Gaston County, which lies directly to the west of Charlotte, NC, has plenty to offer, whether you’re a Gaston County resident or just up for exploring. Read on to learn about some of the top attractions in Gastonia, Mt. Holly, McAdenville, Dallas, and Belmont, as well as the rest of Gaston County.

Then keep reading for a list of upcoming...

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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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The Charlotte region is home to several very different botanical gardens, each with its own feel and focus. What they all have in common is that they provide a peaceful, relaxing experience and a way to connect with nature.

Several are free, and none are very expensive.

All are open to the public now.

Whether...

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A new outdoor concert series, SouthPark After 5, will take place at Symphony Park, 4400 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC.

It kicks off April 20, 2023, and will take place every Thursday through May 25, 2023 at 5 p.m.

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

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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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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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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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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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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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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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Charlotte Museum of History, 3500 Shamrock Drive, offers events throughout the year, some of which are free. Read about a couple of upcoming event, as well as the exhibits at the museum.

Learn about free days at Charlotte museums!

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Metropolitan’s music series, Music at the Met, is taking place every Thursday from April 20th to October 5th, 2023, from 6 to 9 p.m.

It takes place next to Dressler’s.

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.

...

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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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Confluence, at 117 Center Street, Cramerton, NC, is a partnership of Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation, South Fork Collective, and Cramerton Parks & Recreation.

It’s a downtown arts center that supports the unique outdoor recreation opportunities in the area, the arts community and the health of the South Fork River. It’s a bar,...

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RSVP South End, at 225 Fairwood Avenue, Charlotte, NC, is hosting Country Music Night every Thursday, from 6 p.m. to midnight.

Admission is free.

The event is currently scheduled every Thursday from May 18 to September 7, 2023.

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Prosperity Village is hosting Markets at the Green on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 5334 Docia Crossing Road. (That’s near Prosperity Church Road, in the north part of Charlotte, a few minutes from Northlake Mall.)

More than 50 vendors will be at the event.

Check out a huge, day-by-day list of artist, artisan and...

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QC Concerts is presenting Angels in America, in two parts. This play by American playwright Tony Kushner that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Play. The show is for adults and will be performed in two parts with two chances to see it. It follows both real and imaginary...

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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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Every Thursday, from May through September, LangTree Lake Norman, 401 Langtree Rd, Mooresville, hosts LangTree Live, a free concert series.

The events take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

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.

...

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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,...

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African American Playwrights Group, in collaboration with Matthews Playhouse of the Performing Arts, is presenting the Playwrights Festival Staged Readings.

On Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 11 a.m., at CATCh, 4128 South Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, enjoy staged readings of original works written by people of color.

This is a free event, but ...

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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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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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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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Celebrate Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the United States, at the Belmont Juneteenth Celebration.

It will take place Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 2 to 9:30 p.m.at Stowe Park, 24 S. Main Street Belmont.

Learn about other Juneteenth celebrations in the Charlotte area!

This free cultural celebration will feature arts and...

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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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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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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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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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Southern Hospitality Group is presenting Juneteenth Cookout & Father’s Day Celebration at Victoria Yards, 209 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC.

It will take place Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 12 to 10 p.m., and Sunday, June 18, 2023, from 1 to 5 p.m.

Learn about other Juneteenth celebrations in the Charlotte area!

Admission is free,...

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The Plaza Midwood neighborhood is celebrating springtime with Midwood Maynia.

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

This popular annual festival takes place Saturday, May 20th, 2023. It features live music, food, beer from a local brewery, local artisans, a pet parade, fun kids’...

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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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Memorial Day 2023 in Charlotte will feature events celebrating the beginning of summer, as well as events to commemorate our fallen military personnel.

We will also share information on Memorial Day freebies and discounts when they’re announced. And we also have a schedule below of everything on our event calendar for Memorial Day...

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Cabela’s, at 1000 Cabelas Drive, Fort Mill, SC, is hosting an archery weekend for kids on Saturday, May 20, and Sunday, May 21, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

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

At this free event test your skills at the inflatable...

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