This list includes things to do in Charlotte, NC, and surrounding areas, this weekend, 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 more.

We focus on free and cheap...

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Save money at Carowinds with these exclusive discounts!

Carowinds is in full swing for the summer and one highlight is the 4th of July. Carowinds will be presenting a nighttime fireworks spectacular at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 2nd, Sunday, July 3rd, and Monday, July 4th, 2022. The display will be accompanied by...

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As if you didn’t already have a good enough reason to look for the Hot Light at Krispy Kreme shops, for the whole summer, through Labor Day, whenever the Hot Light is on, you receive a FREE Original Glazed doughnut. No purchase required.

Read more in this press release.

We have a big day-by-day list of food, drink and restaurant deals...

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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 that...

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Smithfield is hosting Hot Grill Summer on Saturday, June 11th, 2022. Enjoy FREE cookout and outdoor movie events in Iredell County.

This is a chance to enjoy the beginning of the summer, as well as FREE food from Smithfield.

Daytime event: Cookout

Lake Norman State Park Picnic Grounds
759 State Park Road, Troutman
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ...

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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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Dear Soul Music Co. is offering a FREE 4-week beginner guitar course. This course, sponsored by ASC Culture Blocks, is for adults ages 18+, and will be taught by Breedlove Guitars endorsed artist, Arsena, and electric guitarist Brosnan Granger.

It takes place at Huntersville Recreation Center, 11836 Verhoeff Drive, Huntersville, on...

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If you have never shopped Sam’s Club, now is a good time to start (read on for a special deal!) Part of Walmart, Sam’s Club is a membership warehouse club.

I just came across a fantastic deal for a Sam’s Club membership! $14.99 for a year’s membership, and that includes a $10 eGift card. So, you’re really paying...

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Humane Society of Charlotte is holding its first ever Dog Days of Summer party on June 24th, 2022, from 5 to 8 p.m. It will take place at the Humane Society’s new Animal Resource Center at 1348 Parker Drive, Charlotte.

This will be an outside event. The adoption center will be open throughout the event if you’d like to meet your...

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Cabela’s is hosting FREE fishing activities for kids on June 11th and 12th, and June 18th and 19th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day.

Gone Fishing will feature catch-and-release ponds, free crafts, free photos (with free downloads) and a free scavenger hunt.

Kids will go home with a “First Fish” certificate.

Carolina Funnel...

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The 2nd annual EatBlkCharlotte Food and Culture Festival takes place Saturday, June 11th, 2022, from 12 to 4 p.m., at 835 Gesco Street, Charlotte.

Enjoy food trucks, vendors, music and fun.

Admission is free. Just pay for your food.

Feel free to bring your lawn chairs and picnic blankets. Donations accepted. Look for updates on the ...

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Gaston All American Fair brings rides, carnival games, contests, music, and more to Eastridge Mall, 246 N. New Hope Road, Gastonia, from June 3rd to 12th, 2022.

Admission to the fair is free. Some attractions will have a fee.

Armbands are $25 and will allow the wearer to ride unlimited rides for one day. Tickets are $1.25 each, and the...

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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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Charlotte Mecklenburg Library’s Summer Break program encourages kids, teens and adults to read and stay active over the summer. Everyone who signs up receives a coupon for a Wendy’s Jr. Frosty, and participants who complete the program will receive a prizes.

Read all about the Summer Break program and 4 other summer reading programs....

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Sol Nation is welcoming USCAN annual meeting attendees to Charlotte. USCAN is US Climate Action Network.

Sol Fest is a FREE event at West Complex, 1600 West Trade Street, Charlotte, on Thursday, June 23rd, 2022, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

This community-centered and family friendly event will be full of fun and education. It is a party with a...

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For the Struggle, Inc. presents the 3rd annual Juneteenth Celebration on the Historic West End Corridor. It will take place on Saturday, June 18th, 2022, on Senior Drive, in front of West Charlotte High School.

Learn about other Juneteenth celebrations in the Charlotte area!

A drive-thru car show will begin at noon, starting at McCrorey...

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Outdoor movies and drive-in movies have been taking place all year, and are continuing this spring and summer.

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Devil’s Logic Brewing, at 1426 E 4th Street, features a taproom, kitchen, event space and outdoor patio space. There’s parking on the 1st level in the parking deck across the street.

Devil’s Logic Brewing’s products include craft beer, wine, cider, kombucha,...

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Metropolitan’s music series, Music at the Met, is returning! It will take place every Thursday from May 12th to September 29th, 2022, 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....

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Book Buyers, the incredible, massive book store moved to Eastway Crossing from The Plaza in February of this year. Its address is 3040 Eastway Drive, Charlotte.

You might also be interested in our list of thrift stores, vintage shops, consignment stores, and more, or our in-depth look at three great used book stores in Charlotte.

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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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If you’d like to make your kids very, very happy, and also save some money, check out the Groupon for Great Wolf Lodge.

They are offering deals on a number of different kinds of suites, with discounts up to 55% off, with dates on and off through the middle of June, 2022.

Check out all the dates and prices.

Great Wolf Lodge features:

• ...

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Update: The contest has ended and Mary J. has won the gift certificate!

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...

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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.

They take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from May to September, 2022.

The music will go from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The schedule might be a...

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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 19th, 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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Charlotte’s biggest 4th of July celebrations are back in 2022! Here’s a list of fireworks displays, plus parades, celebrations and more. Notably, WBT SkyShow is back! Not to mention the U.S. National Whitewater Center 4th of July Celebration, Carowinds’ Celebrate America Fireworks Show, parades and more!...

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The 2022 North Carolina Juneteenth Festival has the theme of “Educating, Empowering, Entertaining.” It takes place Saturday, June 18th, 2022, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at Cabarrus Arena and Events Center, 4751 North Carolina 49, Concord, NC.

This family-friendly festival is free to attend.

The free festival will feature vendors,...

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Make Father’s Day 2022 special in the Charlotte area with these ideas about how to spend the weekend. When more deals, freebies or events are announced we’ll let you know that too!

As Dad always says, “We’re not made of money.” Also, “Close the door, we don’t own the electric company.” And...

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NoDaGardenWalk offers the chance to visit some of the magical spaces in NoDa. Several garden gates and other locations will be open for tours, to meet people who can help you with your own garden, or just for visits on Saturday, June 11th, 2022, from 10 am. to 12 p.m.

Start at NoDa...

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Greater Fellowship Church, at 2422 Ashley Road, Charlotte, is hosting a Community Baby Shower on Friday, June 10th, 2022, from 12 to 3 p.m.

If you’re expecting a baby, come on by to get free diapers, free baby bags and much more. The first 75 people get a free Chick-fil-A lunch.

They will also be raffling off a crib, stroller 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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Looking for some new things to do with kids?

If you have kids, you know that there are plenty of fun, inexpensive things for kids in Charlotte, including parks, museums, splash pads and much more.

But it’s worth the short drive to check out some of these slightly out-of-town attractions. All are within an hour and a half or so from the...

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Some movie theater chains are once again offering great deals on summer movies for kids. These shows are great ideas for mid-week entertainment, especially when it gets hot!

A new movie theater in the Charlotte market, Cinergy Entertainment, has joined in the summer fun too. Read on for a list of all the movie theaters offering great deals for...

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