New to town, how to find welcoming recurring events to make friends?

[Chloe.J]

I recently moved to a new city and, while I've settled into my apartment and job, I'm finding it really difficult to meet people and feel connected outside of work, so I'm hoping to get more involved by attending local community events. I've checked the town website and a few social media groups, but the information feels scattered and I'm unsure which events would be best for someone in their late twenties looking to make genuine friends, not just network professionally. For those who have successfully built a social circle in a new place, what types of recurring events or venues did you find most welcoming? How do you navigate going to things alone, and are there specific organizations or hobby-based groups that tend to foster more meaningful connections than larger, one-off festivals?

[DanielIT]

Totally doable. Start with 2–3 recurring groups and give them 6–8 weeks; consistency beats chasing big events for real friendships.

[Eric59]

Look for recurring venues that foster small talk and ongoing activities: community book clubs, walking/running groups, board game nights, language exchanges, volunteer groups, hobby meetups. Arrive early, sit with someone new, ask open questions about a shared interest.

[KyleC]

I moved to a new city last year and found a weekly board-game night and a weekend volunteering crew to be super welcoming; you already have a common topic to bond over, and the people show up regularly.

[KevinSJ]

Propose a '3-visit rule' for each group: show up 3 times, see if you genuinely enjoy the people and vibe, then decide. Use a simple track: contact names, shared interests, next event, and plan to meet up one-on-one. Also consider roles like organizer or volunteer because that builds ties and responsibility.

[JerryFH]

Big festivals aren’t bad; some people thrive, but for meaningful friendships I’d suggest micro-communities over one-off events, since ongoing contact matters.

[ThomasR]

What city are you in and what hobbies do you enjoy? That helps tailor specifics.