19 free and cheap things to do in Charlotte: Kwanzaa, New Year Eve’s celebrations and 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, Dec. 29
Town of Matthews Kwanzaa Celebration
Location: Matthews Community Center, 100 E McDowell St, Matthews, NC 28105
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Celebrate Kwanzaa with the Town of Matthews and learn everything about the holiday, including how it’s celebrated, the principles and symbols. You’ll also get to take part in community activities.
Location: Common Market SouthEnd, 235 W Tremont Ave, Charlotte, NC 28203
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Feel like having a few laughs? Common Market SouthEnd is hosting Comedy Open Mic with host Jacob Manlucu. Sign-up is at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30 p.m. There will be specials on drafts, along with snacks and sandwiches for sale.
Saturday, Dec. 30
Pineville Teen New Year’s Party
Location: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Pineville, 505 Main St #100, Pineville, NC 28134
Time: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Teens can celebrate the New Year with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Pineville as they make party poppers, new year’s headbands and experience an epic dance party and breaking a 2024 pinata. This program is for youth ages 12-18.
Location: Lenny Boy Brewing, 3000 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28217
Time: 10-11 a.m.
Cost: $5
Join Lenny Boy Brewing every Saturday for its yoga series, where for $5, you can get an hour-long vinyasa style yoga session and a six-ounce kombucha.
Sunday, Dec. 31
Noon Year’s Eve at Discovery Place Kids Huntersville
Location: 105 Gilead Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Time: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $18 for non-members, $12 for members, free for children under 1 year
Celebrate the New Year early with Discovery Place Kids Huntersville, where the event will have special activities and countdown to noon with a balloon drop. Each family will also get a winter-themed book.
Noon Year’s Eve Party at Seoul Food (Mill District)
Location: 421 E 26th St, Charlotte, NC 28205
Time: Noon to 4 p.m.
Cost: $20
Celebrate with Seoul Food (Mill District) for its Noon Year’s Eve Party, where there will be DJs, games, face-painting, ball drop and more. Adult tickets include two free drinks, and children under 2 are free.
Crossroads Cinema: “High School Musical”
Location: The Lodge at Camp North End, 300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC 28206
Time: Doors open at 4 p.m.; movie starts at 4:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Grab your chairs and cozy blankets to enjoy a free movie series at Camp North End, inside the lodge. Get there early to claim your spot and browse around for some tasty food or drinks to make the experience of watching “High School Musical” even greater.
New Year’s Party Eve at OpenTap
Location: 5010 Carmel Ctr Dr, Charlotte, NC 28226
Time: 5 p.m.-1 a.m.
Cost: Free entry
Party into the new year with OpenTap Charlotte for its New Year’s Eve party. The event features live music from Brent Cates and AJ Holt, and food from the Soul Gastrolounge food truck.
CLT NYE at Levine Avenue of the Arts
Location: Tryon Street at Levine Avenue of the Arts
Time: 8 p.m.
Cost: Free
Celebrate CLT NYE in Uptown for a night of live music, a DJ, lighting of the Queen City crown and a huge CLT NYE fireworks show display.
New Year’s Eve Silent Disco at Hi-Wire Brewing
Location: 340 W Tremont Ave Suite 140, Charlotte, NC 28203
Time: 9-12:30 a.m.
Cost: $10
Celebrate the upcoming year of 2024 with Hi-Wire Brewing, which is hosting a New Year’s Eve Silent Disco Party. With multiple DJs playing in your headphones so you can dance the night away with drinks and beer on tap, you don’t want to miss out.
New Year’s Eve: Swifty Style at On Tap Crafty Brews
Location: 188 N Main St, Mooresville, NC 28115
Time: 8 p.m.
Cost: Free entry
Celebrate New Year’s Eve with On Tap Crafty Brews for a Swifty Style celebration. On Tap is bringing Taylor Swift’s favorite foods, along with a free champagne toast, themed drinks and purple glitter.
Location: Charlotte area
Time: 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. the next morning
Cost: One per person
Get a free ride home from the law firm Mehta & McConnell, PLLC, which will reimburse the first 25 people to submit a copy of their receipt plus a photo ID.
[READ NEXT: Ring in 2024 in style with these New Year’s Eve parties, dinner specials in Charlotte.]
Monday, Jan. 1
Grab brunch at these New Year’s Day parties in Charlotte
Location: Charlotte
Time: Varies
Celebrate the new year with a delicious breakfast. Check out this list that CharlotteFive curated to see where you’ll find New Year’s Day brunch parties around the Charlotte area.
First Footin’ 2024 at Rural Hill
Location: 4431 Neck Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: Free, but donations are appreciated
Welcome the new year with a Scottish tradition at Rural Hill, which invites visitors to celebrate Hogmanay. This event is free to attend, and attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about this Scottish tradition through a guided walk around the property.
Tuesday, Jan. 2
Browse Charlotte resources for your 2024 resolutions
Location: Charlotte
Time: Any time
Did you pick out your New Year’s resolutions but don’t know where to start? CharlotteFive has curated a list of Charlotte resources where you can find assistance to improve your cooking, get more exercise and more.
Location: Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Time: 5:15-6:15 p.m.
Cost: Free for Mint members, $15 for non-members
Participate with Dancing Lotus Yoga + Arts every Tuesday for a hour-long yoga session at Mint Museum Uptown.
Location: Protagonist Beer LoSo, 227 Southside Dr Unit A, Charlotte, NC 28217
Time: 7-9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Experience MOR BINGO at Protagonist Beer LoSo, where you can play free games and have multiple chances to win a prize. Bring your music knowledge for a chance to win.
Wednesday, Jan. 3
Location: Fonta Flora Optimist Hall, 1115 N Brevard St ste d, Charlotte, NC 28206
Time: 8-9 p.m.
Cost: Free
Are you a huge fan of “Survivor” and want a chance to hang with other local fans? Fonta Flora Optimist Hall is hosting “Survivor” Nights every Wednesday, where you can cheer for your favorite castaways, play games and enter raffles.
Thursday, Jan. 4
Location: Lucky Dog Bark & Brew, 2220 Thrift Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: Free
Join Lucky Dog Bark & Brew every Thursday for Drinkin’N Thinkin’ trivia, where there will be four rounds of trivia focused on music and general knowledge. The top three teams take home prizes.
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.
