May 20th, 2023, marks the 248th anniversary of the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, which preceded the signing of the more famous Declaration by more than a year.

Influential Charlotte (then called Charlottetown) men declared themselves “free and independent” of the British crown. The declaration was read on...

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One of the main reasons that Charlotte on the Cheap reaches so many people is because of word of mouth. We’d like to thank our newsletter subscribers for spreading the word by running a contest throughout the month of May.

By the way, our daily newsletter was named by Queen City Nerve as the best newsletter in Charlotte!

Invite a...

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Looking for things to do in Charlotte this weekend? You came to the right place! This list contains free and cheap things to do from Friday to Sunday (or Monday if it’s a holiday weekend.)

You’ll find festivals, live music and dance, kids’ activities, organized hikes, seasonal activities, learning opportunities and so much...

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Whether you’re shopping for a gift, for a specific need, or just browsing, take a look at this list of trending deals at Amazon today. All of these items have steep markdowns in price at the time of this post, although deals can end suddenly and prices can change frequently.

Also, learn about Amazon’s coupon page!

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Food Truck season is in full swing! Every week we’ll update this page with everything we know about Food Truck Friday for the current week!

Somehow food just seems to taste better when it comes from a truck. It can’t be explained. It’s even better when there are lots of trucks to choose from.

Do you love outdoor concerts?...

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Camp North End, 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, NC, is hosting free outdoor 80s and 90s movies all summer — every Thursday from June 1 to August 31, 2023.

Crossroads Cinema feature movies on a jumbo screen with surround sound against the backdrop of the Historic Ford Building.

The event will start at 7 p.m., so you’ll have time to claim...

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Enjoy a yoga session on the field at Truist Field, 324 South Mint Street, Charlotte, on Monday, June 5, 2023. Bend It at the Ballpark’s admission cost is a $10 donation, with all proceeds benefiting Charlotte Knights Charities.

You need to register in advance in order to attend.

Check out a big list of free...

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Hot Glass Alley is Charlotte’s first hot glass art studio. It’s at 438 Atando Avenue, which is north of Uptown, between Graham Street and N. Tryon Street. It’s around the corner from NoDa Brewing.

It’s owned by artist Jake Pfeifer, a young artist who has been blowing glass since he was 14 years old.

Hot Glass...

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Taiji Matthews is offering free Tai Chi classes at Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC.

Tai Chi is a mind-body exercise characterized by slow, gentle, whole body coordinated movement. The practice is associated with improved balance, cognitive function, joint mobility, and more.

Check out a big list of free...

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Birkdale Village is hosting an outdoor music series, Live Under the Oaks, on Fridays from April 7th to October 27th, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This is a free concert series.

Birkdale Village is at Birkdale Commons Parkway and Sam Furr Road, Huntersville.

A bar will be onsite in the designated area provided by Red Rocks Cafe. Please bring...

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Shop for Froddo Children’s Shoes at a big warehouse sale from May 19 to 25, 2023, at 1033 Zimmer Road, Fort Mill, SC.

The sale will be taking place for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day of the sale.

There will be a big selection of Froddo Children’s Shoes at 40-60% off. Sizes from prewalker to Big Kid 6.

Shop for sandals, sneakers,...

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Weekly live music returns to Camp North End in April, 2023, and will continue through the spring, summer and fall.

Live From the Boileryard is a free concert series every Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m. There’s plenty more going on at Camp North End on Friday nights and all weekends.

Do you love outdoor concerts? They’re not just...

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York County Library, at 138 East Black Street, Rock Hill, SC, is hosting LibraryCon on Friday, May 19, 2023, from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

This is a family-friendly comic & pop culture convention. Free to attend.

Meet guest authors, play games, compete in cosplay contests, and much more.

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Kids to Parks Day is a national day of outdoor play celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. This year Kids to Parks Day takes place on May 20, 2023.

This day connects kids and families with their local, state, and national parks and public lands through thousands of park events nationwide that promote play and learning in the great...

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The City of Gastonia’s Summer Concert Series is returning in 2023. The concerts will be free and will take place at Rotary Centennial Pavilion, 107 N. South Street, Gastonia.

There are four concerts scheduled on Fridays in May, June, August and September, 2023. See below.

Do you love outdoor concerts? They’re not just for summer!...

