market CLT at Burial Beer | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Burial Beer Co., Charlotte |
| Ice skating at Union County Ice Rink | 2:00 pm to 9:15 pm | $12.00 | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Charlotte Jeep Meetup | 2:00 pm | FREE | OpenTap |
| Free Live Tunes | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| Santa at Compare Foods Charlotte -- South Blvd | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Compare Foods, South Blvd |
| Sunday Supper Songwriter Showcase and Open Mic | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Holiday Hayrides (and more) at The Healing Chamber Farm (admission and attractions are free; hayrides are $15) | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Healing Chambers Farm, Davidson |
| Soul Sundays (suggested $5 donation) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Starlight on 22nd |
| Percent Book Swap | 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm | FREE | Percent Tap House, Harrisburg |
| Cook Out Tubing Hill (price is for unlimited rides for one night) | 4:30 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00-20.00 | |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $18.00-28.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| 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) |
| Queen City Ringers at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church | 5:00 pm | FREE | St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Charlotte |
| Christmas at Ebenezer: Live nativity, carols and market | 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Ebenezer Lutheran Church, China Grove |
| Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $15.00-20.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Kannapolis Celebration of Lights and Winterland Express (free admission, charge for train ride) | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Village Park, Kannapolis |
| Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail -- free attraction with Christmas lights, a donkey, alpaca, miniature horses and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Christmas on the Farm, Indian Trail |
| 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 |
Monday, December 23, 2024
Tuesday, December 24, 2024
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour the Best Christmas Lights in the Charlotte area -- a list and map | |||
| Smashburger: Buy one, get one free | All Day | Discounted | Smashburger (participating locations) |
| Half Price Bays at Topgolf (2 locations) | All Day | $15.00-30.00 | Various locations |
| Ice Skating at Camp North End (time varies) | All Day | $10.00-15.00 | Camp North End |
| 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 |
| Shake Shack: Free burger with $10 purchase | All Day | Shake Shack, participating locations | |
| Space Explorers: THE INFINITE (various start times and prices -- discount available on some days) | All Day | Blume Studios | |
| Discount for Cirque du Soleil's 'Twas the Night Before (while available) (time varies) | Discounted | Ovens Auditorium | |
| Gingerbread Lane at Ballantyne Hotel | 9:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | The Ballantyne, A Luxury Collection Hotel |
| Public Tour at Innovation Barn (register in advance) | 1:30 pm to 2:15 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Ice skating at Union County Ice Rink | 2:00 pm to 9:15 pm | $12.00 | Union County Ice Rink, Indian Trail |
| Mugs, Jugs, and Suds: Tap it Tuesdays | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $6.00 | Sugar Creek Brewing |
| $2 Off Tuesdays | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Song Request Night | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Holidays at the Garden | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $18.00-28.00 | Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel 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) |
| Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular | 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm | $10.00-15.00 | Ballantyne’s Backyard |
| McAdenville "Christmas Town" Christmas lights | 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Downtown McAdenville — various locations |
| Christmas on the Farm in Indian Trail -- free attraction with Christmas lights, a donkey, alpaca, miniature horses and more | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Christmas on the Farm, Indian Trail |
| Tabletop Game Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Yoga | 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm | $8.00 | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
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