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
Friday, May 9, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher Appreciation Week Deals | All Day | ||
| Chicken Salad Chick: BOGO Large Quick Chick | All Day | Discounted | Chicken Salad Chick, multiple locations |
| Gaston County OTC Medicine Giveaway and Community Event | 9:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Gastonia |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 9:00 am | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Food Truck Friday at Resident Culture Brewing | 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Resident Culture Brewing Plaza Midwood |
| Live at the Amp: Journeyman (Tribute to Eric Clapton) | 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | $15.00 | The Amp, Ballantyne |
| 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 |
| Live Under the Oaks music series | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Live Music: OldSkool | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Lost Worlds Brewing, Cornelius |
| Friday Nights at Camp North End: Live music with Braxton Bateman, The Bleus and Dammit Wesley | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| 2nd Friday Street Festival in Old Town Cornelius -- Kickoff Celebration | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Oak Street Mill |
| South End Food Truck Friday | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Matthews Summerfest | 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| 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 at Moo & Brew Plaza Midwood | 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $7.18 | Moo & Brew – Plaza Midwood |
| Friday Night Live Music | 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| Movie Night at Rea Farms: Freaky Friday | 7:00 pm | FREE | Rea Farms |
| Friday Night Live Music Series | 7:00 pm | FREE | Piedmont Social House |
| 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 |
| Outdoor Movie Night: Big Hero 6 | 7:30 pm | FREE | Seoul Food Meat Co., Mill District |
| CabCo Movie Series: Inside Out | 8:00 pm | FREE | Cabarrus Brewing Company |
Saturday, May 10, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tega Cay's Best Dam Food Festival | 2:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Catawba Park, Tega Cay |
| AMC theatre Sensory-Friendly Family Movie (price and time can vary by theater) | All Day | AMC Theatres, participating locations | |
| Free Rabies Clinic at Charlotte Mecklenburg Animal Care & Control | 8:00 am to 10:45 am | FREE | CMPD Animal Care and Control |
| Lydia's Prom Closet: open for free prom dresses, suits, shoes, accessories | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | First Baptist Church Huntersville |
| Shred Day in Indian Trail | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Indian Trail Town Hall |
| 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. |
| Free yoga class at Blakeney | 10:00 am to 11:00 am | FREE | Blakeney |
| Mecklenburg 250: Charlotte History Festival | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Elizabeth Park |
| Eastside Farm and Community Day -- free petting zoo, farm tours, more... | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| Visit Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | FREE | Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society & Museum |
| Moms: free admission to Carolina Raptor Center on Mother's Day Weekend | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Raptor Center |
| 7th Annual Foothills Folk Art Festival in Newton | 10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Downtown Newton, NC |
| Carolina Clay Matters Spring Pottery Festival | 10:00 am to 5:00 pm | FREE | Camp North End |
| Matthews Summerfest | 10:00 am to 10:00 pm | FREE | Stumptown Park, Matthews |
| Free Yoga | 10:00 am | FREE | Sycamore Brewing |
| Charlemos Charlotte Language Exchange Program | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | South Boulevard Library |
| JCPenney Kids Zone: free crafts for kids | 11:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | JCPenney, participating locations |
| Gaston ReStore Spring Festival | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Gaston ReStore |
| Echoes of Africa: Free West African Dance Workshop | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Mother's Day Weekend Cinderella Meet and Greet | 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm | FREE | Carolina Mall, Concord |
| Karaoke Night and Fundraiser | 2:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Cavendish Brewing Company, Gastonia |
| Family Chess Club at Mint Hill Library | 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm | FREE | Mint Hill Library |
| Mocktail Class — Craft refreshing non-alcoholic drinks | 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm | FREE | Steele Creek Community Place |
| Spring Starving Artist Market at High Branch Brewing | 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | High Branch Brewing (Gibson Mill, Concord) |
| Nebel's Alley Night Market | 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Superica |
| Live Music: Matt McKinley | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Neoteric Brewing Company |
| Davidson's Concerts on the Green: The Chain | 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Davidson Village Green |
| Rockin' The Burg | 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Harrisburg Park |
| Live Music: Chris Wayne | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| Live Music: Crystal Fountains | 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Tianyu Lights Festival (promo code for 15% off) | 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm | Discounted | Concord Mills |
| Rock the Hops Summer Concert Series | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | NoDa Brewing North End |
| 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 |
| Stories Under the Stars: Shadow Puppets | 7:00 pm | FREE | Swanee Theatre, Kannapolis |
| Comedy Open Mic at Queen City Grounds | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Queen City Grounds |
| Pink Party | 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Old Armor Beer Company, Kannapolis |
Sunday, May 11, 2025
Monday, May 12, 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 |
| 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 |
| Puzzle Challenge | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte |
| 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 |
| Comedy Open Mic | 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Triple C Brewing Co. |
| 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 |
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
| Event | Time | Price | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Half Price Bays at Topgolf (2 locations) | All Day | $15.00-30.00 | Various locations |
| Library Mobile Food Pantry with Hope Street Food Pantry (click to see location each week) | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm | FREE | Various locations |
| 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: Jazz Fitness | 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm | FREE | Northern Regional Recreation Center |
| Free Public Tour of Innovation Barn | 1:00 pm | FREE | Innovation Barn |
| Free Tuesday at Schiele Museum | 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Schiele Museum of Natural History, Gastonia |
| $2 Off Tuesdays | 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Discounted | Petty Thieves Brewing Co. |
| Bring Your Own Vinyl Night | 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Be Well Birkdale: Free workout series | 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm | FREE | Birkdale Village |
| Dart League at Primal Huntersville | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery, Huntersville |
| Dart League at Primal Belmont | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Primal Brewery Belmont |
| An Unusually Lovely Open Mic | 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Divine Barrel Brewing |
| Name the Music at Wobbly Butt Tap Room & Eatery | 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Victory Lanes, Mooresville |
| Comedy Open Mic at Starlight on 22nd | 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Starlight on 22nd |
| Hatties' Bingo Night -- free to play, with prizes | 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hattie’s Tap and Tavern |
