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Charlotte On The Cheap

In This Issue...

4 Food Truck Fridays this week — where to find your favorite food trucks


Food Truck season is in full swing in Charlotte!

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

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Drive-in movies near Charlotte — what to see this weekend

There are three drive-in theaters fairly close to Charlotte, and they are a great source of affordable family entertainment.

Hound’s Drive-In, in Kings Mountain, and Badin Road Drive-In, in Albemarle, are both operating. Sunset Drive-In, in Shelby, is not open for the season yet.

In addition to those three, there are often pop-up...

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Free and cheap things to do in Charlotte this weekend

This list includes things to do in Charlotte, NC, and surrounding areas, this weekend, from Friday 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, but, of course, the definition of...

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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...

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Queen Charlotte Fair returns April 14 to 24

Queen Charlotte Fair is bringing some fun to the area from April 14th to 24th, 2022. It will be at the Route 29 Pavilion, 5650 Sandusky Blvd., Concord. This is at the intersection of Hwy 29 and Bruton Smith Blvd.

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

Hours of Queen Charlotte Fair

  • Monday: 1 to 10 p.m.
  • Tuesday to...

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This weekend at Charlotte SHOUT!: Spray Jam, Indie Fest, live chalk art, much more…

Charlotte SHOUT! is a major event that debuted in 2019. It is a presented by Charlotte Center City Partners.

It is returning to Uptown Charlotte April 1st to 17th, 2022, and will be the biggest festival Charlotte has ever seen.


The festival will feature music, art, poetry, food, interactive activities, large arts installations, kids’...

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Updated day by day list of outdoor concerts in Charlotte (mostly free)

There’s no shortage of outdoor concerts in the warmer months in Charlotte. Concert series are starting to be announced, and we’re adding them here as we learn the schedule.

We are updating this list all the time when more are announced.

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

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Lady Patriot – Staged reading of a Ted Lange play at Starlight on 22nd (and more)
Photo courtesy of Starlight on 22nd

Starlight on 22nd, at 422 E. 22nd Street, Charlotte, boasts a relaxed lounge atmosphere, and beer, wine, spirits and art.

According to North Carolina law it operates as a private club, and, thus, is required to charge a membership fee. The fee is $1 per year.

Free parking is available in the secure gravel...

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Free Easter Bunny pictures in 2022 at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s — learn all the details!
Courtesy of Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s

The Easter Bunny is coming to Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops in 2022, and we’ve got the details!

Find more Easter egg hunts and Easter bunny pictures in the Charlotte area.

The Easter Bunny will be at both Bass Pro Shops at Concord Mills and Cabela’s in Fort Mill.

Hours:

  • ...

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Free pickleball lesson

Charlotte PickleBallers is a Meetup group that gets together to play pickleball. The group is for all levels of Charlotte pickleballers. You’ll get opportunities to begin or improve your game, and meet lots of people to play pickleball with.

Not familiar with Pickleball? It’s similar to tennis, but with a few differences. The...

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Markets at 11 open air markets in Ballantyne April 9

Markets at 11 is a new open air market that Esther & Elsa and Northwood Office are bringing to Ballantyne. The events will include live music, picnicking, outdoor yoga, shopping, food trucks and more.

It will take place at Ballantyne’s Backyard, 11611 N. Community House Road, Charlotte. Free parking is available.

Check out a huge,...

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Easter Brunch in Charlotte NC — both dining out and eating at home
Photo: Depositphotos

Looking to celebrate Easter the easy way? That is, without the cooking?

Check out our list of Charlotte area restaurants and grocery stores where you can order an Easter brunch or dinner to enjoy at home. We’re limiting our list to places where you can get an Easter meal for around $40 or under, per person.

In...

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Uptown Live parties (and more) at D9 Brewing Uptown Charlotte
Photo courtesy of D9 Brewing

D9 Brewing Uptown Charlotte is at 650 E Stonewall Street, Charlotte, on the ground level of Savoy Apartments.

Check out a huge calendar of events at Charlotte breweries.

The brewery features an indoor lounge, an outdoor concert pavilion and a 5,000 square foot beer garden.

