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:
- Free and cheap things to do this week
- Free and cheap kids' events
- Concerts this week in Charlotte
- Trivia Nights in Charlotte
Thursday, May 1, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trails and Tales: free monthly event for kids at Cabarrus County parks | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Frank Liske Park |
| Scam Jam -- Fraud Awareness Event | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Friendship Missionary Baptist Church |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Sugaw Creek Recreation Center |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Ballet | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Chess Free Play at Mountain Island Library | 4:00 pm to 4:45 pm | FREE | Mountain Island Library |
| Hope Street Food Pantry Food Distribution | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Hope Street Food Pantry |
| The Square Table: Community Chess | 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Sugar Creek Library |
| SouthPark After 5: The Voltage Brothers | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Symphony Park |
| Free class with Charlotte Cirque & Dance: Partner Acrobatics | 6:00 pm to 6:50 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Music at the Met | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Nature Trivia Night | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Free Range Brewing |
| 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 |
| Gastonia Concert Series: On the Border (Eagles tribute) | 6:00 pm | FREE | Rotary Centennial Pavilion, Gastonia |
| Music on Main in Pineville: Matt Stratford | 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| 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) |
| Live music: Colby Dobbs & The Matthews House Cats | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Moo & Brew, Matthews |
| Board Game Night | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Bingo w/ Shane | 6:30 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Free class with Charlotte Cirque & Dance: Breakdancing | 7:00 pm to 7:50 pm | FREE | Berewick Recreation Center |
| Open Mic Night | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| 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 |
| Matthews Concert Band: Spring Concert -- Music of Celebration and Remembrance | 7:30 pm | FREE | First Baptist Matthews |
| Line Dancing at The Rose, including a lesson for beginners | 8:30 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | The Rose Honky Tonk |
Friday, May 2, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Lowe's giving away free spring flowers (registration required; supplies limited) | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| University City Food Truck Friday | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Armored Cow Brewing |
| First Fridays Pineville | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic Downtown Pineville |
| South Carolina Strawberry Festival | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Walter Elisha Park, Fort Mill SC |
| Asian Night Market | 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Urban District Market |
| First Friday at Clayworks | 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Clayworks |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Goat Island Games | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Goat Island Park |
| South End Gallery Crawl | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Historic South End |
| Maker's Market CLT at Primal Brewery Huntersville | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Live Music: Steven Martin | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Downtown Mooresville Uncorked & Artsy | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Mooresville |
| Belmont's Friday Night Live Concert Series: Night Years | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Rock the Park: The Tams | 6:00 pm | FREE | Liberty Park, Mooresville |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Harrisburg's Movies in the Park: The Wild Robot | 6:30 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Stonecrest Music at the Fountain Stage | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stonecrest at Piper Glen |
| 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 |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: Space Jam | 7:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:00 pm | FREE | Piedmont Social House |
| Live Music: Bobby De La Cruz | 7:00 pm | FREE | Traust Brewing Company, Mount Holly |
| Friday Night Live -- Unplugged | 7:00 pm | FREE | Moo & Brew, Matthews |
| The Comedy Market: Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market South End |
| Improv Charlotte Show | 8:00 pm | $10.00 | Free Range Brewing |
Saturday, May 3, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Comic Book Day -- free comics (many locations) | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Goat Island Games (many competitions are free) | 7:00 am to 1:30 pm | FREE | Goat Island Park |
| Lost Worlds Block Party | 8:00 am to 11:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Free Tai Chi Class with Taiji Matthews | 9:00 am to 10:00 am | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Lydia's Prom Closet: open for free prom dresses, suits, shoes, accessories | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | First Baptist Church Huntersville |
| The Home Depot Kids' Workshop: Birdy Buffet | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | The Home Depot, multiple locations |
| Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Community Book Sale | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Cornelius Library |
| 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. |
| Lowe's giving away free spring flowers (registration required; supplies limited) | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Lowe’s (multiple stores) |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Davidson Town Day, including Lake Norman Bike Expo | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| South Carolina Strawberry Festival | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Walter Elisha Park, Fort Mill SC |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| First ever Cornelius Cardboard Boat Regatta (cost is per team; free to watch) | 10:30 am to 12:30 pm | $25.00-35.00 | Ramsey Creek Park, Cornelius |
| Touch-A-Truck at St. Giles | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | St. Giles Presbyterian Church |
| The Bowl in Bloom -- free bouquets and restaurant samples | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| Bowl Street Pop Up Market presented by Shop Local QC | 11:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | The Bowl at Ballantyne |
| RiverFest at the River Room | 11:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | The River Room, McAdenville |
