Explore where and how to meet people in Providence, Rhode Island, and start making friends. The hidden gem of New England is a compact little city that has an innovative and forward-thinking culture and art scene like no other. And there are plenty of opportunities to connect with new friends over the city’s top obsession… coffee.
How & Where To Meet People In Providence, Rhode Island, and Start Making Friends
1. Most Popular Meetup Groups
Here are a few of Providence’s most popular meetups
- Rhode Island Hiking Club “Walks and Rambles”
- 20’s & 30’s Around Providence
- The Providence Collective
Find more of your favorite meetup opportunities here: https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/ri/providence/
2. Put the Pedal to the Metal
Providence Bicycle is Rhode Island’s premier bike shop, but it’s no ordinary retail and repair establishment! Meet other bicycle enthusiasts on their regularly scheduled “Bike and Beer” rides. These are two-hour, moderately paced bike rides with a trip to the local tavern at the end to enjoy a beer with your new friends.
3. Ride the Brews Cruise
Rhode Islanders LOVE beer! If you’re looking to meet some folks on the weekend and try some new craft brews without worrying about driving, the Brews Cruise is for you. Choose from several all-inclusive tours offered weekly around the state of Rhode Island and into parts of Connecticut. Learn about the craft of brewing great beer… conversation will flow as easily as the brews when you’re on a bus with strangers.
4. Explore the Creative Scene
Support local artists with Gallery Night, offered on the third Thursday of every month from March through November. This unique gathering is comprised of twenty-one of the city’s hot “art spots,” who open their doors and invite you to a visual arts party. The Art Bus is a free guided tour, or you can walk or drive to the galleries of your choice.
5. Go Blow (some glass)
The experience at Gather Glass Blowing is meant to inspire its patrons just as much as the beautiful hand-blown glass creations do. Connect with others through art by attending a glassblowing class and making your own unique glass creation. Most of all, you can learn how to craft an ornament, drinking glass or paperweight, and meet some other creative souls in the process!
6. Get Chill with the Bruins and Meet People in Providence
Meet other hockey enthusiasts by attending one of the longest, most successful player development partnership games in hockey history – The Providence Bruins. Check out a home game at the famous Dunkin Donuts Center. The team is very active on social media, therefore there are unique ways to meet other fans at specially-themed games or awesome Twitter promotions.
7. See a… Ghost?
Ghost stories aren’t just for Halloween! Voted one of the top ten ghost tours by Trip Advisor, Providence Ghost Tour leads you by lantern light through the darkened streets of the historic East Side, sharing with you stories that will be sure to send a chill down your spine. With nearly 6,000 Facebook followers, you’re bound to meet others with similar interests in both history and the supernatural. Although time has changed the area, many of the houses on the tour date back to before the Revolution. It doesn’t get more authentic than that.
8. Paddle the City
Providence Kayak offers single and tandem kayak rentals from the heart of downtown Providence. Discover urban Providence at your own pace as you paddle through the picturesque bridges, cobblestone walkways, and green riverbanks. Be daring and rent a tandem kayak with another paddler and make a new friend while navigating the beautiful waterways only this area can offer. Since kayaking is such a fun and light-hearted activity, it’s ideal if you want to meet people in Providence.
9. Be a Person of Steel
The Steel Yard offers unique classes and a safe environment with something for everyone. Learn the to heat and shape steel in their blacksmithing class, learn to make a Viking wood-axe, or learn welding. Sound too scary? You can also take jewelry making or ceramics. No matter which class you choose, this venue offers an intimate and diverse environment to meet others.
10. Become a WaterFire Volunteer
WaterFire has captured the imagination of over ten million visitors, bringing life to downtown, and revitalizing Rhode Island’s capital city. It boasts over eighty sparkling bonfires, flickering firelight on the arched bridges, torch-lit vessels traveling down the river, and enchanting music from around the world to engage all the senses when you stroll the paths of Waterplace Park. There are myriad ways to volunteer and meet other do-gooders while helping out your community! Find a list of opportunities here.
11. Find a Fitness Social Group Near You
As a fitness lover, you know that staying fit does need you to put in the work: run, work out consistently, and be mindful of your diet. You don’t have to do it alone, though. You can join a Providence social group of like-minded people who are also on the fitness journey. You can join November Project’s Providence Social Group to elevate the fun and skyrocket your fitness adventure. The group usually has sessions at 6 am once or twice a week.
When you find a good social group, ensure to keep your conversations interesting. You can get to know each other in a more personal and more profound sense. You can talk about what you do when you are not working out. This creates social integration at a deeper level.
In conclusion, you never know exactly where you’ll meet people in Providence, and who will be the best fit for making friends. What you can know right now, is that your social skills and friendship reflexes will need to be ready. The best way you can achieve that is to learn and make sure you’re equipped with the techniques Paul Sanders shares in our training.