15 free and cheap things to do in Charlotte: Food trucks, St. Patrick’s Day events + more
This list is curated by Charlotte on the Cheap, where you’ll find even more free and cheap things to do every day, and detailed by Denise Casalez.
Friday, March 15
Location: Armored Cow Brewing Co., 8821 JW Clay Blvd #1, Charlotte, NC 28262
Time: 5-9 p.m.
Cost: Free entry
Join University City every Friday for UCITY Food Truck Friday. Taste flavors from some of the top food trucks around the area while enjoying live music. This week, you can expect food trucks like Hot Tamale, Tiny Biscuit and others, plus a live performance from Kris Hitchcock.
Location: Town Brewing Co., 800 Grandin Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Time: 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Cost: Free entry
This weekend, listen to live music at Town Brewing Co., as Jam By The Van features artists from all genres. Grab a seasonal beverage and jam the night away.
Snack at a Lake Norman charcuterie shop
Location: Table & Board, 416 S Main St, Davidson, NC 28036
Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Under $20
If you’re looking for a nice snack or to cater a crowd, check out Table & Board. The charcuterie and wine shop in downtown Davidson offers Ciabatta lunch boxes with seasonal fruit, or customizable snack boxes including salami, artisan cheeses and crackers.
Saturday, March 16
Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
Location: Uptown Charlotte
Time: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in uptown Charlotte with Irish dancers, live music and food and drinks. The festival runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and the parade lasts from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Location: U.S National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28214
Time: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Free entry, parking for $12
Kick off the spring season early at the Whitewater Center, which will turn the river green for St. Patrick’s Day. It’s also lined up a bunch of festivities, such as the Color Me Green 5K Trail Run, yoga and live music.
Shamrocks & Shenanigans in Mooresville
Location: Downtown Mooresville, 215 N Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115
Time: 3-8 p.m.
Cost: Free festival entry, $30 for bar crawl
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Shamrocks & Shenanigans in downtown Mooresville. The festival includes Irish dancers, pipe bands, food trucks, beverages and more. Tickets to join the bar crawl is $30, but the festival itself is free.
Sunday, March 17
St. Patrick’s Weekend Block Party
Location: Lake Norman Social District, 21234 Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031
Time: 12-10 p.m.
Cost: Free entry
Join Thigs Cocktail Bar and Old Town Public House for its 3rd Annual St. Paddy’s Day weekend celebration from 3 p.m.-midnight Saturday and again on Sunday from noon-10 p.m. Guests can expect food, drinks, games and live bands.
Location: Super Abari Game Bar, 1015 Seigle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Time: 12-5 p.m.
Cost: Free entry
Celebrate Women’s History Month at Super Abari Game Bar’s first Bells and Chimes Market. This market not only showcases women-owned businesses, but you can also play pinball and enjoy music.
Monday, March 18
Location: Regal Cinemas
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: $5
If you’re a movie fanatic or want to unwind with a film, check out Regal Cinemas Mystery Movie Monday. For only $5, you’ll get to see a brand new movie before its official release — you’ll just have to guess which one.
Tuesday, March 19
Location: Participating Charlotte locations
Time: All-day
Cost: Free
Get a free small vanilla cone at Dairy Queen for its Free Cone Day celebration. The offer is not valid for delivery or mobile orders, and it’s limited to one cone per person.
Arts at the Abbey: Allen Ware, clarinet
Location: Belmont Abbey Basilica, 100 Belmont Mt Holly Rd, Belmont, NC 28012
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Listen to North Carolina native Allan Ware, who will perform a variety of classical music from the early days of the 1780s clarinet to present day arrangements. Ware, who now lives in Germany, will feature works by Mozart and Anton Stadler, as well as 20th century pieces.
Wednesday, March 20
Flying Biscuit Cafe’s anniversary party
Location: 110 Matthews Station St, Matthews, NC 28105
Time: 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cost: $5 breakfast, free slice of cake
Celebrate Flying Biscuit Cafe Matthews’s birthday with discounts. You can get its classic Flying Biscuit Breakfast of two eggs and two chicken sausage patties with gravy and a biscuit for only $5, along with a free slice of cake.
Creek Week Tours and Activities
Location: Stevens Creek Nature Center, 15700 Thompson Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227
Time: 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Cost: Free
Drop by Stevens Creek Nature Center this week for special Creek Week activities such as hiking the Steven Creeks trail, learning how to keep your drinking water clean and interact with a topographical map, and more.
Thursday, March 21
ArtBreak at Mint Museum Uptown
Location: 500 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Time: 12-12:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
If you’re looking to do something fun during your lunch break, you’re in luck. You can take a break to hear from a museum docent about the work of arts in the Mint’s collection — and it won’t cost you a thing.
HITS After Six in Indian Trail
Location: Chestnut Square Park, Indian Trail, NC 28079
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Cost: Free entry
Check out HITS After 6 in Indian Trail’s Chestnut Square Park, where there will be live music from Chris Taylor & The Rumor, which will showcase rock, pop, soul and more. There will also be a food truck, drinks and kids’ activities.
Visit Charlotte on the Cheap for an expanded list of things to do in Charlotte every day. You’ll find festivals, kids’ activities, date night ideas, art, trivia and much more. You can sign up for a daily email that will keep you in the loop.
