16 free and cheap things to do in Charlotte: Rail Trail Lights, Lunar New Year, 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, Feb. 2
Location: Meet at Summit Coffee Ballantyne, 13743 Conlan Cir ste 101, Charlotte, NC 28277
Time: 6 a.m.
Cost: Free
Spend your early Friday morning with Matthews Run Club for a free run. All paces are welcome, whether you’re new at running or you’re an expert.
Black History Month Celebrations
Location: Charlotte area
Time: Varies
Cost: Varies
February is Black History Month, and CharlotteFive has curated a list of events so you can find celebrations throughout the month. Black History Month Charlotte 2024 will include art exhibits, walking tours, festivals and other community events.
Rail Trail Lights: Flip the Switch
Location: Atherton Mill, 2000-2140 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
From Feb. 2-19, a stretch of the Rail Trail is going to be illuminated by six interactive installations created by local artists. At Rail Trail Lights, returning for its fourth year in South End, you can also expect live music and entertainment at selected locations.
New Food Trucks at the OTC Village
Location: 20833 Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031
Time: 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Cost: Under $15
Looking for a flavorful bite to eat or a new foodie hangout spot? The OTC Village has announced new food trucks Halal Food Cart and Carnalitos, bringing in new options within this food truck community. You can grab a carne asada quesadilla from Carnalitos or a vegan gyro at Halal Food Cart.
Saturday, Feb. 3
Location: ImaginOn, 300 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Time: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Experience a day with a family-friendly puppetry festival celebrating the art of puppets presented by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library and Sigmon Theatrical. This puppet-festival includes fun events like puppet karaoke, puppet parade, performances and more.
Location: Grady Cole Center, 310 N Kings Dr, Charlotte, NC 28204
Time: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: $5 plus a $15 parking fee, 16 and under free
Save the date for Charlotte Mini-con, which will feature artists’ annexes, exhibitions, costumes and more. Check out some of the vintage comic-books featuring some of your favorite superheroes, or check out local artists showcasing their artistic talents.
Location: Divine Barrel Brewing, 3701 N Davidson St Suite #203, Charlotte, NC 28205
Time: 12-5 p.m.
Cost: Free
If you have someone in mind to be your upcoming Valentine, whether it’s your partner, sister or friend, head on over to the Valentine’s NoDaHood Market, with over 75 local businesses to shop from. There will also be food trucks, a DJ, drinks and more, so you can take a few breaks from finding the perfect gift for your loved one.
Sunday, Feb. 4
Location: Resident Culture Brewing South End, 332 W Bland St C, Charlotte, NC 28203
Time: 12 p.m.
Cost: Free
Celebrate the Lunar New Year Celebration with Resident Culture South End, where you can find traditional lion dancing, citrus fruits, red envelopes stuffed with feng shui coins and more. Learn more about this Chinese tradition and celebrate the Lunar New Year at this family-friendly event.
Homegrown Melodies: Burnt Reeds
Location: Free Range Brewing, 2320 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Time: 3 p.m.
Cost: Free but registration is required.
Spend your Sunday at Free Range Brewing for an evening of six reed quintet premiers performed by Burnt Reeds. The event will feature local Carolina composers and hip-hop beat artists performing works by Amber Ferenze, Dr. Dylan Llyod and more.
Monday, Feb. 5
Free admission to Bechtler Museum
Location: 420 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Cost: Free
From now to Feb. 16, admission to the Bechtler Museum will be free due to the exhibition changeover. Bring your partner, friend or family for a day of modern art and check out “The Firebird” outside, a 17-foot tall shining sculpture.
Grab a bite at República Restaurant & Lounge
Location: Fullwood Plaza Shopping Center, 11315 E Independence Blvd, Matthews, NC 28105
Time: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Cost: Under $20
If you’re in the mood to try a restaurant with Dominican and Latin flavors then head over to República Restaurant & Lounge. Try the Bistec Salteado, a sauteed steak, or Camarones a la Diabla, which are spicy shrimp.
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Location: The Evening Muse, 3227 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Time: Doors open at 7 p.m., starts at 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $5
Join The Evening Muse for an open-mic, which will start off with an open singalong circle and revisit some favorites before anyone who signed up takes the stage. If you sign up, expect a supportive community atmosphere that shares a love of music.
Location: Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: $5
If you’re looking to de-stress from work or overall, have a good time, head to Petra’s for a piano karaoke and sing along. Bring your friends, family, partner and take the stage while host Ryan Stamey accompanies you on piano. You can also buy a drink, give requests and enjoy the show.
Wednesday, Feb. 7
Location: 3700 South Blvd, Ste. 100, Charlotte, NC 28217
Time: 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m.
Cost: Under $20
Celebrate the grand opening of a Charleston-based fan-favorite taco spot, Taco Boy at South End. Taco Boy LoSo invites you to its grand opening, where it’ll have $5 Casa Margaritas, complimentary churros, live DJ music, hourly prizes and more.
Take a look at this former NFL star house for sale
Location: 154 Tennessee Cir, Mooresville, NC 28117
Take a look at this Lake Norman mansion that NFL star Christian McCaffrey put on the market. This mansion includes eight fireplaces, Italian marble floors, six bedrooms and more. The 11,000-square-foot mansion also has a heated swimming pool and a 12-person spa. It’s listed at $12.5 million.
Thursday, Feb. 8
Location: HopFly Brewing, 1327 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28203
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: Free
If you’re looking for a free way to get more active or challenge yourself, check out Charlotte Fit Fam at HopFly Brewing. This fitness boot camp is offered free every Thursday at 6 p.m. at HopFly Brewing. You can expect a series of intense workouts like burpees, high knees and more.
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.
