FreeCharlotte · The Queen City

Free things to do with kids in Charlotte, this week and every week.

Yes, plenty is free with little kids in Charlotte this week: we found 16 free outings, including Mini Mozarts (Independence Regional), Falloween Festival (Steele Creek) and Haunted Tea Party (Myers Park), plus 13 library programs. Five free days and events are coming up, including two museum or zoo free days, each with its date. And three places never charge admission, like ImaginOn and Romare Bearden Park.

Last checked · Every listing links to its official page. How we choose

16free outings this weekincl. 13 library programs5free days and events coming upincl. 2 museum or zoo free days3places that are always freeImaginOn, Romare Bearden Park3free storytime calendarsCharlotte Mecklenburg Library, Iredell County Public Library

This week

Free things to do with kids in Charlotte this week

Every free outing on this week’s Charlotte list, rebuilt every Thursday. Library programs may need a quick sign-up.

Mon Oct 196pm–7pm

Family Event: Monster Slime

Gaston County Public Library - Union Road Branch · 5800 Union Road, Gastonia, NC 28056

An evening of messy monster slime-making at the library, with all supplies provided.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–99
Mon Oct 199:30–10am

Mini Mozarts (Independence Regional)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Independence Regional · 6000 Conference Drive , Charlotte, NC 28212

Join the library in musical fun! This music based program geared towards babies and toddlers encourages moving and grooving with a variety of instruments and popular songs.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–3
Tue Oct 2010am

Stuffed Animal Sleepover

Gaston County Public Library - Main Branch · 1555 East Garrison Boulevard, Gastonia, NC 28054

Drop off a stuffed animal for a library sleepover and get photos of its adventures.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 4–10
Tue Oct 2010:30–11am

Family Storytime (Plaza Midwood)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Plaza Midwood · 1623 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Wed Oct 214pm–5pm

Family Ghost Stories

Gaston County Public Library - TECH@Lowell Branch (Makerspace) · 203 McAdenville Road, Lowell, NC 28098

Old-fashioned spooky stories at the library, pitched for all ages.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–99
Wed Oct 2110:30–11am

Family Storytime (West Boulevard)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – West Boulevard · 2157 West Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Thu Oct 224pm–5pm

LEGO Club

Mooresville Public Library - Main Library · 304 South Main Street, Mooresville, NC 28115

Open Lego building at the library for kids of all ages.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAll ages
Thu Oct 2210:30–11am

Preschool Storytime: Just for Me (Mountain Island)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Mountain Island · 4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte, NC 28214

Provide your preschooler with an opportunity to hear stories, sing songs, and develop the skills needed to become a successful reader in this storytime developed for children ages 3-5, without a paren.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–5
Fri Oct 2310:30–11am

Family Storytime (ImaginOn)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – ImaginOn · 300 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, NC 28202

Enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Fri Oct 231–4pm

Magna-Tiles Free Play (University City Regional)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – University City Regional · 5528 Waters Edge Village Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262

Drop in and build your own Magna-Tiles creation!

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–8
Sat Oct 2410:30am–12pm

Falloween Festival (Steele Creek)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Steele Creek · 13620 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28273

Join us for a fall and Halloween themed festival with fun crafts, games, and seasonal fun for the whole family! Costumes are encouraged by not required.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–10
Sat Oct 241–2pm

Haunted Tea Party (Myers Park)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Myers Park · 1361 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207

Join us in your costumes for tea, snacks, spooky crafts and games. The party will end with The Best Crow Call Contest. Show us your best crow call and compete to win!

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–10
Sat Oct 249:30–10am

Family Storytime (Matthews)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Matthews · 230 Matthews Station St., Matthews, NC 28105

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 249:30–10am

Family Storytime (Mint Hill)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – Mint Hill · 6840 Matthews - Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 0–5
Sat Oct 2410:30–11:30am

Story Time at Park Road Books: Guardian of Lost Hollow

Park Road Books (Park Road Shopping Center) · 4139 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209

The author and illustrator read their new picture book about Willow, the dragon who guards the Lost Hollow Children's Garden at Daniel Stowe.

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 2–8
Sun Oct 251–4pm

Drop-In LEGO Tables (University City Regional)

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library – University City Regional · 5528 Waters Edge Village Drive, Charlotte, NC 28262

Drop in LEGO tables. Learn mathematical concepts of sorting, building, and geometry while using LEGO building blocks. Want to be notified about future events? Subscribe to our newsletter here .

Event page ↗Checked Report a problem
FreeAges 3–10
Showing all 16 free outings

Mark the calendar

Free days and free events coming up in Charlotte

Museum and zoo free days, free festivals and other one-off free events, soonest first. Some free days are only for residents or cardholders, so each one says who gets in free.

