We publish hundreds and hundreds of Christmas events on Charlotte on the Cheap, including parades, Santa visits, holiday markets, Christmas concerts, and much more. But sometimes, for some of us, enough is enough. No offense to the big man in the red suit, but sometimes it feels like we’re drowning in tinsel.
If you’d like to find things to do around Charlotte in December, 2024, that are not holiday related, read on for a list of ideas. We focus on “free and cheap” here, but everyone’s definition of cheap varies. If an event is pricey, but we know of a discount, we will include that, even if it’s not “cheap” by our standards.
Museums and Art Galleries
Immerse yourself in art or history at one of Charlotte’s museums. All of the museums in the Queen City have a full schedule of events. There are even several opportunities to visit Charlotte museums for free.
In addition to the museums, which are listed below, Charlotte boasts many art galleries. Learn about Charlotte’s art galleries and upcoming art events.
Some Charlotte area museums:
- Mint Museum Uptown
- Mint Museum Randolph
- Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture
- Bechtler Museum of Modern Art
- Charlotte Museum of History
- Schiele Museum of Natural History
- Levine Museum of the New South
- President James K. Polk Historic Site
- McColl Center
- Matthews Heritage Museum
- Gaston County Museum
- Discovery Place Science
- Discovery Place Kids
- Museum of the Alphabet
- Kings Mountain Historical Museum
- Eastern Cabarrus Historical Society Museum
- Museum of the Waxhaws
Space Explorers — The INFINITE
Space Explorers — The INFINITE is a limited time attraction at Blume Studios, 904 Post Street, Charlotte, NC. It puts you right in (and right outside of!) the International Space Station, with a Virtual Reality headset. There’s really no way how to describe how amazing this experience it. It’s not like watching a video. You’re IN the scene and everything (and everyone) seems 3D and very real!
Space Explorers will be in Charlotte through January 5, 2025. It’s not a cheap attraction by any means. Adult tickets range from $44.95 to $54.95. However, we have a promo code that will save you money. Use ONTHECHEAP to save 25% on adult tickets any day except December 23 to 27, 2024.
Trivia Nights
Gather up your smart friends and test your brain power with trivia! We keep a calendar of trivia nights in Charlotte. There are over 100 a week! The schedule sometimes changes, so the list might not always have the latest and greatest info, but it will definitely give you lots of information. You can also find the latest schedule for the award-winning Mindless Minutia Trivia here.
Blume Studios also features several large space-related installations that are free to enjoy. Check out Gaia by Luke Jerram and Groundwell by Matthias Schack-Arnott.
Live Music
Live music is abundant in Charlotte, both at devoted music venues and at breweries and coffee shops.
The live music at breweries and coffee shops is usually free to enjoy. Find a day by day list of free and cheap live music here. (Sorry, it will include holiday concerts, but just scroll through…)
Music Everywhere Charlotte’s calendar is the best place to find a comprehensive list of concerts in Charlotte.
Puppets Everywhere Festival
VisArt Video, at 3104 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, North Carolina, is hosting its first ever Puppets Everywhere Festival in December, 2024. This festival includes workshops, movies, storytelling and more. All the events are free!
Arcade Bars, Duckpin Bowling, Mini-Golf, more
Charlotte has several establishments where you can play arcade games, duckpin bowling, pinball and more. Here are a few to check out:
- Super Abari Game Bar
- Pins Mehanical
- 16-Bit Bar+Arcade
- Slingshot Social Game Club
- Pinhouse
- X-tra Ball Ice Cream & Pinball
- Puttery
- Monster Mini Golf
- The Basement Arcade Bar (Concord, NC)
- CityCade Arcade Game Bar (Gastonia, NC)
In addition, Topgolf offers a unique golf-lite experience. There are two locations in Charlotte:
- 9110 Drivers Way, Charlotte, NC (AKA near IKEA)
- 8024 Savoy Corporate Drive, Charlotte, NC
Hikes and Walks
December is often the perfect time to hike in the Charlotte area. The weather is often just fine, and you won’t be bothered by bugs and snakes. Check out this list of 50+ hikes and walks in Charlotte (and beyond.) Includes an interactive map.
Sports
Indoor spectator sports opportunities include Charlotte Hornets games, with tickets starting at $17, and Charlotte Checkers games, with tickets starting around $29.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 
Leave a Reply