Simple Ways to Make Friends in Rochester as an Adult
Making friends can be hard for anyone, but it's especially hard as an adult. My husband and I were in that position when we moved to Rochester, Minnesota. So, how do you make friends as an adult?
I saw a Reel recently of someone wishing we still could make friends as an adult like we did as kids. We just wander up to someone, say you like their hat or something, talk about something simple like your favorite color, ask if you want to be friends, and bam, friendship formed.
But, sadly, it's not that simple when you're a grown-up.
Whether you're new to Rochester or you're just looking to expand your inner circle, there are a few different ways that you can make friends as an adult in Rochester.
It can be really hard to put yourself out there, but if you do it, you'll be rewarded with some great friendships!
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Where to Meet New People as an Adult in Rochester, MN
Here are some ideas I have for how you can make friends as an adult in Rochester, MN. I've been in your shoes, looking for new friends in this town, so I know what you're going through. You've got this! Hopefully, these will help you out.
Little Thistle Brewing has a group called the Do-Gooders who get together and, well, do something good! Make sure to check the Little Thistle events calendar for the next time they're getting together.
It may sound weird, but I've seen people post on the Rochester, MN Reddit page asking to meet up with new people quite a bit. So keep an eye out! Or make a post yourself.
Intramural Leagues
This is how my husband and I met our friends! We learned about an intramural volleyball team that was looking for more players on the Rochester Reddit page, actually. We joined the team, and now we have some great friends because of it.
Find a sport that you like and see if there's a team you can join. Or maybe post on the Rochester Reddit page yourself to get a team together.
Religious-Affiliated Groups
If you're a religious person, there are lots of groups through churches that you can join and meet new people.
Beers for Queers at Little Thistle
If you're part of the LGBTQ community, there's a weekly get-together at Little Thistle on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM called Beers for Queers.
Go to a Rochester Public Library Event
The Rochester Public Library hosts a wide variety of events. Pick one that sounds interesting to you, and you'll meet others who are interested in the same things. Some events I'm seeing on their calendar while writing this are Craft and Chat, Historical Fiction Book Club, and Puzzles and Pretzels.
If you like to play board games, Dungeons and Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, or other games like that, hit up NerdinOut. They'll sometimes host swap meetups at the store, and I'm pretty sure people will get together and play games there as well.
Volunteer
Find an organization or cause you're passionate about and volunteer. You'll meet other people who are interested in the same thing as you, so you automatically have something to talk about.
Take a Rochester Community Education Class
Rochester Community Education hosts tons of different classes all year round. Some you may need to pay for, but others are free. Pick a class that's of interest to you and meet others along the way.
Silent Book Club at Little Thistle
I know I keep talking about Little Thistle events, but they host some great opportunities to meet people! Every once in a while, they do this Silent Book Club where you come to the brewery and read quietly for an hour or so. After, you're welcome to stick around with others and chat about the book you've been reading.
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross
