Let’s explore social events in Edinburgh, Scotland happening this week. Local events are a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Look through this page and consider going out and socializing during one of these social events.
Social events are great and offer a world of possibilities. You can make new friends, learn new skills, see things from different perspectives and it’s fantastic for your mental health. And never before has companionship and being able to spend time with others been as important as it is today.
You probably remember being a kid and going up to another person your age and saying, “Do you want to be friends?” and that was pretty much that. Friend made. Alas, it’s not quite as simple now that we’re grown up, but it doesn’t have to be as difficult or as awkward as we think. There are thousands of people out there who would love to meet up with others, finding them just takes a bit of help and that’s what we’re here for.
On this page, we hope you’ll find some interesting events in Edinburgh where you can make some new friends.
Local Groups’ Events in Edinburgh
BACHATA BEGINNER COURSE – Learn how to dance Bachata (Starting 2nd September)
◦ When: Monday, Sep 9th
◦ Where: The Mash House
**Join us for our fresh** **Bachata Beginners Course**!
Whether you’re new to dancing or looking to get back to it, this course is perfect for total beginners and dancers with some experience alike. Our friendly instructors, *Chrysoula and Joanna*, will kick off the evening with beginner Bachata dance lessons to get everyone on their feet and grooving to the rhythm.
🎫Drop-in price for one lesson(…)
September Data Science & AI Meetup – Vector Databases + AI for Drug Discovery
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: Codebase
Our second Data Science and AI talks meetup will be on **Wednesday September 11th**, from **5.30pm** at the **CodeBase** on Castle Terrace.
This event is generously sponsored by [Weaviate](https://weaviate.io/), the AI-native vector database.
Our main speaker will be [JP Hwang](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jphwang/), developer educator at Weaviate and Edinburgh local. He will give a talk “What’s (…)
😆😆MEET PEOPLE YOUR AGE ! 🍺🍻🥃
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: The Strathmore Bar
Hey Guys,
Setting up another one of these casual meets
Theres no real format with this, you just come along, chat with people, see who you vibe with. It’s pretty chilled
WhatsApp group for event discussion: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JEfIjkkAb774t0u6WJjfWv
See you there xx(…)
Beach party
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: Portobello Beach
Come join us for a magical day at Portobello beach. Yea- the picture is not of Porty but I liked it.
We plan to chill, eat, drink and be merry. Feel free to do whatever you want while with us on the beach – go for a wander, have a swim or just dip your toes in the water, sunbathe, read a book or have a blether.
You are welcome to join us for just an hour or two or stay to watch the sun go down. (…)
Friday Night Games @ The Hampton By Hilton Hotel
◦ When: Friday, Sep 13th
◦ Where: Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End
**TYPICAL GAMES**: Everything from party games to strategic epics!
**GAMES LIBRARY**: BYO, plus small library on site
**FOOD & DRINKS**: Bar + Starbucks, some pizzas (Staff may be slow serving due to numbers attending).
**What better way to celebrate the end of another week than with some drinks, chat and games!** The Grassmarket centre is busy over the festival, so were over with our new friends(…)
Edinburgh Summerhall Writing Group (at The Gallery Bar)
◦ When: Tuesday, Sep 10th
◦ Where: MF Coffee Shop
Working on a poem, a novel, an article, or an essay? Whatever you are writing, this session is about helping each other stay focused and motivated. We will be following the Pomodoro Technique, which entails writing for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break. We share our aims for the session at the beginning, and then debrief at the end. All writers welcome.
Sessions will be held in The Gallery(…)
Make friends & BlaBla Language Exchange Edinburgh
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: The Queens Arms
**⚠️⚠️⚠️ 🍹/🍔 You are asked to order a drink or something to eat BEFORE joining the group (MANDATORY) ⚠️⚠️⚠️**
Meet new people – Make international and local friends – Speak languages (mingle) – Have fun 😉
**👉 Any question or request?** **[Reach out to us on Instagram](www.instagram.com/blablalanguage) !**
**👉 Some guidelines for a delightful experience:**
\- 🍺🥤 You are asked to order a dr(…)
Beach Campfire/Bonfire at Mussleburgh Beach 🔥
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: Car Park
Join us for a magical evening by the sea at Mussleburgh Beach. We’ll gather around a cosy Campfire/Bonfire, share food, and enjoy the serene atmosphere amongst boast and waves.
Bring your friends, some snacks, and your favourite beach blanket for a great time with a few smiles
**Event Details:**
* **Time**: 6:30 PM onwards
* **Location**: Mussleburgh Beach
* **Bonfire Location**: [https://w3w.c(…)
Edinburgh Enlightened Souls Group
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: Hampton by Hilton Edinburgh West End
This group is for anyone who has had, or is interested in, a spiritual, psychic, near-death or other-worldly experience.
Come and meet, share or listen with others at our relaxed, casual event.