In addition to D9 beers, ciders and...

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Empanada Fest at Camp North End April 9

The inaugural Empanada Fest will take place April 9th, 2022! It will be at Camp North End, 300 Camp Road, Charlotte, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission is free, with food and drink for purchase.

There will be live music, dancing and a DJ.

And, of course, empanadas! You’ll be able to purchase all kinds of empanadas, including baked,...

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Shoppes at University Place’s Spring concert series 2022


Shoppes at University Place’s longstanding concert series returns to the bandstand near the lake. They’ve just announced the lineup of their spring concert series.

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.

The...

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Block Party Lake Norman at D9 Brewing LKN

D9 Brewing Co. LKN is at 11138 Treynorth Drive, Cornelius. D9 Brewing Lake Norman is a community-oriented taproom that encourages fans to gather with friends and enjoy a pint.

They host lots of free events, like pop-up markets, live music and festivals. You can find them all on their Facebook page.

Please note that there is a second...

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Spring and Summer concert series at Stonecrest Shopping Center

Stonecrest Summer Concert Series takes place every Friday and Saturday through August 27th, 2022.

This is a free concert series.

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.

Find the concert lineup here.

Photo: Depositphotos

...

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Brewers at 4001 Yancey: Beer Garden Movies, trivia, more…


Brewers at 4001 Yancey is a group of like-minded brewers from Victory Beer Co. & Southern Tier Brewing Co. The taproom features well-known varieties, as well as exciting new offerings designed for the local market. There is also a full-service kitchen and dining spaces.

Keep an eye on Brewers at 4001 Yancey’s Facebook page for...

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Pimento Cheese Fest at NoDa Brewing Co.

NoDa Brewing Company, at 2921 N. Tryon St., hosts many free events.

Check out NoDa Brewing Company’s Facebook page for information on events like:

  • Trivia
  • Beer releases
  • Run club
  • Live music
  • You Drink We Donate Fundraisers
  • NoDa Hop Yoga
  • More

Here are a few highlighted events (and scroll down for a huge list of events taking place...

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Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Charlotte in 2022 with parties and special deals

Charlotte’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations are coming back. Read on for a list of restaurant deals, and then keep reading for a list of Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

If you’re not doing this already, you can subscribe to Charlotte on the Cheap’s daily emails (just one a day), and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

...

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Easter Egg Hunt in Kings Mountain, NC

The City of Kings Mountain, NC, is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 16th, 2022, at 10 a.m.

Find more Easter egg hunts and Easter bunny pictures in the Charlotte area.

It takes place at Rick Murphrey Children’s Park, 211 Cleveland Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC.

It’s free to attend and includes an egg hunt, petting zoo,...

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Free family meal bags and children’s Easter treats at Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic
Image: Depositphotos

Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic and StarMed Healthcare will continue their annual Easter tradition of giving back to the community by distributing 350 family meal bags on Saturday, April 9th, 2022.

Distribution will begin at 10 a.m. at each of the four Keith Clinic Estramonte Chiropractic locations in Charlotte and...

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Loch Norman Highland Games April 9-10

Loch Norman Highland Games is is returning in 2022, after a two-year absence! This festival offers two days of fun and Scottish culture for the whole family.

It takes place at Historic Rural Hill, 4431 Neck Road, Huntersville, Saturday, April 9th, and Sunday, April 10th, 2022.

If you hold tickets from 2020, those tickets will be honored.

The...

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Spring Plant Sale at UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens April 7-9

Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC


UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, 9090 Craver Road, is free to visit. It also hosts many free and inexpensive events.

Read on to learn a little bit about the Gardens, and about some of the upcoming events. Make sure to keep reading to learn about the Spring Plant Sale on April 7th to 9th, 2022. The gardens are a...

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Free events at Tommy’s Pub in April include live music, karaoke, open mics, more…

Tommy’s Pub, 3124 Eastway Drive, is a small neighborhood bar that’s big on music and community. It is now hosting both indoor and outdoor events.

Go to Tommy’s Pub’s Facebook page, where they regularly provide updates about upcoming music.

