7 Ways to Find Community in Knoxville
Emilie Stooksbury
7 Ways to Find Community in Knoxville
Let’s not beat around the bush – building community as a young adult is hard. Gone are the magical days of living down the hall from college friends. In its place are coworkers you may or may not vibe with – or even physically be with in these #workfromhome days. Maybe you have a plant to befriend?? You could always adopt another dog… But while prospects may seem dismal, we have hope for you: You can totally still make great friends after college! We’re here to share some ways to make friends as a adult in Knoxville, Tennessee.
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY: Bailey Powell REVISED & UPDATED BY: Emilie Stooksbury
1.) Bolting Besties
Okay, it may be more of a jog than a bolt, but either way we suggest trying out a local fun run! The concept is simple: Bars and breweries all over town (if you wanted, you could find one literally every day) host them. All you have to do is show up at the allotted time and run/walk about the length of a 5K. Best part? The community is truly awesome. We know because we (the original founders of New2Knox) actually met at a fun run at the Bearden Beer Market! 😍 You can find a bit of the story here. Second best part? Most runs involve a free or discounted beer at the end of your journey – the perfect opportunity to catch your breath, jump in on a conversation, and make a friend. Follow 865 Running to keep up with runs and other activities!
Not in a hurry? Check out Knox Girls Who Walk instead! They meet up for weekly walks & hangs and, quite frankly, it seems adorable.
2.) Bike Besties
If you’re more into bolting via biking, we gotchu! The guys behind Two Bikes host rides pretty frequently, usually ending with tacos or coffee or equally enjoyable things. You can also jump in & join the folks at SpokesWomen Biking Club for weekly rides in the spring & summer months!
3.) Book Club Besties
If running isn’t up your alley, maybe cuddling up with a good book is?? Thankfully for yours truly, this active town is also riddled with ways to make friends while sitting 😆
Here are a few local book clubs to get plugged into!
⭐️ Union Ave Books in Downtown Knoxville hosts a book club at their neighbor, Knox Brew Hub! 🍻
💞 The Bottom in East Knoxville hosts an in-person book club periodically as well!
⭐️ Ready to curl up with a classic? Addison’s Classic’s Book Club may be right up your alley in Downtown Knoxville. Absolutely not? Check out a “Bring Your Own Book” Club night instead!
💞 Fable Hollow Bookshoppe in Fountain City has TWO book clubs you can join. Mages & Pages is their Sci-Fi & Fantasy book club while Fanciful is their Romance book club, ooh la laaaa 😍
⭐️ More into comic books? Nirvana Comics hosts a Ladies Night Book Club monthly in West Knoxville!
4.) Ballin' Besties
This may seem obvious, but sports are a tried and true way to make friends in adulthood! Here are a few fun options:
⭐️ The ultimate frisbee scene in Knoxville is welcoming and awesome.
💞 If you want a whole slew of options, Knox Sports & Social allows you to sign up as a single-player or with a group of friends for everything from kickball to bowling to volleyball.
⭐️ If you want to stay toasty warm, reach out to Craft Axe Throwing about joining one of their leagues.
💞 Want to try something totally new? The Knoxville Gaelic Athletic Club can teach you the Irish sports of Hurling and Gaelic football. They train twice a week!
OR CHECK OUT A LOCAL BREWERY LEAGUE 👀
⭐️ Pickleball & Corn Hole Leagues at Orange Hat Brewing
💞 Bocce Leagues at Southside Garage
⭐️ Bocce League at Hi-Wire Brewing
Best part? All of the above encourage ending your evening with drinks and hangs!
5.) Business Besties
Okay, okay, I know we’ve thrown a lot of activities at you, but you can in fact make friends without being Sporty Spice. Young Professionals of Knoxville is a great way to make both business and bestie connections post-college. Professional development is great and monthly Happy Hours are even greater 😉
6.) Bible Belt Besties
You don’t have to live here long to notice that Knoxville, Tennessee isn’t just the Bible Belt – it’s the gosh darn buckle. There is a church on every corner and usually one in between. If you’re not religious, this can be… a lot 😬 But if you’re down, take advantage of small groups! A few churches with a good chunk of young adults are The Point, City Church, All Souls, Heart & Soul, and Fellowship.
7.) New2Knox Hops
The goal behind every single New2Knox Hop is the same: Make friends while exploring our city. We started New2Knox because making friends as an adult is hard. (I had to start running to make friends when I first moved here, y’all. Running! Did it work? Yes. Did I ever enjoy running? Nope.) Whether you’re brand new to Knoxville or just find yourself in a season where you need more community, we so hope we can provide a space where you can get to know your city and get to know a new friend.
BONUS: Knoxville Friendship Orientation!
We love hosting our yearly Knoxville Friendship Orientation celebrating all things community! We invited a bunch of different local organizations to come share how ✨you✨ can get connected & make friends through their events, clubs, leagues, etc. If you missed it, WORRY NOT, BABE 😘
✨DOWNLOAD A CLICKABLE LIST OF VENDORS HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH ONE✨
Happy Friendship-Making, pals!