Please also note that spaces are limited so only RSVP if you are definitely going to attend, we understand emergencies can happen last minute so if this happens please amend your RSVP rather than leave it (…)
Ascension in September
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: the Wee Red Bar
Ascension is Edinburgh’s leading alternative club night, bringing you the best in Electro/Industrial/EBM/Noise – Goth/Darkwave/Post Punk/Alternative 80’s every month.
Resident DJ’s: mr. SINister & DJX.
Ascension takes place at The Wee Red Bar
Admission £6
Cash at the door and card only payments at the bar.(…)
Dean village & Water of Leith walk
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: undefined
We’ll meet at Haymarket station at 12 and from there get supermarket lunch and snacks nearby and head down to Dean Village – about a 20 minute walk.
Dean village is a picturesque historic little village around the Water of Leith. It’s a really amazing place to see in person!
We’ll have lunch down there and enjoy the sites, then once done we can take a slow wander along the Water of Leith towards(…)
Shut Up & Write!
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: Starbucks Coffee
Having trouble focusing/being productive, or do you simply need a change of scene from your usual writing environment? Come along to Shut Up & Write! on Thursdays for an hour of focused writing, in an informal and supportive atmosphere. This is for writers of any genre and you do not have to share your work.
Most people who come find it helpful to be in the company of other people with the same g(…)
Networking for founders, creators, freelancers + rebels ⚡
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: The Outhouse
**Free meetups for Rebels of all kinds, since 2013.**
Casual networking events with occasional fireside chats from founders, creators and successful business owners. No formal agenda, or dress-code (please wear something though). Drinks sold at the bar.
This event is free thanks to our members (join here: dffrnt.so/benefits), our partners (dffrnt.so/partners), our volunteer hosts and our generous (…)
EDINBURGH QUIZZERS – Dr Paul Pub Quiz @ The Amber Rose
◦ When: Monday, Sep 9th
◦ Where: Amber Rose Pub
Come and join us for a fun Dr Paul quiz. This week it’s a £100 rollover jackpot for the cash part of the quiz (£2 to enter). Main quiz is free – bar tab plus other prizes to be won.
We can meet from 7.30pm for drink/food/chat before quiz (quiz starts at 8pm).
2 tables booked under “Elaine Mackie”
Hope to see you there.(…)
French, Spanish & English Language Exchange
◦ When: Tuesday, Sep 10th
◦ Where: The Keller
*** Not necessarily suitable for beginners ***
Bonjour/hola!
Come and join us for some French, Spanish & English practice on a Tuesday evening after work. If you just want to just practise one language, that is absolutely fine! Native speakers of all 3 languages welcome and encouraged.
This meetup is also meant to be a cultural exchange as well as a language one so we welcome people from everyw(…)
Bitches With Books – ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness’ by Ruth Ozeki
◦ When: Tuesday, Sep 10th
◦ Where: Kilderkin
Bitches With Books – an Edinburgh book club for anyone who identifies as an LGBTQ+ woman.
In September we will be discussing ‘The Book of Form and Emptiness’ by Ruth Ozeki
*’When a book and a reader are meant for each other, both of them know it. After the tragic death of his father, fourteen-year-old Benny Oh begins to hear voices. The voices belong to the things in his house and sound variousl(…)
Thursday Casual Commander
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: Bellfield Brewery – Taproom & Beer Garden
This is a casual commander night.
We meet around 19:15 and split into pods anytime thereafter.
Please send your event fee to https://www.paypal.me/edinburghcommander as a friends and family transaction with the event date and I’ll mark you down as paid. International PayPal accounts will accrue an additional charge, please contact me to make alternative arrangements in this case.
Bellfield graci(…)
How does climate affect what’s created there?
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: Joseph Pearce’s
If Turner and Gauguin (in Tahiti) swapped houses for a summer how would their paintings change? Painters and photographers often talk about the quality of light in different locations but can climate influence what we create in other ways? How might it affect music, writing and other art forms? And what does climate change mean for the arts?
We meet in the back room of the pub, Joseph Pearce. Any(…)
Cammo Capers
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: Middle Meadow Walk
Join us on a loop to the serene Cammo Nature Reserve via the Water of Leith, the Canal, Gogarburn and West Craigs. We’ll have a leisurely wander through the estate and stop for a picnic lunch (bring your own or buy) at the coffee cart (also serves Terry’s Orange hot chocolate – what’s not to like).
We’ll then cross to the River Almond and cycle above the gorge to Cramond Brig. We’ll return to the (…)
Lothian Social @ Levels Café
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: LEVELS cafe and lounge
Levels has cooked breakfast, cereals, fairtrade Arabica barista coffee, and more. Come and join us for a coffee and meet some of the group! :)(…)
Tips to meet people at social events
You can make more friends at one party by showing interest in them than in a month by trying to meet people online. Meeting new people and making genuine connections in local events can be fun and easy if you go with the right mindset.
When it comes to meeting new people, nothing beats showing up in the real world. But none of the tips will work if you are not coming from the right place. Keep an open mind when attending social events. Reframe strangers as potential friends, it will make it much easier to approach conversations and fully engage in them.
