Key Takeaways
Enjoy Charlotte’s cultural side for free with museum nights, public art walks, and live music in Midtown.
Savor the outdoors with scenic bike rides, garden strolls, and picnics in Freedom Park or the Whitewater Center.
Keep it fun and frugal with open mic nights, yoga at Lenny Boy Brewing, and bustling farmers markets.
It’s not difficult to find something to do in Charlotte; the Queen City is filled with all sorts of ways to stay busy, from sporting events and public art exhibitions to gorgeous green spaces and world-class museums. And if you’re trying to stick to a budget while simultaneously immersing yourself in all that Charlotte has to offer? You’ve got options.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R26ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R46ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeThere are plenty of low-cost (or even completely free), low-effort things to do that visitors and residents of all ages will enjoy—you just have to know where to find them. To save you the time, we went ahead and did the legwork for you. Below, you’ll find our official list of the best cheap or free things to do in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Take Advantage of Free Days at Museums
Charlotte’s roster of museums is impressive; there’s history, science, and art of all mediums to explore. Several of the institutions also offer free admission on select days every month. On Wednesdays from 5 to 9 p.m., the Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture, both of the Mint Museums, and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art are all free to visit. The Schiele Museum of Natural History is also free from 4 to 8 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month.
ganttcenter.org; 551 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
mintmuseum.org; 500 South Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202 (Uptown); 2730 Randolph Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 (Randolph)
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2cekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4cekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframebechtler.org; 420 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
schielemuseum.org; 1500 E Garrison Blvd, Gastonia, NC 28054
Explore the Public Art Scene
Charlotte’s creative side isn’t just relegated to museums and galleries. Its neighborhoods—including NoDa, South End, and Plaza Midwood—boast a variety of their own public art displays and murals. Spend a morning or an afternoon exploring your chosen area, and using the Art Walks curated maps to guide your journey.
Attend a Festival
There’s always a reason to celebrate in Charlotte, and its residents go above and beyond during several free-to-attend festivals throughout the year. The family-friendly Charlotte Dragon Boat Festival and the Asian Festival out on Lake Norman celebrate Asian cultures, and the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade includes improv shows, live music, film events, and more. Taste of Charlotte is another exciting event to add to your summer calendar; admission is free, and you can purchase “coins” to buy food, drinks, and tickets for kids’ activities.
Visit the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens
You don’t have to leave the city to find green spaces and an abundance of natural beauty. The UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens are free and open to the public, and the greenhouses and outdoor gardens are the perfect places to ground yourself among all kinds of flowers and other types of plants. Don’t miss the McMillan Greenhouse’s collection of desert succulents and tropical and exotic plants.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2lekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4lekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframegardens.charlotte.edu; 9090 Craver Rd, Charlotte, NC 28262
Go on a Bike Ride
Late spring and early summer days (before the real heat sets in) call for a bike ride through some of Charlotte’s beautiful neighborhoods. There is a seemingly endless number of places to ride, and you can plot out your journey using TrailLink or Tarheel Trailblazers’ maps. Just be sure to wear a helmet, share your location with a friend or family member, and bring enough water to keep you hydrated.
Shop Local at a Farmers Market
Walking around a local farmers market is a fun, affordable way to spend a weekend morning, and Charlotte has several to choose from. The year-round Charlotte Regional Farmers Market has everything you might need on your weekly grocery list: fruit, meat, dairy products, and vegetables, among other goods. Kings Drive Farmers Market and Mount Holly Farmers Market are both open seasonally, April through October.
