Free things to do this weekend in and around Charlotte

Charlotte's Top Picks for FREE family-friendly fun Friday, August 22, 2026 to Sunday, August 23, 2026.

(Scroll down for full, detailed list of free weekend activities.)

Free summer mini photo session with Shoott! - Charlotte - Shoott - Broadway, New York, NY, USA, August 22, 2026 and August 23, 2026; See link for times

Open House at Charlotte Academy of the Arts - Charlotte Academy of the Arts - Charlotte Academy of the Arts, August 22, 2026, 2PM-5PM

Stream Exploration - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, USA - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, USA, August 22, 2026, 1:30pm-3pm

NC BeachBlast Festival - Kings Mountain, NC - Kings Mountain Patriot Park - Kings Mountain Patriot Park, South Railroad Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC, USA, August 21, 2026 and August 22, 2026, See website for details

Grounds Tour at Fort Defiance - 1792 Fort Defiance Drive, Lenoir, NC, USA - 1792 Fort Defiance Drive, Lenoir, NC, USA, August 20, 2026 through August 23, 2026, 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM

Water St Market - Wilmington, NC - 5 North Water Street, Wilmington, NC, USA - 5 North Water Street, Wilmington, NC, USA, August 21, 2026, 5 pm - 9 pm

Davidson's Concerts on the Green - Village Green, South Main Street, Davidson, NC, USA - Village Green, South Main Street, Davidson, NC, USA, August 23, 2026, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Animal Ambassador Meet n' Greet - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, USA - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, USA, August 23, 2026, 4pm-4:30pm

Cool Down with Coloring - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, USA - 15222 York Road, Charlotte, NC, USA, August 23, 2026, 2:00pm-4:00pm