When choosing an event, keep an eye on interesting themes, something you can relate to. Meeting new people in the context of mutual interest increases your chances of being friends.
Research events with the types of people you want to meet. They could be people in your age group, your field of work, or a specific neighborhood. Do not be too strict though, loosen up a little bit from your expectations.
Go where people are intentionally looking to make friends such as networking events where it feels normal and expected to walk up and introduce yourself.
In this digital era, apps and websites are the most convenient solutions for finding out about local events. If you are not sure where to look for events happening in Edinburgh, you can try out Whatsoninedinburgh.co.uk, List.co.uk, or Frommers.com.
RELATED: How To Meet People in Edinburgh, Scotland
North Atlas – Heathen Underground: Edinburgh
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: The Banshee Labyrinth
Join North Atlas & friends for an unrepeatable night of MUSIC & RITUAL in some of the best underground venues in the country.
Tea and Talks: Big Cats
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: Edinburgh Zoo
Join us for a natter and a brew at the zoo!
The Wellbeing Social 2024
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: The Yoga Social
So happy to bring back our “Wellbeing Social” for it’s 4rd year!
Enjoy a blissful day of wellbeing sessions, raising funds for SAMH.
Ramsay’s esteemed and accomplished women
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: 7 Charlotte Square
This talk will centre around portraits of women who were instrumental in shaping the world in which Allan Ramsay flourished.
Curator’s Tour: Textile Treasures at the House of the Binns
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: House Of The Binns
The House of the Binns is home to a fascinating collection of embroidered textiles spanning several generations of the Dalyell family.
Alex Mullarky: The Edge of the Silver Sea
◦ When: Tuesday, Sep 10th
◦ Where: Blackwell’s Bookshop
Join Alex Mullarky for the launch of their new book The Edge of the Silver Sea
Autumn Beginners Foraging – St Marks Park
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: St Marks Park
Learn what there is to forage in early Autumn! Beginners foraging and ancestral skills – greens, berries, nuts, mushrooms, trees
September 2024 – EWF – Virtual Book Tours with Kelly Lacey & Joanne Baird
◦ When: Tuesday, Sep 10th
◦ Where: Hot Toddy
How to make the most of a Virtual Book Tour with blogger Joanne Baird and Tour Organiser Kelly Lacey
Exposure Therapy: Making Street Portraits (Edinburgh)
◦ When: Monday, Sep 9th
◦ Where: Machina Coffee – Marchmont Cafe
Increase confidence, improve your photography and reframe rejection using street portraiture as a practice.
Mastering Marketing – discover top tips from several marketing specialists!
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: YOTEL Edinburgh
Join Edinburgh Marketing Collective (EMC) for a morning of discovery, networking and inspiration to help your marketing and business thrive.
that conversations event Edinburgh #1
◦ When: Tuesday, Sep 10th
◦ Where: August_21 Coffee House
Deepen your connection with a friend, family member or partner.
Chambers Networking Lunch
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: Mercure Livingston Hotel
Joint networking with Mid & East Lothian Chamber
Employment Law Update
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: Carnegie Conference Centre
General employment law update.
Saving the World with the Circular Economy
◦ When: Wednesday, Sep 11th
◦ Where: The Melting Pot
Launching our Social Impact Speaker series! These are events designed to showcase social impact in Scotland.
TheGetDown #7 – DELFONIC (BERLIN) MARTIN ROCHE (IRELAND)
◦ When: Friday, Sep 13th
◦ Where: Leith Arches
TheGetDown #7 8 DJ’S 2 SPACES Friday 13th August 2024
International talent alongside experienced DJ’s & Newer Selectors
Running Great Workshops
◦ When: Friday, Sep 13th
◦ Where: St Margaret’s House
Build your facilitation skills to run impactful and empowering workshops with Tripod’s Running Great Workshops training!
Understanding Autism: Level 2 – Taking a closer look – 12 Sep 2024
◦ When: Thursday, Sep 12th
◦ Where: Tollcross Community Centre
In Person Event Template with all questions
Shitting It To Nailing It
◦ When: Monday, Sep 9th
◦ Where: Orocco, West Church, 14 Old Edinburgh Rd
A one day workshop with Tricia Murray, business mentor and Louise Day voice coach getting you nailing speaking on video.
Harry Potter Bridge, Hogwarts Express and the Highlands Day Trip
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: Pick Up Point and Departure
Harry Potter Bridge, Glencoe and the Highlands Day Trip
Sip & Savour (Food & Wine Pairing)
◦ When: Saturday, Sep 14th
◦ Where: Victor Hugo Deli – Leith Shore
Come enjoy a delightful evening of tasting various wines paired perfectly with delicious bites at our Sip & Savour evening
Events for Expats and Locals to meet
InterNations Edinburgh -Let’s Welcome Autumn at Hamilton’s
◦ When: Friday, Sep 20th
◦ Where: Hamilton’s
Situated in the vibrant neighborhood of Stockbridge Hamilton’s has long-established itself as a great place to eat, drink and enjoy!
We have an area reserved at the bar.
See you soon!!