30+ of the best ways to make friends in Charlotte
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Mad Miles Run Club meets every Tuesday in Camp North End. It's free to attend and there's plenty of time to socialize after your workout. Photo: Alexis Clinton/Axios
We've rounded up over 30 groups and gatherings to help you grow your social circle and community in Charlotte.
Why it matters: About 141 people move to the Charlotte region daily, but making friends in a new city can be hard.
Whether you're a fitness fiend or a foodie, Charlotte has a community for you.
Socialize over cocktails at CLT Social Club hangouts.
What to expect: Charlotte native and founder Katey Shehan founded CLT Social Club for people wanting to expand their social circle.
- The club, which has amassed an Instagram following of over 30,000, hosts popular day parties and other social events for those 25-40 at local bars like Goldie's and Resident Culture.
If you go: Follow them on Instagram for upcoming event details.
Go deeper: "I hated living here": A Charlotte native learns to love her city by helping others find friends
(Cold) plunge into Charlotte's fitness community
Charlotte has a thriving social wellness scene, from run clubs to booze-free day parties. Here are a few standouts:
- Mad Miles Run Club: The Tuesday evening run at Camp North End attracts the largest crowd. Plus, it ends with a dance party and live DJ.
- Morning Miles: For early risers and more seasoned runners. Meet at 6am on Thursdays in Dilworth for a four-mile run, followed by coffee at Backyard Brew.
- Chilly Coffee Club: A monthly, booze-free day party featuring cold plunges and house music.
- Y Happy Hour: This monthly happy hour, held at venues like Sycamore Brewing, is open to anyone looking to connect with others in Charlotte's fitness community.
Go deeper: I hate running but I'll exercise with Mad Miles Run Club
Join a local networking group.
Build your network and connect with other professionals with these local groups:
- Become a member of Charlotte Business Group, which starts at $29.
- Become a member of the Charlotte Young Professionals Group, or check out one of their quarterly socials open to nonmembers.
- Use your professional skills to mentor aspiring young people through The Dean's List.
- Make connections with shared interests through Linxy, a Charlotte-based app its founder describes as "LinkedIn meets Pokémon Go."
Check out a local sports league.
From pickleball to volleyball, Charlotte is home to numerous sports organizations that offer opportunities to stay active and make friends.
Leagues to join:
- Stonewall Sports Charlotte is an LGBTQ+ friendly sports org with bowling, dodgeball, kickball, volleyball or sand volleyball leagues.
- SportsLink offers adult leagues for football, kickball, pickleball, soccer, softball or volleyball.
- Black Pickleball Collective hosts events and clinics that create a space for Black and minority folks to connect through the fast-growing sport.
- Rally Pickleball in Lower South End hosts numerous social events, including Courts and Coffee, Singles Socials, and Rookies Socials.
Link up with other Charlotte sports fans.
Find other supporters who share a common love for our home teams.
Fan bases to join:
- Join Panthers fans through Roaring Riot for $35.
- For Hornets Fans, check out The Crown Club. Membership starts at $33.
- Cheer on Charlotte FC with supporter groups like Blue Furia, QC Royals and Mint City Collective. Find more here.
Chit-chat over a meal at a local dinner series.
Food is a common love language, so you'll likely bond over a tasty meal at recurring dinner events.
Options to try:
- Serving the Culture is a hip-hop-inspired eight to 10-course meal with themed cocktails.
- Dine with strangers through DishCourse's dinner parties, hosted at local restaurants.
- Base aims to connect professionals and artists over curated experiences and dinner parties at upscale restaurants in Charlotte.
- The Timeleft app uses a personality algorithm to bring six strangers together over dinner. Parties are held each Wednesday.
- Women of Whiskey is an intimate monthly dinner party series at Artisan's Palate in NoDa that celebrates women distillers from around the world.
Join a volunteer group.
Connect with others passionate about making a change in our community with groups like:
- SHARE Charlotte: This local organization maintains a searchable database of over 700 nonprofits, allowing you to find volunteer opportunities.
- Charlotte Coffee Club: This social group meets monthly with two main goals — making new friends and supporting Charlotte's unhoused population.
Spark new ideas with fellow creators and artists.
- Charlotte is Creative: One of the best ways to meet other creatives in Charlotte is through Charlotte is Creative's "Creative Mornings." a free monthly breakfast lecture series featuring local speakers and live music.
- Content Sunday: A social group for Charlotte content creators and creatives.
- Fresh-squeezed Craft Club: A creative wellness craft club by Limoncito Goods and La Bodeguita that hosts free gatherings the first Sunday of each month in Camp North End.
- Skillpop: Take an expert-led class on a variety of topics, from floral arranging to calligraphy.
Use your furry friend as a conversation starter.
Check out these dog-friendly bars, parks and social groups:
- Lucky Dog Bark & Brew: This popular dog bar has locations in west Charlotte, Lake Norman and Cornelius.
- Skiptown: An off-leash dog bar and park in South End.
- Carolina Corgi Club hosts corgi-centric events, fundraisers and parties while supporting local rescues.
Go deeper: 6 dog-friendly things to do in Charlotte
Find your girl group.
These three locally founded social clubs are hosted by the girls for the girls.
- Inner Circle CLT: Created by Charlotte influencer Nicole Smith, Inner Circle hosts monthly happy hours, pop-up experiences, and quarterly themed parties for women across the city to meet and build community.
- The Soft Black Girl Club: This social club, with events such as spa retreats and dinner outings, is dedicated to "empowering and uplifting soft black girls everywhere," its Instagram bio states.
- The Charlotte Table: A new social club with monthly meetups, calling itself a "girl group for Charlotte women in their 20s."
- Girls Room: LGBTQ+ friendly pop-up shows and parties at venues like The Music Yard and Clutch, curated by queer women.
Learn a new language and make new friends at South End Spanish Club
What to expect: A social club for Spanish speakers of all levels, from beginners to native speakers.
- Socials are free to attend and are typically held on the third Thursday of the month at Hi-Wire Brewing.
If you're interested, check out the club's meetup page for details on upcoming events. Meetup is also a great resource for finding other language clubs in the area.
What should you do with your new bestie? Check out 16 BFF date ideas to get you out of your brunch funk.
Editor's note: This story was last updated July 1, 2025.