ncagr.gov; 1801 Yorkmont Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R2sekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R4sekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframemounthollyfarmersmarket.com; 226 S. Main St. Mount Holly, NC 28120
facebook.com/SimpsonsProduceatKingsDriveFarmersMarket; 938 S Kings Dr, Charlotte, NC, United States, North Carolina
See a Comedy Show
Weekends at the Comedy Arts Theater of Charlotte (or CATch, for short) are full of laughs. There’s an improv show every Friday and Saturday night, and tickets are just $10 per person. You can purchase tickets online or in person, and the theater serves a selection of local and regional beer, as well as red and white wine options. Have dinner before the show—most of them last around an hour and a half—or snack on some concessions before grabbing a late-night meal afterward.
catch.theater; 4128 South Blvd. Suite A3, Charlotte, NC 28209
Have a Picnic In Freedom Park
If you’re not careful, even a casual meal can result in a relatively high bill. Instead of running that risk, invite your friends for a picnic lunch or early dinner in Freedom Park. Either pack your own sandwiches or other delicious bites, or pick up a few pizzas—maybe the margherita and the pistachio—from the Inizio Pizza Dilworth location.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R34ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R54ekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeFreedom Park: 1900 East Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203
Head to the Whitewater Center
No interest in rafting? Don’t forgo the Whitewater Center just yet. It has more than 40 miles of trails along the Catawba River and through pine and hardwood forests, and hikers and trail runners don’t need a pass to access them. Familiarize yourself with the Trail Map ahead of time, and check the website before you leave your house (just in case weather conditions result in trail closure).
whitewater.org; 5000 Whitewater Center Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28214
Go to an Open Mic Night
Open mic nights are one of the most affordable ways to spend a fun night out in Charlotte. The Evening Muse hosts one every Monday night, and tickets are just $5 (plus service fees). Or, you can swing by Town Brewing on Mondays from 6:30 to 9 p.m.; it’s free to attend, but you’ll want to bring a few dollars for one of the brewery’s signature beers.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R3bekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R5bekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframeeveningmuse.com; 3227 N. Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28205
townbrewing.com, 800 Grandin Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Take a Dance Class
Meet new people, get some exercise, and learn a new skill (or brush up on an old one) with the Charlotte Ballet. Sponsored by Culture Blocks, the organization hosts weekly dance classes—like jazz fitness, Afro beats fitness, and senior ballet—for all skill levels and ages. The classes are free to join, and they’re hosted at various locations in the Charlotte area.
charlotteballet.org; various locations
Listen to Live Music in Midtown
When warm weather arrives in Charlotte, so does the live music. Every Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., local musicians bring their talents to the Metropolitan shopping area. Parking and admission are both free, and the event is dog-friendly. While you’re there, enjoy dinner at 3rd & Fernwood or Dressler’s, then a sweet treat from the Peach Cobbler Factory.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R3jekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R5jekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframemetropolitanclt.com; 1111 Metropolitan Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28204
Participate in a Yoga Class at a Brewery
$5 for a yoga class and a drink is a tough deal to beat, so make your way to Lenny Boy Brewing on Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings. The 7:30 p.m. and 10 a.m. beginner-friendly vinyasa flow classes also come with a 6-ounce pour of kombucha, which Lenny Boy brews in-house (along with beer, sours, and wild ales).
discoverlennyboy.com; 3000 S. Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28217
Brush Up on Your Chess Game
Keep your mind sharp with a weekly game of chess. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library system hosts a handful of chess meetups for all ages. Join the Gaining Freedom Chess Club or Chess Time! to learn the game or start to hone your skills. There’s also a community drop-in event called Checkmate’d that’s ideal for all skill levels.
AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R3qekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframe AdvertisementAdvertisement#«R5qekkr8lb2m7nfddbH1» iframecmlibrary.bibliocommons.com; various locations
Stroll Through a Nature Preserve
For a flat, relatively easy, shaded trail, head to the Evergreen Nature Preserve. The kid- and dog-friendly walk is about a 1.7-mile loop that consists of several smaller trails, and the entire route will take around 30-35 minutes to complete. The 77-acre preserve is open year-round, and it’s just a few miles from Uptown—so it’s great for those days when you want a quick escape into nature.
1336 Norland Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
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