Making new friends in Richmond is hard, whether you were born and raised here or are a NoVa transplant fighting the gentrifier allegations.
The big picture: We want to help make it easier by sharing where to connect with people before the 5pm sunsets arrive and no one wants to leave their houses anymore.
Why it matters: The loneliness epidemic has become a major threat to our happiness as friendships are declining nationwide — and we simply can't have that.
👋🏼 Join a social club
Let's Hang RVA launched in July and hosts weekly hangouts exploring the city.
- It's free and you can check out the social calendar for the rest of the year here .
Trying to Adult RVA has multiple events per week like trivia, karaoke and book clubs for Richmonders 21 and up.
- Membership is $5 per month but you can join the Facebook group for free.
Common House doubles as a coworking space and a social club with members-only happy hours and events.
- Membership is $130 per month for residents under 30 and $175 for everyone else, with a one-time $500 initiation fee.
🏃🏻♀️ Connect over being active
Richmond has nearly 40 running groups — many of which are free and end their runs at breweries or bars. They include:
Climbing at Peak Experiences. Photo: Courtesy of reader
Become a climber at Triangle Rock Club or Peak Experiences , both of which are known for having extremely friendly people.
The November Project meets at 6am Wednesday mornings at the VMFA year-round for a free 50-minute workout.
🎳 Bond through a sports league
River City Sports and Social Club has kickball, cornhole, axe throwing, basketball and more teams to join depending on the season.
- Team fees vary but range from $45 to $85.
Stonewall Sports is an LGBTQ league that raises money for local nonprofits and has club and league sports like bowling and dodgeball.
- Fees vary per sport but range from $17 to $52.
🎓 Find your local alumni chapter
With college football season starting, alumni chapters usually have watch parties — and you know you'll have at least one thing in common.
🍽️ Talk over a dinner series
Food is a love language that Richmond knows well, especially via dinner events like:
The Underground Kitchen celebrates Richmond's Black culinary history via a dining experience that platforms chefs who are people of color, LGBTQ, or women.
Secret Supper Society has pop-ups "where strangers become friends" that are seven-to-eight-course meals with wine pairings.
The Celeste Dinner Experience at Henrico's Celeste Farms is a three-hour multi-course meal set in a wildflower meadow. $125.
🍹 Go to booze-free events
Gold Lion Community Cafe has a "New to RVA" meetup every other week with mocktails (cocktails are also available).
Kava Club , Virginia's only Kava and non-alcoholic bar , has community pop-ups and weekly socials at various locations.
🐶 Meet other dog parents
Pug heaven at a meetup last week. Photo: Courtesy of Laura Finaldi.
Ruff Canine Club is a membership-based dog park (and bar) that has weekly events.
- Membership for one dog is either $355 per year, $40 monthly or $10 per day.
Richmond Pug Meetup is a free monthly meetup of … pugs.
📍 Choose your own adventure
Meetup is a free social network that has in-person get-togethers accessible via RSVP. They're usually organized around common interests like:
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