Meeting people and making new friends as an adult can be daunting and just downright hard. But it’s not impossible, especially in a city like Cleveland.
Whether you’re new to Cleveland, or just looking to branch out and grow your friend group, here are some ideas for ways to meet people and make new friends around the city.
Note: This is not a dating guide (that would be a whole separate post!), and is going beyond the apps and internet to some good old fashioned in-person ways to meet new people!
The best ways to meet people in Cleveland
Become a regular somewhere
The most old fashioned way to meet people in any city is to embrace the idea of “third spaces.” A third space is anywhere that isn’t work or home where you can socialize and connect with others. Some examples of third spaces include places like bars, coffee shops, churches, parks, etc. – basically any place that you might go regularly whenever you aren’t at home or work.
This might be easier or harder depending on where you live, but pick a spot. Maybe your favorite coffee shop where the barista can learn your order, or your favorite bar that does regular trivia nights. It could even be a dog park (dogs are so great at making friends!), your local library, a rock climbing gym, or a game shop. Anywhere you enjoy enough to make a habit of visiting.
The more you visit a place regularly, the more you’ll notice (and hopefully meet!) the other people who do the same.
Go to recurring events
And Cleveland has so many “third spaces” that put on regular events, too! If you find a spot you really love, give them a follow on social media and keep an eye out for regular events.
Some examples of recurring events include:
- Browns Backers events – Yes, you might watch the Cleveland Browns at home already, but if you want to get out and meet other local fans, check out a local Browns Backers event/watch party near you. There are lots of chapters throughout northeast Ohio, who all meet at a specific spot to watch every game.
- F1 watch parties at Brewnuts – If you’re a Formula 1 fan, join other local fans every race day at Brewnuts, where they offer drink specials and show the race with sound on all their TVs.
- Trivia nights – Lots of local bars host weekly trivia nights, which can always be a great way to have fun and meet new people. Form a team with new friends! Search Geeks Who Drink for your area to find some recurring trivia night options – but also just ask at your favorite local bar.
- Story Wars at Jukebox – If you’re looking for a more creative event, check out Story Wars, a monthly creative writing “contest” currently hosted at Jukebox in Ohio City. Participants are given a prompt, and then get 5 minutes to write a short story. And you don’t have to write in order to attend at Story Wars event – you can also go and just listen to the stories!
- Timeleft dinners – A super unique concept where you are matched up with 5 strangers and sent out to dinner together! These Timeleft dinners happen once a week.
Go to one-off events
There are SO many events happening every month in Cleveland that are meant to foster connection and community, too. A few accounts to follow for some of the best ones include:
- She’s Company – This local company puts on 1-2 themed events per month just for women to have fun together. Think: book swaps, color parties, theater outings, sports games, and more. Follow She’s Company for all the event info! (They do some co-ed events, too!)
- Cleveland Social Club – Another group aimed at planning social events for women. Follow cle_social for events.
- Cleveland Vibes – You might already follow them for all the tea on local openings and news, but Cleveland Vibes also throws the occasional pool party or local networking event, and they’re always lots of fun.
And also just continue to follow your favorite third spaces, because so many of them are always planning fun events for the regulars.
Join Meetup groups
Have you heard of the website Meetup? It’s exactly what it sounds like – you can join different interest groups, and find different meetup events in cities all around the world. Including in Cleveland!
There are all sorts of different Meetup groups in Cleveland, from the Friendly Geeks of Greater Cleveland to the Cleveland Dance Group. There are groups for all sorts of interests, whether it’s running or improv or language learning. Find a few that interest you, and try some meet-ups! At the very least, you’ll be guaranteed to have at least one thing in common with everyone you meet.
Pick up a new hobby
Picking up a new hobby can also be a great way to meet new people. It could be a cozy hobby like knitting or reading, or it could be a more active hobby like hiking, rock climbing, or learning a martial art.
No matter what new hobby you choose, there’s probably a local group for it!
Along with Meetup groups, you can also search Facebook for groups for hobbies/interests. A few I’ve personally found and love include:
- Hikerbabes Community – If you’d like to get into hiking, Hikerbabes is a woman-focused network across the country that facilitates group hikes and an overall love of hiking and the outdoors. The local Northeast Ohio Chapter has an active Facebook group and organizes weekly group hikes around the Cleveland and Akron area.
- Yarn Over Cleveland – A Facebook group for locals who crochet/knit to chat, share patterns, etc. They also do local meet-ups and workshops.
Book clubs can also be great for any avid readers. Check your local library if you aren’t sure where to start, or here’s a list of local recurring book clubs from Literary Cleveland. You can also check out Cle Gals Book Club, which hosts monthly reading meetups and has a new podcast!
Join a class
Joining recurring classes (like fitness classes) is also a great way to not only start a new habit/hobby, but also to meet new people doing the same thing. I know I personally get really intimidated when it comes to trying new physical things, but a group class setting makes me much more comfortable.
Fitness-related classes you could try include things like indoor cycling, yoga, barre classes, and pilates. Also consider rock climbing, martial arts, dance, or even boxing. There are so many options, and group classes are always a great place to meet people.
If you’re not sure where to start, check with your local recreation center or YMCA to see what they offer!
You can also join classes for more creative pursuits, too. You can find everything from improv comedy to baking to pottery to cake decorating classes around Cleveland.
Join a sports league
If you love being active, consider joining a local sports league! There are lots of adult sports leagues, whether you’re into soccer, volleyball, softball, or even pickleball.
A few to check out that are often looking to register single players/athletes include:
- YMCA of Greater Cleveland (various sports)
- Cleveland Plays (various sports)
- Mulberry’s (various sports)
- Soccer Sportsplex
- Caps Fieldhouse (soccer)
- Stonewall Sports (various sports, LGBTQ+ friendly)
- Cleveland Pickleball
Also check your local recreation center, as they often host their own rec leagues for softball, basketball, and more.
Join professional groups
For any young professionals looking to meet others also building their careers, there are actually a lot of local groups around Cleveland that might be perfect for you. These professional clubs and groups host both networking and social events, along with educational seminars.
A few to check out include:
- Cleveland Professional 2030 Club – One of the longest-running groups for young professionals, they host social, networking, philanthropic, and educational events.
- Engage! Cleveland – Join for networking, social, and professional development events.
- The Urban League of Greater Cleveland Young Professionals (ULGCYP) – Provides opportunities for professional development and civic engagement.
- Jewish Federation of Cleveland Young Leadership Division – Designed for Jewish professionals ages 22-45 to connect.
- Column & Stripe – A young professional group connected to the Cleveland Museum of Art.
- Women in Networking – A group designed to help women network and build connections.
Volunteer
Becoming a volunteer for a cause you care about is another excellent way to meet people who share your interests and values.
Some great places you can sign up for volunteer opportunities:
- Greater Cleveland Volunteers – They can connect you to a variety of local volunteer opportunities.
- Greater Cleveland Food Bank
- The City Mission
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Cleveland Animal Protective League
- Cleveland Metroparks
You can also find volunteer opportunities through your church, local animal shelters, and any non-profits or charitable organizations you might already donate money to. Most organizations can never have too many volunteers.
These of course aren’t the only ways to meet new people around Cleveland – but I think it’s a good start, and hopefully at least one or two of these ideas will appeal to you!
Happy friend-making!
Do you have other suggestions for how/where to meet people around the city?
Amanda was born and raised in northeast Ohio, and has always been a fangirl of her home state. Now, she’s sharing her love of the Cleveland area, highlighting all the best things to do, see, and eat in the CLE. She’s been running Cleveland Traveler since January 2019.