The Schiele Museum of Natural History, the excellent museum at 1500 E. Garrison Blvd. in Gastonia, is probably familiar to many kids, who visit it for school field trips. If your child hasn’t visited it yet (or if they have!) it’s more than worth the short trek to Gastonia.

Read on to see some pictures of the outdoor exhibits,...

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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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“Go to the beach” on the cheap by attending BeachFest Matthews on Friday, May 12th, and Saturday, May 13th, 2023. The festival takes place in and around Stumptown Park, 120 S. Trade Street, Matthews.

• Friday: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
• Saturday: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Check out this big list of spring festivals in the...

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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.

Invite a friend to subscribe to Charlotte on the Cheap and at the end of May, you AND your friend might each win a...

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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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Carolina Clay Matters Pottery Market takes place May 13, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at McAlpine Business Park, 8300 Monroe Road.

It’s free to attend.

Over 50 potters will exhibit beautiful new work in functional, decorative, and sculptural ceramics.

All the pieces are hand-crafted by some of NC and SC’s...

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Moms can celebrate Mother’s Day by visiting Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden for free on Saturday, May 13, and Sunday, May 14, 2023.

On both days the hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please make sure to reserve or purchase a timed ticket.

The first 275 moms in the door each day will receive a free mini potted plant. ...

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Charlotte Ski Boats is hosting Surf Bash 2023 on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event takes place at Stutts Marina, 571 Stutts Road, Mooresville, NC.

This is a free event.

Tigé is bringing in top surf and wakeboard pros to demonstrate their skills, as well as the new line of ATX boats.

Sign up for a surf session! Space...

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Lake Norman friends, this is for you! If you’re having trouble digging through the mountains of events on Charlotte on the Cheap’s Event Calendar to find things happening near you, you’ll want to bookmark this page.

This list will be automatically updated with all the events on...

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Great Wolf Lodge is offering a discount for educators during Teacher Appreciation Week at all of its locations, including at Great Wolf Lodge Concord, at 10175 Weddington Road, Concord, NC.

Teachers and everyone in the educator community can save up to 40% on reservations booked from May 8 to 14, 2023, using...

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The Green at Prosperity Village, 5334 Docia Crossing, is part of the City of Charlotte’s initiative to construct 250 place-making projects across the city.

The Green is an open space provided by the City of Charlotte. Programming and activities are organized by the Prosperity Village Area Association.

The best ways to keep up on events...

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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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Mindless Minutia Trivia is presenting trivia and other weekly game nights at Seoul Food Meat Company.

Check out our big calendar of trivia nights...

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Broad River Campground is a brand new 90 acre pet friendly campground near Charlotte with cabins, glamping domes, primitive tent sites and RV sites.

The campground has a Spring/Summer special for cabins — starting at $150 for weeknights. In addition, get an additional 10% off reservations through October 31st, 2023 with code CLTcheap10....

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VisArt Video, at 3104 Eastway Drive, Charlotte, is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation, creation, and experience of movies through education, community events, and rental of over 40,000 titles—some being rare and non-streaming. Check out the Micro Cinema for private events, parties and...

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On Saturday, May 20, 2023, Carrigan Farms is planning to open their natural quarry to swimmers for the season.

Swimming at the Carrigan Farms quarry is definitely not the least expensive way to swim in the Charlotte region, but it’s worth a mention in case you can swing a splurge. This is the most...

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Charlotte Dragon Boat Races Festival and Asian Festival takes place at Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Road, Cornelius, NC, on Saturday, May 13, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Admission is free.

This popular annual event features the racing of colorful dragon boats by various local teams, and a cultural festival with...

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Charlotte Angels, a non-profit organization that supports kids in foster care, is presenting A Million Dreams Family Festival on Sunday, May 21, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Stumptown Park, 120 S Trade Street, Matthews, NC.

The event includes a bounce house, food trucks, local vendors, stage entertainment and more.

Carnival games with...

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Nurses Appreciation Week is May 6 to 12, 2023, and we all know that nurses deserve a ton of appreciation (all year long.) We will be updating this page with special deals that businesses are offering to nurses this week. Please make sure to follow each link for the details. The dates of the deals are not necessarily on the actual dates of Nurses...