Upcoming Events at Tommy’s Pub

Here are some upcoming events in spring...

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10+ free paper shredding events in Charlotte,Concord, Mint Hill, Matthews, and more…

Shredding your documents is a one way to protect yourself from identity theft and other forms of fraud. Shred pre-approved credit card offers, tax records, employment records, old bills, out-of-date account statements and other personal documents that include confidential information.

Several organizations regularly hold free paper shredding...

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Cinco de Mayo party at Metropolitan

Metropolitan, at 1111 Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte, is hosting a Cinco de Mayo party on Thursday, May 5th, 2022, from 5 to 9 p.m.

Find a big list of Cinco de Mayo events in Charlotte.

Admission and parking are free.

The celebration includes:

  • Live music
  • A food truck
  • Margaritas from Dresslers
  • Beer from Sycamore Brewing
  • Face painting
  • Braid bar
  • ...

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8 Must-See Charlotte Area Gardens to visit

Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

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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Prom for adults at NoDa Company Store, plus trivia, Sunday Fun Day free lunch and more…

NoDa Company Store, 3221 Yadkin Avenue, might be NoDa’s best hangout. There’s ample seating, they sell food and drink (much of it local), host food trucks, and mix up some really good Sangria, as well as their signature NoDa Colada.

NoDa Company Store. Photo by Mace Publishing, LLC

And the setting is possibly (probably?) the most...

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City Walks returning in person in late April and early May, 2022
Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC


The best way to explore a city is on foot, which is why City Walks have been so popular last year, and filled up so quickly.

They haven’t taken place in person since 2019, but they’re back in 2022, taking place from April 25th to May 8th.

These walks are led by historians, neighborhood leaders,...

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Kannapolis’ Summer Concert and Movie Series 2022

Kannapolis’ Summer Entertainment Series 2022 includes a diverse lineup of music, fun family movies in both English and Spanish, and children’s entertainment. These are all free events. Some of the concerts are followed by fireworks.

While you’re in Kannapolis make sure to explore the city, especially the beautifully...

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Dozen Years of Digging Festival at Winterfield Community Garden

Dozen Years of Digging is a spring festival celebrating the 12-year anniversary of Winterfield Community Garden.

The free festival takes place at the garden, at 3105 Winterfield Place, Charlotte, on Saturday, May 14th, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

The festival is a celebration...

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USA Football Blitz — free football camp for kids, with clinics, inflatables and more
Photo courtesy of USA Football

USA Football is presenting USA Football Blitz on Saturday, May 7th, 2022, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at American Legion Memorial Stadium, 1218 Armory Drive, Charlotte.

This is a FREE event for boys and girls ages 5-14. No football experience is needed. Register here.

Find all the best (and cheapest) kids’...

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Find the cheapest gas in Charlotte area

Photo: Depositphotos

Find the cheapest gas prices in the Charlotte area in the chart below. Powered by Gas Buddy.

The Gas Buddy map below will show the places that have cheap gas near you, and the chart will show the cheapest gas prices in the Charlotte area. All information is supplied by Gas Buddy users.

But remember that you may save even...

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Check out this list of Charlotte chocolate makers for Easter
Photo: Depositphotos

Why not splurge on some good local chocolate for Easter? We’ve put together a list of chocolatiers in the Chocolate area, with information on how to place orders.

Visit each website, and, if available, visit in person, to get the full scope of what’s offered.

Twenty Degrees Chocolates

Where: Design Center of...

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Dine SHOUT! — special tasting menus at restaurants during Charlotte SHOUT

Charlotte SHOUT!, from April 1st to 16th, 2022, is presenting a huge menu of art and culture, including music, art installations, dance, and much more.

One additional component is food. Throughout the 16 days of the festival, restaurants in Uptown and South End are participating in Dine SHOUT!

Participating restaurants will be offering...

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Earth Day Celebrations in Charlotte for 2022

This year, 2022, marks the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day.

In-person Earth Day celebrations are returning this year. Read on for a list of major events, followed by some ways to celebrate Earth Day at home, and then a day by day list of all Earth Day events on Charlotte on the Cheap’s calendar.

If you’re not doing this already,...

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