Charlotte on the Cheap logo

Charlotte On The Cheap

In This Issue...

Hike on Gold Hill Rail Trail for gold mine history, a bamboo forest and a ghost story

We’ve been highlighting interesting hikes in or near Charlotte. Each one offers something special, whether it’s a view of a waterfall, an interesting rock formation, a field of wildflowers, or historical ruins. Next on the list is Historic Gold Hill.

The Gold Hill Rail Trail offers a healthy helping of history. You can get a close-up...

Read the whole entry»

Free and cheap things to do in Charlotte this week

What is there to do this week in Charlotte? A lot! This list includes things to do in Charlotte, and surrounding areas, this week, from Monday to Sunday.

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

We focus on free and cheap events,...

Read the whole entry»

Big discounts on Carowinds tickets, including two days for $77 (total)
Photo courtesy of Carowinds

Save money at Carowinds with these exclusive discounts!

Carowinds has opened for the season. Carolina Harbor (the water park) will be open on select days starting May 27th, 2022.

The discount tickets will save you a LOT. When you compare prices, make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. When you buy an...

Read the whole entry»

Charlotte concerts this week
Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

There is a ton of live music happening in Charlotte, and it can be hard to keep track of it, but we’re here to help. Keep reading for a list of upcoming shows.

Looking for concerts this weekend (and beyond) in Charlotte?

Here’s a list of the next few days of shows from MusicEverywhereCLT.com. You can...

Read the whole entry»

Win 4 tickets for BrightFire Music & Arts Festival, plus parking pass and campsite

BrightFire Music & Arts Festival is a brand new event for Charlotte, and it’s unlike any other festival we’ve seen.

It takes place Saturday, April 30th, 2022, from 4 to 10 p.m., at Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville.

One lucky Charlotte on the Cheap reader will win four tickets, plus a campsite and parking pass!...

Read the whole entry»

Win $50 to spend at Charlotte Warehouse Sale

Charlotte on the Cheap readers have loved Charlotte Warehouse Sale for years. Several times a year, fashion lovers have the chance to shop for new, name-brand clothings and accessories, at 65% to 90% off retail prices.

Read on to enter a contest to win a $50 gift certificate to the sale!

Charlotte Warehouse Sale’s “Hello Spring”...

Read the whole entry»

Upcoming free and cheap events for kids


Find plenty of free and cheap things for kids to do on this list. Events for all age kids are included, from toddlers to teens, so make sure to follow the links to learn more about each event.

New to Charlotte on the Cheap? You might also be interested in:

Read the whole entry»

Jam by the Lake — Free National Jazz Appreciation Month event at Shoppes at University Place

Celebrate National Jazz Appreciation Month with a fun, free event at Shoppes at University Place, 8929 JM Keynes Drive, Charlotte.

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.

Jam by the Lake takes place on Saturday, April...

Read the whole entry»

National Pretzel Day 2022 — where to get free pretzels

Tuesday, April 26th, 2022, is National Pretzel Day. Read on for a list of pretzel freebies, deals, and events!

We have a big day-by-day list of food, drink and restaurant deals in the Charlotte area, so if you’re feeling hungry, check it out! We update it every day.

If you’re interested in the history of pretzels, just know that...

Read the whole entry»

Enjoy Mother’s Day Brunch in Charlotte for dine-in or to-go — 2022

Celebrate Mother’s Day by taking Mom to brunch. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th, 2022. We’re putting together a list of restaurants in the charlotte area where you can get Mother’s Day Brunch for $35 or under per person. (That doesn’t mean you can’t spend more at these restaurants!)

We’re including...

Read the whole entry»

Visit Tasting Rooms, Earn Cool Swag with $10 Cheers! Trail Passport

One of North Carolina’s newest craft beverage experiences is the Cheers! Trail in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Hendersonville. And one of the neatest ways to explore the trail is via the Cheers! Trail Passport.


The passport serves as a guide to 24 tasting rooms along the state’s only trail that features beer, wine, cider and mead. The...

Read the whole entry»

12 ways to get out on the water if you don’t own a boat — kayaking, canoeing, more…

Spring is here and the water is calling. There’s nothing better than to be out on a boat in the spring and summer summer, whether the boat is a kayak, a pontoon, a pedal boat or something in between.

But what if you don’t own a boat?

There are still several opportunities for enjoying a float or a paddle on a river or a lake. Read...

Read the whole entry»

Moms skate for free at Extreme Ice Center on Mother’s Day
Photo: Depositphotos

Extreme Ice Center, at 4705 Indian Trail-Fairview Road, Indian Trail, NC, is offering FREE skating to moms on Mother’s Day.

Learn more about more Mother’s Day freebies, deals and events in Charlotte!

On Sunday, May 8th, 2022, from 2 to 4:30 p.m., moms are admitted for free with youth admission purchase.

This...

Read the whole entry»

University City Farmers’ Market returns for a full season starting April 30th

The University City Farmers Market returns for its third season season April 30th, 2022.

It takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from April 30th to October 29th, 2022.

The market features local growers and makers, as well as live music and cooking demonstrations.

Shoppes at University Place is easy to get to by car, light...

Read the whole entry»

Find Your Muse open mic at The Evening Muse every Monday
Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC


Every Monday (with a few exceptions), The Evening Muse, 3227 N. Davidson Street, hosts Find Your Muse. This open mic is considered one of the best open mics in Charlotte.

Make sure to check The Evening Muse’s website to see if there is something different taking place on a Monday night.

Performances include...

Read the whole entry»

Celebrate Mother’s Day in Charlotte in 2022 — deals, events, and more

There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in Charlotte in 2022.

After our list of ideas for celebrating, we have a list of Mother’s Day freebies and discounts, many (but not all) at restaurants. And after that we have a big list of all the events that are on our calendar for Friday, May 7th, through Sunday, May 9th.

...

Read the whole entry»

Free event at Ballantyne Arts Center: Theatre — Live Story Time

Ballantyne Arts Center, at 11318 N Community House Road, Charlotte, is presenting a free event, Theatre: Live Story Time on Monday, March 28th, 2022, at 10 a.m.

Find all the best (and cheapest) kids’ activities on our list of upcoming kids’ events in Charlotte!

This free family event will engage imaginations of all ages.

The...

Read the whole entry»

Carolinas Black Restaurant Week

Carolinas Black Restaurant Week is taking place from April 22nd to May 1st, 2022.

During this time there will be special deals at Black-owned restaurants all around the Carolinas. Here are the restaurants in the Charlotte area that are participating. (More might be added)

  • It’s Poppin! Gourment Kettle Korn, 224 E 7th Street, Charlotte
  • ...

Read the whole entry»

Charlotte Taco Week — $3 tacos all week!
Photo: Depositphotos

Elevate Lifestyle is presenting Charlotte Taco Week from April 22nd to May 1st, 2022.

Taco joints all over town will be offering a specialty taco that week for just $3. Price doesn’t include sides, drinks, tax, or gratuity.

You don’t need a ticket to participate in CLT Taco Week, but if you do sign up...

Read the whole entry»

Big discounts for OneRepublic, Snoop Dogg, Flip Circus, and more…

Don’t pay full price for concerts if you don’t have to! We will update this page as frequently as we can, but there will still be times when you events on this page have sold out, or the discount is no longer available, or the event is over.

We also include tickets for sports events, when there’s a discount.

Please note...

Read the whole entry»