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Bring the dogs (and other family members to Dog Days of Summer Pet Photoshoot on Saturday, May 27, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 4434 Carving Tree Drive, Mint Hill, NC.

Queen City Pet Photography is offering family pet photo sessions for $15 per family. Your photo shoot can include as many pets and people as you’d like. The...

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Tuesday, May 2, 2023, has been named Teacher Appreciation Day. However, May 8 to 12, 2023, has been named Teacher Appreciation Week, so you can expect to see various days for Teacher Appreciation deals. Also, several businesses are offering special deals and freebies to educators just during this time, and some offer deals all year long.

...

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Birkdale Village hosts a free community workout series, Be Well Birkdale, on Tuesdays from April 4th to October 24th, 2023, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Please check in at 5:45 p.m.

The class will take place under The Willow Oaks in The Grove.

Please bring a mat.

You’ll receive access to a virtual punch card during your first class and if you...

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

Free parking is available in the secure gravel lot across the street, or along Brevard. It’s also close to the Parkwood and 25th Street stops on the LYNX light rail.

Starlight on...

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Topgolf is a little bit different (to say the least) than traditional golf. You play from climate controlled hitting bays, so you can play all year. The 240-yard outfield has dartboard-like targets in the ground. The closer to the center or “bull’s-eye” you get and the farther out you hit your microchipped balls, the more points you...

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There are plenty of ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in Charlotte in 2023!

After our list of ideas for celebrating, we have a list of Mother’s Day freebies and discounts. And after that we have a big list of all the events that are on our calendar for Friday, May 12, through Sunday, May 14, 2023. If you’re ordering a gift...

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Celebrate Mother’s Day by taking Mom to brunch. Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 14, 2023. 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...

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The Independent Picture House, at 4237 Raleigh Street, Charlotte, has launched its Community Impact Film Series, focused on timely issues and concerns that impact the people of Charlotte. It’s partnering with educators, non-profit organizations, and community groups to spark dialogue through the power of film.

The next Community Impact...

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Head to Cornelius on the 2nd Friday of the month from May to October, 2023, for the 2nd Friday Street Festival. It takes place at Oak Street Mill, 19725 Oak Street, Cornelius, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

It’s free to attend.

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Master Mixologist Bob Peters is offering a FREE craft cocktail class on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 2:30 p.m., at The People’s Market Elizabeth, 1609 Elizabeth Avenue, Charlotte.

The theme this time is “Cinco de Derby.”

The People’s Market Elizabeth announced this event on their Facebook page.

Follow the ...

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RiverFest is a family friendly festival presented by Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation. It takes place on the banks of the Catawba River, at Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park, 1400 E Catawba Street, Belmont, on Saturday, May 13th, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This is a free festival that includes fun activities...

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Help a mom in your life celebrate Mother’s Day with the help of Grubhub. From May 1 to 14, 2023, diners who have signed up for Grubhub+ through Amazon Prime will receive 25% off an order of $20+. Use the promo code MAMA25. This is a one-time use promo code.

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

...

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We’ve compiled a list of places to get Mother’s Day Brunch in Charlotte, but thought this one deserves a special mention.

The Charlotte Knights are hosting Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 14, 2023.

Gates open at Truist Field, 324 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC, at 12 p.m., and the special Mother’s Day event takes...

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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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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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Blue Blaze Brewing, 528 South Turner Avenue, is the first brewery in the Historic West End. It maintains a strong connection with the outdoors and healthy living. The brewery is named after the “blue blaze” symbol on the Appalachian Trail, which leads hikers off-trail to something interesting, like a spring or overlook.

Blue Blaze hosts...

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Fifth Third Bank has announced that babies born in participating hospitals in the Charlotte area on May 3, 2023, can receive $1,053 toward their college fund. The bank has been running this promotion since 2017 in various cities, but this is the first time that Charlotte has been chosen. (Louisville, Kentucky, is also included in this promotion.)...

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Piedmont Prime Time Community Band is an adult concert band in the Charlotte area, serving Cabarrus, North Mecklenburg, Rowan, and Iredell Counties, as well as the Lake Norman region.

The Piedmont Prime Time Community Band is a performance oriented, non-profit 501c(3) organization comprised of volunteer musicians. The...

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