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The Suffolk Punch, at 2911 Griffith Street, Charlotte, is a combination coffee bar, tap house, culinary cafe, and fermentation lab, and is steps away from the New Bern light rail station.

The Suffolk Punch offers events throughout the year. Check their Facebook page to see what they have coming up.

Coming Up

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Culture Blocks connects communities with responsive arts, science, and history experiences close to residents’ homes. The program engages with creative individuals and organizations with a primary mission of arts, science, and/or history to present programs in specific geographic areas. Culture Blocks, funded by Mecklenburg County,...

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Davidson Lands Conservancy is hosting Spring NatureFest at Roosevelt Wilson Park, 420 Griffith Street, Davidson, NC, on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

This free event features nature activities, educational opportunities, fishing, live animals and more family fun.

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The Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation works to ensure clean, plentiful water in the Catawba River Basin through advocacy and education. Learn more about what they do and how you can be involved.

The organization is offering a growing number of opportunities to kayak, including kayak rentals, guided tours, and kids’ programs. Read on to learn...

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Old Town Public House, 21314 Catawba Avenue in Cornelius, specializes in coffee, espresso, craft beer, fine wines and live music. It’s located in the heart of Old Town Cornelius. There’s no cover for the live music, so make sure to stop by.

Please do tip the musicians, buy a drink, tip the bartender or barista, and maybe buy a CD...

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Piedmont Choral Society is an all-volunteer choir that includes singers from across the community. It’s directed by Joseph Judge, associate professor of music at Pfeiffer University. Dr. Don Simmons is the accompanist.

Learn all about the various community bands, orchestras and choirs in Charlotte, and how you can participate.

It...

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St. Philip Neri Italian Festival is returning May 18th to 20th, 2023.

Check out this big list of spring festivals in the Charlotte area!

It takes place at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 292 Munn Road East, Fort Mill, South Carolina. Activities will take place inside the Parish Center and outside.

Admission is free.

Festival...

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ArtPop Street Gallery is a a nonprofit organization that showcases local artists by putting that art in highly viewable spaces, like billboards.

It’s celebrating its 10th anniversary with an artist reception on Friday, June 16, 2023, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Cain Center for the Arts, 21348 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC.

The event is...

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Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation is presenting the Trail of History Festival on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Midtown Park, 510 S Kings Drive, Charlotte, NC. This is a rescheduled date, due to weather.

This is the first year for this annual, one-day event that celebrates the history, growth and development of...

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Black Food Truck Friday is a way to show some support to Black-owned food trucks, artists, retail vendors and more, while enjoying some of the best food in Charlotte.

Follow the Black Food Truck Friday Facebook group for updates, or follow BBOC on Eventbrite.

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Interested in meeting some local Charlotte residents from the past? The Mecklenburg Historical Association Docents are presenting Voices from the Past, on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. This is a rescheduled date.

The event will be held in Elmwood/Pinewood Cemeteries where many of the “residents” will...

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Get ready for the summer with this list of places to swim and splash in the Charlotte area summer of 2023. (Indoor pools are open now!)

Read on to learn about indoor and outdoor places to swim in the Charlotte area.

We’re focusing on pools and spraygrounds in Charlotte, as well as some other unique outdoor swimming areas that are worth...

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Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has announced Sundown Sounds, a FREE concert series that will take place at parks throughout Mecklenburg County.

Do you love outdoor concerts? They’re not just for summer! Make sure to check out HUGE day-by-day list of outdoor concerts around Charlotte. Most are free.

You can pack your own picnic...

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The Liberty Book Company, at 1037 Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill, SC, is holding Spring Scrummage, their bi-annual parking lot clearance sale. It will take place Friday, May 19, and Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. NOTE: This are rescheduled dates, due to the weather forecast on the original dates.

Shoppers will find a ton of used...

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CityCade is a classic video game and pinball arcade bar in downtown Gastonia. It’s at 122 S Oakland Street, Gastonia, NC.

CityCade offers craft beer, wine, mixed drinks and soft drinks, and some food items like pizza, hot dogs and nachos.

Games include new and classic video games, pinball, board games, and some video game consoles....

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Ace Hardware is giving away 1 million American flags for Memorial Day on Saturday, May 27, 2023.