Who gets in free:EveryoneResidents onlyCardholders only
Nov7
Nov8
Dec5
Dec6

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend

The Mint Museum (Randolph and Uptown), Charlotte Museum of History, Harvey B. Gantt Center, and Bechtler Museum of Modern Art · Charlotte

Only the cardholder gets in free, so bring the card and an ID.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Cardholders onlyFree general admission for Bank of America, Merrill and Private Bank cardholders (one per card, with photo ID)
Nov21

Holiday Magic at Rea Farms

Rea Farms · 9855 Sandy Rock Pl, Charlotte, NC 28277

4–8pm (tree lighting at 7pm). Free Santa photos and characters from Mickey and Minnie to Frozen. Also cookie decorating, cocoa, face painting, train and carriage rides, a Buddy and Jovie story time, and man-made snow.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree (free photos with Santa)
Nov25

Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade

Uptown, along Tryon Street

Steps off at 5:30 p.m. Free to watch from the curb along Tryon Street (reserved seats are sold separately).

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Not listedThe venue page doesn’t say who gets in free.
Dec1
to
Dec26

Christmas Town U.S.A.

Downtown McAdenville · McAdenville, NC

Nightly (tree lighting Dec 1 at 5:30 p.m.). Walk or drive the downtown lights. Yule Log Parade Dec 10.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
EveryoneFree
Daytime hours, as often as you like

$1 EBT admission at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden · Belmont

In Belmont. The Prairie Castle Playground is a favorite with little kids.

Official page ↗Checked Report a problem
Who gets in$1 per person for up to six family members with an EBT card

Any day

Places that are always free in Charlotte

Parks, gardens, nature centers and museums that don’t charge admission.

Free to get in, but parking, special exhibits and seasonal extras can cost money. Check each place’s site before you go.

Every week

Free library storytimes

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

Baby, toddler and preschool storytimes at branches across Mecklenburg County, with ImaginOn as the hub for kids. Gaston and York County libraries run their own.

Weekly at 18 locations; Monday–Saturday, mostly mornings, plus some evening sessions

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Iredell County Public Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Baby Storytime (Thursdays 9am, Statesville Library) and Toddler Storytime (Tuesdays 11am, Troutman Branch Library), with more at Harmony Branch Library.

Weekly at 3 locations; Tuesday–Friday, mostly mornings

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

York County Library

Free baby, toddler and preschool storytimes. This fall's regular sessions include Preschool Bookworms: Fall Session II (Mondays 10:30am, York Library) and Under 3 Storytime Tuesdays 10am (Tuesdays 10am, Fort Mill Library), with more at Clover Library and Main Library (Rock Hill).

Weekly at 4 locations; Monday–Friday, mostly mornings

BabiesToddlersPreschoolFree
Find a storytime near you ↗

Keep planning

More for little kids in Charlotte

Indoor play in CharlotteIndoor playgrounds, toddler times and museums, with pricesThanksgiving weekend in CharlotteParades, turkey trots and what’s open on ThursdayNoon Year’s Eve in CharlotteKid-friendly countdowns, home by napThis week in CharlotteDated outings for ages 0–6, checked every Thursday

Good questions

Free things to do with kids in Charlotte: the FAQ

This week we found 16 free outings for ages 0–6, including Mini Mozarts (Independence Regional), Falloween Festival (Steele Creek), Haunted Tea Party (Myers Park) and Family Event: Monster Slime. See free this week; the list is rebuilt every Thursday.

Bank of America Museums on Us weekend: Sat Nov 7, Sun Nov 8, Sat Dec 5 and Sun Dec 6. Novant Health Thanksgiving Eve Parade: Wed Nov 25. $1 EBT admission at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden: Daytime hours, as often as you like ($1 per person for up to six family members with an EBT card). Dates come from each venue’s own page; see free days and free events.

Holiday Magic at Rea Farms and Christmas Town U.S.A. are free this season. Dates and times are on each card under free days and free events.

ImaginOn, Romare Bearden Park and U.S. National Whitewater Center don’t charge admission. Some charge for parking or special exhibits; the cards say so where the place does.

Yes: ImaginOn. See all of them on indoor play places in Charlotte.

Yes. Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Iredell County Public Library and York County Library run free storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Times change by branch, so check the calendar linked below.

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page and links to it. We only list a date, time or price when that page shows it, and anything we can’t confirm stays off. These were last checked Oct 19, 2026, and we recheck them every Thursday for dated events and once a month for free places. How we choose and check.

Littles Weekly

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