| Concord Micro-Con | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Concord Micro-Con | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Kings Drive Art Walk | 11:00 am to 6:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| Kentucky Derby Party | 11:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Grand Opening "Streetscape" Block Party in Downtown Concord | 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | 11 Union Street South, Concord |
| Common Market Oakwold's Eighth Anniversary Party and Rennaissance Faire -- swordfighting, live music, more... | 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Common Market OakWold |
| Derby Day Party | 12:00 pm | FREE | Lore Brewing, Indian Land |
| Recycle the Runway Fashion Show | 1:00 pm | FREE | Northlake Mall |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| May Day 1775: A Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Family Chess Club at Mint Hill Library | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Library |
| Earth Day Festival at Sardis Presbyterian Church | 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Sardis Presbyterian Church |
| Cinco de Mayo party at Camp North End | 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Grand Opening of Rally Point Auto Detailing in Tega Cay -- Car meet, vendors, more... | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Rally Point Auto Detailing — Tega Cay Village Plaza |
| Village of Wesley Chapel Spring Fling, including outdoor movie | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Wesley Chapel Village Hall |
| ¡Fiesta Crawl! in NoDa, Plaza Midwood and South End | 4:00 pm to 11:30 pm | $13.35 | Various locations |
| Festival of Food Trucks in Mooresville | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Downtown Mooresville |
| Concerts @ the Circles: The Phoebes | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Clean Juice, Davidson |
| Maker's Market at Pilot Brewing | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pilot Brewing |
| Cinco de Mayo Celebration with DJ HarperTyme | 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Piedmont Social House |
| RiverFest at Confluence | 5:30 pm to 11:59 pm | FREE | Confluence, Cramerton |
| Karaoke Night | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music: Clay Johnson | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Model A Brewing, Tega Cay |
| Live Music at Patriots Park: Bantum Rooster | 6:00 pm | FREE | Patriots Park (Kings Mountain, NC) |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Date Night Series: Wrong Way Trio Sublime Tribute Band | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Stonecrest Music at the Fountain Stage | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stonecrest at Piper Glen |
| River Jam live music series (free admission; parking is $12) | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Comedy Open Mic at Queen City Grounds | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Queen City Grounds |
| Belmont Movies in the Park: Finding Nemo | 8:00 pm | FREE | Stowe Park, Belmont |
Sunday, May 4, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free museum admission first weekend of month for Bank of America/Merrill customers | All Day | FREE | Various locations |
| Sensory Friendly Day at N.C. Transportation Museum | 9:00 am to 1:00 pm | $0-6.00 | North Carolina Transportation Museum |
| Find Your Flow: Holistic Healing Arts Fest | 9:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
| Women's Health Fair | 10:00 am to 1:00 pm | FREE | Levine Jewish Community Center |
| Sensory-friendly hours at Discovery Place Science | 10:30 am to 1:30 pm | $18.00-23.00 | Discovery Place Science |
| QC Fitness Games | 11:00 am to 12:15 pm | $5.00 | NoDa Brewing North End |
| Kings Drive Art Walk | 11:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Metropolitan |
| May the 4th Beer Be With You -- Star Wars Day | 11:00 am to 8:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Gibson Mill Market | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Gibson Mill Market |
| Maker's Market CLT at Fonta Flora | 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Fonta Flora Brewery at Optimist Hall |
| Mint Hill Car Show -- Hot Rods on the Lawn | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Chick-fil-A Mint Hill |
| May the 4th Be With You -- Star Wars Day Celebration | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Lower Left Brewing |
| Hello Huntersville | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Veterans Park (Huntersville) |
| Cinco de Mayo Festival | 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Symphony Park |
| Alpaca Farm Tours at Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch in Concord | 1:00 pm | $12.00 | Farm and Fleece Alpaca Ranch, Concord |
| Sensory-Friendly Hours at Discovery Place Kids | 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm | $15.00 | Discovery Place Kids |
| KinderMourn Hope Floats Duck Race | 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | U.S. National Whitewater Center |
| Free Tour at Torance House & Store | 2:00 pm | FREE | Hugh Torance House & Store |
| Star Wars Day: Movie, costume contest, more... | 2:00 pm | $10.00 | Carolina Theatre, Charlotte |
| Winter concert by Queen City Community Orchestra | 2:30 pm | FREE | Charlotte Country Day School |
| Savona Sunday | 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Savona Mill |
| Soul Sundays (suggested $5 donation) | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | $5.00 | Starlight on 22nd |
| Battle of the Bands | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Beer Lab by Ghostface Brewing |
| Música con amigos with Latin American Coalition -- free concert | 4:00 pm | FREE | Latin American Coalition |
| Star Wars Trivia | 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Brewers at 4001 Yancey |
| Downtown Jazz Jam in Rock Hill | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Power House Rock Hill |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Outdoor Movie Night: Spaceballs | 8:30 pm | FREE | Carolina Beer Temple-Matthews |
Monday, May 5, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Dance for All Abilities | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Marion Diehl Park |
| Teacher Appreciation Night: 20% off tabs for teachers, faculty, staff | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Discounted | Pilot Brewing |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Senior Dance Class | 2:15 pm to 3:15 pm | FREE | Tyvola Senior Center |
| Cinco de Mayo Celebration at Hoppin' | 5:00 pm | FREE | Hoppin’ |
| Drop-In Dance Class from Charlotte Ballet: Afro Beats Fitness Dance | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Ivory Baker Recreation Center |
| Open Mic Night | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Town Brewing |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Karaoke at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Nerd Night + Free Pizza | 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Find Your Muse Open Mic | 7:30 pm | $5.00 | The Evening Muse |
| The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session | 7:30 pm | $7.00-10.00 | Petra’s |
