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Social groups, events, and venues in Raleigh

We curated a list of places and groups in Raleigh to get social and have a great time — from strictly fun to expanding your network.

Guests view contemporary art.

CAM is a unique contemporary art museum with plenty to walk to after.

Photo by CAM Raleigh

With a variety of venues and social clubs with vibes to promote a good time, there’s so many places to get started in Raleigh. We’ve curated a list of places, events, and groups to help you get started with getting social in the Triangle.

Social Places

  • Boxcar | For the people that love arcade games like pinball + want to enjoy a full-service bar, this place is for you. There are two locations, one in Raleigh and another in Durham.
  • House of Art | A venue meant for rallying in the name of art — but also has music and drinks for an artful good time. There are events throughout the month that include open mic, comedy shows, and game nights.
  • Sports & Social Cary | This multifaceted venue offers a variety of drinks, food, and features for every patron, and if you like to switch up your vibe, PBR and AVA are also part of this venue.

Social Events

  • First Fridays at CAM Raleigh | Every month, the contemporary art museum provides the experience of great music, a place to mix and mingle, and a setting of beautiful art to explore.
  • No Skips Collective | An album meetup club offering multiple events per month in Raleigh + Durham for music lovers to assemble and dive into music history track by track.
  • Silent Book Club at Blackbird Books & Coffee | Bring whatever is at the top of your to-be-read shelf — or pick something new — and join others in a silent gathering of reading as part of the international Silent Book Club phenomenon.

Social Groups

  • Urban Run Club | Get active with this group founded to promote health, wellness, and community through running and physical activity. The club meets every Saturday for runs and people of all fitness levels are welcome.
  • Women of the Triangle Hiking Club | Besides offering multiple hikes per week of varying difficulty + terrain, this group for women also holds monthly social events to connect with those you’re hiking alongside.
  • Raleigh Social Club | This up and coming social group is for ages 21-35ish to get together and get untraditionally social — no name tags or ice breakers, just good vibes.
  • Raleigh Newcomers Club | This nonprofit group welcomes new Raleighites to the city through monthly small group activities like first Friday coffee meet-ups and beer tastings.
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