How to make friends in Charlotte: A newcomer’s guide to building connections
There are a lot of things to be excited about when you first move to Charlotte — a thriving job market, lots of cultural offerings and easy access to much of the natural beauty of North Carolina. But the prospect of meeting and making new friends can feel daunting.
I moved solo to Charlotte without knowing anyone in 2015 and tried a lot of different things to expand my network. Some worked better than others, and some friendships just formed over time without much effort. But one thing Charlotte had plenty of then and now is newcomers who are trying to make friends just like you.
According to census data, between July 2023 and July 2024, Charlotte added 23,423 residents. The increase secured Charlotte a spot as the sixth-fastest growing major U.S. city.
I moved from New England, and while I’m sure opinions and experiences on this will differ, I always found Charlotte to be a particularly welcoming and open place for newbies, in no small part I think because so many people can relate to being new to the city, too.
Now nearly a decade after moving to this city, I am grateful to say I’ve found friends in all kinds of places. Some I met a few months after moving, and some connections took years.
Here are just a few things that worked well for me.
Arts and music scene
Charlotte has a thriving creative community, and getting involved — whether as a participant or supporter — can lead to meaningful connections. Visit local galleries like Goodyear Arts, Neighborhood Theatre or The Evening Muse, or volunteer for events like Open Streets 704 or BOOM Charlotte.
Joining an improv class (like those offered at Charlotte Comedy Theater) or a writers’ group (via the Charlotte Lit organization) are other great ways to build friendships through shared vulnerability and creativity.
Dog parks and pet-friendly spots
If you have a dog, you already have a built-in icebreaker. Charlotte has a ton of dog-friendly places where casual conversation happens naturally — think Skiptown, The Dog Bar or the dog park at Frazier Park. Or, simply walk the Rail Trail in South End, and you’ll see no shortage of people walking their pups.
If a dog park is too much, just walking your pup around your neighborhood or visiting local breweries or restaurants with dog-friendly patios can lead to spontaneous chats and recurring friendly encounters. I think I have met more of my immediate neighbors through my dog, George, than I have any other way.
Or, if you’re an animal lover who does not have one of your own, several of the nearby shelters like Charlotte Humane Society and Animal Care and Control accept volunteers.
Group fitness and gyms
For me, gyms and group fitness classes have been some of the most reliable ways to meet new people. You see a lot of the same faces, and there is an implicit shared interest that makes for an easy shorthand. All of my first friends in Charlotte were people I met from group exercise, the YMCA, or my closest yoga studio.
Many of the group fitness places I’ve attended, from Barry’s to Burn Boot Camp to ISI, have intentionally social environments. The trainers and front desk teams often remember names and help facilitate community.
If high-intensity workouts aren’t your thing, there are still great options. Many traditional gyms have social perks like steam rooms and saunas, and plenty of local yoga studios (like Khali or Charlotte Yoga) offer everything from meditation to deep stretch classes.
Hang out alone
Because I moved to Charlotte alone, I had to push myself to go to restaurants or coffee shops solo. It ended up becoming one of my favorite things to do.
As someone who trends introverted, being in a public space without needing to make constant small talk can be the perfect low-pressure dose of social interaction. Eventually, as you see familiar faces, it becomes easier to chat and make introductions.
I met a friend while sitting outside with my dog at Bohemian Wine Bar a few years back. She’d recently moved to Charlotte from the West Coast and was hanging out there alone, too. We bonded over shared wine tastes and, of course, our dogs.
These days, Charlotte has tons of cool coffee shops and laid-back markets/cafes that encourage people to post up with their drink or meal and linger.
HEX, Not Just Coffee (all locations), Rosemont Market, The People’s Market and Stablehand are just a few spots where you can easily bring a book or your laptop and enjoy the “third space” away from work and home. A “third space” refers to a public spot where community members can engage with others over some shared activity or interest, and it really is one of the best ways to begin to feel like you’re part of a new locale.
Local clubs
Whether you’re into books, hiking, chess, biking, board games or even beekeeping, there’s likely a local club or group that shares your interests. Joining a club gives you an easy reason to show up and connect. With Charlotte’s growing population, more groups are forming all the time.
