Dating can be expensive, but you do not have to spend a ton of money to have a good time. Whether you are on a first date or have been together for years, here are 10 date ideas under $20.
Take a self-guided tour of Charlotte’s street murals. From NoDa to South End, there are a ton of cool street murals all over the city. There are 30+ to check out just in Camp North End. Surely you can make several dates out of this activity with all the options available in the Queen City. Hop on a scooter, walk or drive around town to see them all. Check out this guide for a list of murals in the city.
Share some laughs at Comedy Zone’s Funny on the Fly. It’s an improv show where local comedians only have 30 minutes to prepare. Funny on the Fly posts about upcoming shows on their Facebook page. You can also get event info on all of Comedy Zone’s shows via their website. Tickets for Funny on the Fly are $10 if you purchase in advance.
Show your competitive side with a game night. Head to one of Charlotte’s game bars to show your competitive side. There are plenty of places with games, including Pins Mechanical in South End and Super Abari Game Bar in Villa Heights. Camp North End also hosts a free Retro Game Night on Thursdays from 7PM-10PM. Most games are free or under a few dollars.
Hunt for antique treasures at Sleepy Poet. You can spend hours wandering the winding aisles of this sprawling 60,000-square-foot antique mall on South Boulevard. Snag the free popcorn to snack on while you hunt. Sleepy Poet is open 7 days a week at 4450 South Boulevard. It is free to look. Item costs will vary.
Split a charcuterie or cheese board. Sometimes dinner is a bit of a commitment, especially for a first date. Here are some great charcuterie deals in Charlotte under $20. Craft Tasting Room and Growler Shop in South End offers $6 cheese and meat boards every Wednesday. Dilworth Tasting Room in South End and South Park offers a free cheese board with the purchase of a wine flight on Tuesday.
Check out River Jam at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. The free concerts are Thursday, Friday, Saturday evenings May through September. You will have to pay for parking which is $12 or $40 for the annual pass. It is free to enter. Get there early to walk around, grab dinner/drinks or go on the trails. Check out the band schedule on their website.
Have a picnic in the park as the weather is starting to get warmer. Pack up some sandwiches or a makeshift cheese board and head to one of Charlotte’s many parks for a romantic picnic. Two picnic-friendly options are Freedom Park between Dilworth and Myers Park and Romare Bearden in Uptown. Only costs are what you choose to buy and bring on your picnic. Check out the county’s website for a list of parks.
Test your knowledge at trivia night. Pick any night and there is likely trivia going on at a bar or brewery in the city. Most are hosted by Mindless Minutia. Check out Mindless Minutia’s weekly trivia schedule here. Cost is free.
Spend time volunteering. Ditch the dinner and drinks, and give back to the community. Here’s a roundup of 20+ nonprofits if you need help choosing. It costs nothing but your time to give back to organizations and people in need.
Go museum hopping. A trip to the museum is always a good idea, but it is an even better idea on Wednesdays. On Wednesdays, The Mint Museum, The Bechtler and The Harvey B. Gantt Museum have free entry from 5PM-9PM with Wednesday Night Live. You can keep up with Wednesday Night Live on their Instagram page.
Other Ideas: Take a stroll down the rail trail and partake in some of the shops and vendors along the way. Visit Camp North End. Take a hike. Go for ice cream. Pick flowers. Check out the local farmers markets. Go to drive-in movie.
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