These are 8″x12″ stick flags, suitable for placing on a grave, field, or garden as a tribute to a fallen serviceman or servicewomen.

The tradition of placing flags on the graves of fallen servicemen and servicewomen on Memorial Day has...

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Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Road, hosts events throughout the year. Find them all on OMB’s Facebook page.

Coming Up

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The third Friday of the month, from May to September in 2023, Rock Hill is hosting Food Truck Fridays at the Fountain, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., at Fountain Park, 300 E. Main Street, Rock Hill, South Carolina.

This event will feature food trucks, local beers, wine, children’s activities and live music.

Check out a big list of Food Truck...

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Bring the family to Movie Night at Ebenezer Park, 4490 Boatshore Road, Rock Hill, South Carolina, for free family-friendly movies.

There’s no admission charge for the movie, and no reservations are required. Parking is first-come, first-serve.

These events were announced on Ebenezer Park’s Facebook page.

Check out this big list...

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Lenny Boy Brewing Co., at 3000 South Tryon Street, is known for its organic kombucha, as well as gluten-free wild ales, gluten-reduced beer, sours, and traditional ales & lagers.

Follow Lenny Boy on Facebook to see all of their upcoming events.

Check out a huge calendar of events at...

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May 20, 2023, is Haitian Flag Day. Read on for two celebrations in Charlotte!

Check out the big list of Charlotte summer festivals!

Haitian Flag Day Celebration at Winget Park

Haitian Heritage & Friends of Haiti present a Haitian Flag Day Celebration on May 20, 2023, from 1 to 6 p.m., at Winget Park, 12025 Winget Road, Charlotte, NC.

...

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There’s no shortage of outdoor concerts in the warmer months in Charlotte, and there’s really no better way to spend a nice evening.

We’ve put together a huge list of outdoor concerts, mostly free, throughout the whole Charlotte area.

After the descriptions of the concerts, which is organized by area, scroll down to see a...

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Town of Cornelius Parks & Recreation is presenting the Cornelius Jazz Festival on Saturday, May 20th, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Smithville Park, 19710 S. Ferry Street Cornelius.

Do you love outdoor concerts? They’re not just for summer! Make sure to check out HUGE day-by-day list of outdoor concerts around...

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Cheerwine brings the Cheerwine Festival back to historic downtown Salisbury on May 20th, 2023, from noon to 10 p.m.

This is a free festival for the whole family that celebrates Cheerwine’s 100+ years in Salisbury.

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The U.S. National Whitewater River Center’s popular River Jams are free concerts take place every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening in the warm months.

The Whitewater Center is at 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, North Carolina.

The concerts place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May to...

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Juneteenth is a celebration of the end of the enslavement of African-American people in the United States.

It marks the day, June 19, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation (which had been issued on January 1st, 1863) was finally read to enslaved African-Americans in Texas.

It took more than two years for word of freedom to get to...

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There’s a lot to celebrate in Charlotte this year! Check out this growing list of summer festivals. Celebrate the season with live music, culture, food, dancing, kids’ activities and much more. We’re adding to the list all the time, so keep checking back.

We focus on free and cheap events here on Charlotte on the Cheap, and...

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Walking in nature is special in every season, and in the springtime and summer, one of the delights is the wide variety of wildflowers that bloom in our region.

If you love wildflowers, one helpful resource is the North Carolina Plant Society. The Southern Piedmont Chapter, which includes the Charlotte area, presents a wide variety of programs,...

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Outdoor movies and drive-in movies are very popular in spring, summer, and fall. Many of these outdoor movies are free. You’re encouraged to bring a blanket or chair.

The list will grow during the warmer months, so keep checking back.

At many of these events, there will be food trucks and beverage vendors...

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Kids Bowl Free offers a way for kids to bowl for free all summer. Bowling is a fun and engaging way to stay active and beat the heat. It’s a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels, making it a perfect activity for families to do together.

AMF Summer Games Season Pass used to be an additional low-cost way for kids to bowl...

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Charlotte Museum of History is once again celebrating Charlotte’s most legendary moment, the signing of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, or MeckDec, which took place on May 20, 1775. Some historians say the MeckDec was America’s original declaration of independence.

At 11 a.m., on Saturday, May 20, 2023, a costumed...

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