Run clubs are another great option. I’ll admit that for me running is not my personal forte, but I know so many friends who participate in these and have built up quite an impressive group of buds that get together outside of their planned runs, too. Groups like NoDa Run Club, South End Run Club and Run CLT host weekly meetups that welcome all paces and experience levels.
Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation also offers adult sports leagues, classes and nature programs — a great way to meet others in a structured setting without a huge time commitment. One of my closest friends here recently joined an adult soccer league, and has met several people he’s connected with off the field, too.
Check out local libraries or community centers for bulletin boards and event calendars. Charlotte Meckenberg’s library system has youth and adult book clubs, and the branches also offer several other kinds of events such as D&D gaming meetups and puzzle swaps.
Or, there are groups like Charlotte Hiking Club and Queen City Game Club (for board game lovers) with thousands of members. These are just a few examples of active, welcoming communities.
If you want something more general-purpose, Meetup.com remains one of the most effective tools for meeting people in a new city. In Charlotte, you’ll find groups for young professionals, new transplants, singles, entrepreneurs, creatives and just about every interest under the sun.
Some long-running and reliable Meetup groups in Charlotte include Charlotte Social Club and New Places and New Faces CLT. Most events are casual — think trivia nights, brewery hangouts, hikes or group dinners. You can attend with no pressure and see what sticks.
Neighborhood engagement
This one really cemented for me in 2020, when I was spending much more time at home. I met so many more of my neighbors than ever before simply because I was able to be out in the community during the day more often, rather than leaving early each morning.
Getting involved with your neighborhood — especially if you’ve put down roots — can help you meet people who live nearby. Look into HOA events, neighborhood Facebook groups or Nextdoor to find block parties, community cleanups or porch concerts.
Many neighborhoods (like Plaza Midwood, South End or NoDa) also have their own unique events — street festivals, gallery crawls or seasonal markets — where locals naturally mingle. I still love getting a coffee or smoothie and walking by myself around the South End or Davidson Farmers Markets, held each Saturday.
Outdoor activities
Charlotte really shines when it comes to the opportunity to do anything outdoorsy. It’s hard not to start with the Whitewater Center, one of Charlotte’s most unique offerings. It’s a hub for everything from paddleboarding to outdoor concerts — and it’s an incredibly social place, especially in warmer months.
You don’t even need to be into high-adrenaline activities. Just walking the trails, taking one of their outdoor yoga classes or attending the River Jam music nights can be a fun, low-key way to meet like-minded people.
Take a class or workshop
Learning something new is a great way to meet people in a structured, low-pressure environment. Charlotte has tons of opportunities for adult learning — from pottery at Clayworks, to painting at Corks & Canvas, to coding bootcamps and language meetups. Cooking classes are also a nice option. (I’ve loved taking these at Chef Alyssa’s Kitchen and chatting with the folks who are stationed at the same cooking space.).
Local spots like SkillPop specialize in short, one-night classes on everything from marketing to watercolor painting. You’ll often find a mix of newcomers and locals just looking to expand their horizons.
Even if you’re not particularly religious, attending interfaith events or mindfulness groups (like at Insight Meditation Charlotte) can be a good way to meet people who value reflection and community.
Volunteer work
I’ve had so many good experiences volunteering, and it almost always leads to a chance to chat with fellow volunteers or the people who staff the organization. It’s also a feel-good opportunity to feel more connected to the community at large.
Charlotte has no shortage of opportunities to give back: Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Classroom Central, Project Outpour and Charlotte Rescue Mission are just a few local organizations that welcome volunteers on a one-time or recurring basis.
Platforms like Share Charlotte and VolunteerMatch also maintain updated calendars of volunteer needs, making it easy to find something that fits your schedule and interests.
Charlotte Coffee Club is one I especially love because it combines both efforts: It’s a social group that meets monthly with the goal of offering the chance to make new friends while supporting Charlotte’s unhoused population. Members spend the first portion of the meetup getting acquainted before going to First Ward in uptown to hand out coffee donated by local coffee shops. Charlotte Coffee Club also supplies snacks and clothing.
It always requires an element of courage to put yourself out in new ways, but Charlotte has a way of making room for you. Find some things you like to do, and don’t be afraid to do them alone the first few times. In a city full of newcomers, chances are good that someone else is looking for a friend, too.
