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Charlotte On The Cheap

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In This Issue...

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,...

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Where to swim, splash and take swim lessons in Charlotte

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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Juneteenth at Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture (and more)
Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture, at 551 South Tryon Street at Levine Center for the Arts, celebrates the contributions to our art and culture by African and African-American people. It features changing exhibits, and frequently hosts low-priced arts events for the community, giving them a...

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Free Patriotic Pictures of Your Pup

Bring your pups to Cotswold Farmers Market, 4921 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC, and take their picture in front of the patriotic backdrop. This is a chance to get a special picture of your dog to share on the 4th of July.

The event take place Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Feel free to dress your dog up in patriotic garb.

...

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Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society (MARS) annual Field Day June 24-25

The Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Society (MARS) is holding its annual Field Day from Saturday, June 24, at 2 p.m., to Sunday, June 25, 2023.

For 24 hours they’ll be at The Park on Wilgrove, 7750 Jim Harper Lane, Mint Hill, NC.

Amateur radio operators will demonstrate how they serve the community in times of emergency and when there is a...

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Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival & Fireworks

The Fifth Annual Gastonia EbonyFest Juneteenth Festival is a multi-day celebration of Juneteenth. It’s free to the public. It also includes several events leading up to the big weekend.

Learn about other Juneteenth celebrations in the Charlotte area!

Here are all the events associated with EbonyFest Juneteenth.

Buy Black Pop Up...

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50 hikes and walks in Charlotte and beyond

Lace up your shoes because it’s time to start walking! We’ve put together photo guides for a wide variety of places to walk and hike in Charlotte, plus a few in other parts of North Carolina.

Each of these guides contains all the logistical information that you’ll need to plan your visit.

Whether you want to get away from it...

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Fairies in the Forest: A Twilight Family Event in an Enchanted Illuminated Forest


UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, 9090 Craver Road, provides the setting for Fairies in the Forest: A Twilight Family Event in an Enchanted Illuminated Forest on July 15, 2023, from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Admission is just $5 per person. Free for Gardens’ members and children under age 5.

This is a fun family event. Kids can wear their fairy...

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Annual Fire Truck Festival at North Carolina Transportation Museum June 24

The Annual Fire Truck Festival returns to NC Transportation Museum, 1 Samuel Spencer Drive, Spencer, on Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The NC Transportation Museum is around a 45 minute drive from the center of Charlotte.

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

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Early Independence Day celebration in Mount Pleasant, NC — parade, concert, fireworks

The Town of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, is hosting an early Independence Day celebration on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Mount Pleasant, in Cabarrus County, is about 44 minutes from the center of Charlotte. It’s about a 15 minute drive, to the east, from Concord.

Check out a huge list of 4th of July fireworks, parades and celebrations...

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8th Annual Fire Party at Haylo Healing Arts Lounge June 24

Haylo Healing Art Lounge, 1111 Central Avenue, is holding its 8th Annual Fire Party on Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 7 p.m. to midnight.

It’s free to attend, but the designated charity is Wind River Cancer Wellness Programs and Retreats. Donations are encouraged.

The party includes:

  • Fire performers
  • Interactive artists
  • Ritual...

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Get Free Breakfast Crunchwrap at Taco Bell every Tuesday in June

If you can’t get enough Taco Bell, you came to the right place! We’ll be updating this spot regularly with deals from Taco Bell. Also, please read on for a big list of deals from other restaurants, too!

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...

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe: get a free smoothie on National Smoothie Day

The first day of summer, June 21, 2023, is also, fittingly, National Smoothie Day.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is celebrating National Smoothie Day by giving customers a free 24-oz smoothie with any food purchase.

Food items include flatbreads, wraps, quesadillas, sandwiches, salads, and more.

The offer is only available to Tropic Rewards...

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20+ free and cheap things for kids to do during summer break around Charlotte

Your kids can have fun in the Charlotte area during their summer break without putting a hurting to your wallet. Most of these activities are free, and the ones that aren’t are pretty cheap. Follow the links for details on each.

This list is for 2023.

Also, scroll down for a huge, constantly updated, list of upcoming free and cheap events...

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Art Walk on Union in Concord Jun 24
Mural by Cicada Studios in Downtown Concord. Photo by Mace Publishing, LLC

Art Walk on Union is an all-day festival of art and music in Downtown Concord. The next event is on Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Artists and makers will be selling their handmade art work on Union Street and the lawn of the Cabarrus Arts Council, 65...

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Oddie’s Sunflower Field is Blooming, plus 12 more sunflower fields near Charlotte
Draper Wildlife Management Area. Photo: Mace Publishing, LLC.

There’s nothing that says “summer” like a big, happy field of sunflowers. There are several farms and fields near Charlotte where the public can visit and take pictures.

On this page we will be updating the inside scoop on sunflower fields that are a short drive...

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