Explore where to meet people in Indianapolis, Indiana, and make friends, in a city known for its flourishing culinary and brewing scene, thriving cultural institutions, and cool neighborhoods. This is a fantastic recipe for meeting new friends. Below, you’ll find all kinds of ideas and places to take advantage of the city’s legendary hospitality.
Ready? Let’s Explore Where and How To Meet People in Indianapolis and Make Some New Friends
1. Most Popular Meetup Groups
Here are a few of Indianapolis’ most popular meetups
Find more of your favorite meetup opportunities here: https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/in/indianapolis/
2. Get Your Indy Race On
If you’re a racing enthusiast, The Dallara IndyCar Factory offers a chance to explore interactive and hands-on experiences centered around the world’s fastest sport! If you want to try it out virtually first, you can get a feel for what it’s like to race at that famous track when you sit behind the wheel of a real IndyCar and race using their top technology called iRacing.
3. Swing Like a Pro
The Historic Fountain Square Theatre offers a unique opportunity to Swing Dance two Fridays a month from January – October. Come have a swingin’ good time at 8:30 if you dance like a pro, or feel free to take advantage of a one-hour basic Swing Dance lesson with Naptown Stomp at 7:30 first. Seems like a great way to meet people!
4. Vintage Duckpin Bowling
While you’re checking out the Fountain Square Theatre Building, you may also want to take advantage of a bygone era with Atomic Duckpin Bowling. Restored as an original 1930s-era duckpin bowling alley, Action Duckpin Bowl has eight lanes of duckpin bowling and a vintage billiard table – another great place to socialize and meet new friends.
5. Buy Local
Indy has a community of people who support everything local – restaurants, retail stores, food trucks, and more. Small Business Saturday is a good way to show it takes a community’s support for a business to prosper. Make sure you stop by a local business. In addition, if you’re a business owner, talking shop with other people in the same boat is a great way to make friends.
6. Blaze the Trail
No matter what the weather is, someone is enjoying the Monon Trail during the day, making this a great place to meet new people. Originally built in 1847, the rail trail pioneered in Indiana an already nationwide vision: converting railways to greenways for recreation. Stop in cute cafes, shops, breweries, and restaurants as you explore the trail that cuts north to south of the city.
7. Act Like a Sports Pro
At the NCAA Hall of Champions, you can experience interactive exhibits that will make you feel like one of the professionals. Challenge yourself with the historian trivial challenge or take a look at artifacts donated from colleges around the nation. You can also meet people in Indianapolis this way, and maybe make friends with a few sports enthusiasts.
8. Journey Through History
Connor Prairie offers a unique opportunity to walk through various time periods of history and learn about science, nature, and art. Think that’s just for kids? Guess again! There are plenty of activities for adults, including various classes like primitive knife making, wood-fired baking, and more. Meet people in Indianapolis, who are maybe history buffs, and make some cool artifacts while you’re at it!
9. Support Live Local Musicians
Union 50 is a chef-driven restaurant and bar featuring fresh and innovative dishes that change seasonally. They also host live music several times per week, providing a perfect social atmosphere to meet other live music fans and foodies alike. Live music creates a great mood to help you meet people in Indianapolis or elsewhere.
10. Volunteer Central
There are countless ways for individuals to connect, but volunteer service is among the most meaningful. Indy Hub has compiled a page consisting of almost 100 organizations with volunteer opportunities in the Indy area. Here you can find an opportunity that best fits your interests and is guaranteed to open doors to socializing with like-minded people in the area.
Most of all, volunteering is a great way to practice your social skills. It kind of forces you to socialize, but in a very pleasant and light-hearted environment.
11. Visit The Indianapolis Zoo
The Indianapolis Zoo is a place where you can see and meet different kinds of animals. Tigers, dolphins, monkeys, and so many more. Get the chance to see these lovely and amazing creatures up close.
This is also a very good chance to meet other animal lovers. There are dining options in the zoo where you can relax for a bit and have a quick bite. That’s a great place where you can have conversations.
12. Tour Right With Indianapolis Cultural Trail
The Indianapolis Cultural Trail aims to connect people with the spirit of the city. You’ll get the chance to learn more about the city and its culture here. You can also participate in a food trail where you can hop from one restaurant to another and taste different kinds of cultural dishes. This is a good place to both meet people and learn more about the city you’re in.
13. Join a Fitness Social Group
If you’re a fitness fanatic you might agree that doing it alone can be exhausting! At times, you might even feel like giving up on your goals. So, why not do it as a group? Yes, you can join an Indianapolis social group to spice up the fitness experience. It is one way to get some solidarity on a fitness journey and help you stay resilient.
Feel free to engage in diverse conversations to break the ice and create valuable friendships. This can help cement your newfound friendships. You might even build social circles that will come in handy when you need them. You can join an Indianapolis Fitness Social Group for workouts done at around 6 am once or twice a week. You will love the experience and solidarity of being in a fitness social group.
In conclusion, I’d like to say that you need an open mind and open heart. Consider meeting people in Indianapolis with some enthusiasm and optimism. And if things don’t work out quickly, make sure you keep trying – don’t give up easily. If you find that you experience difficulty in really connecting with people, then maybe you first need to improve your social skills.
Check out this eBook for that so you can interact, make conversations, and connect with people so much easier.