Meet New People in LA this Weekend at These Events [1.2-1.4]
.png)
First Friday on Abbott Kinney
1.2 | Opens at 5 PM | Venice
The first First Friday of 2026 kicks off January 2 from 5–9:30 PM on Abbot Kinney, rain or shine. Wander the street solo, grab something from the food trucks near The Brig, and let the new lights and steady foot traffic do the social work for you. It’s the kind of night where you don’t need a plan, just curiosity and comfortable shoes.
Drunk Theatre LA
1.2 | 9 PM | Santa Monica
Drunk Theatre is exactly what it sounds like: one comedian takes five shots and then attempts an improvised play with five very sober performers. Show up solo, grab a seat, and let the chaos do the bonding for you. The audience reaction is half the fun, and laughing with strangers makes it easy to feel part of the room fast. Check-in starts at 8 PM, the show kicks off at 9 PM, and seating is limited, so arriving early helps.
Sample Beat Battle at Temple Grounds
1.3 | 9 AM | Echo Park
Audiospace hosts a beat battle this Saturday at Temple Grounds, and it’s a solid solo move whether you’re producing or just observing. Producers get an hour to flip a shared sample into a one-minute beat, then everyone listens and reacts together. No pressure to compete, all levels welcome, and the time-based format gives the night a natural rhythm. Come with a laptop or just your curiosity, the music creates the conversation for you.
Free Embroidery Social at Pasadena Heritage
1.3 | 10 AM | Pasadena
This embroidery social meets every four Saturdays and is an ideal solo-friendly morning plan. Bring a project or start something new and settle into a circle where stitching gives your hands something to do and conversations unfold naturally. Skill level doesn’t matter, staying the whole time doesn’t either, and the rotating LA locations keep it feeling fresh. It’s creative, low-pressure, and the kind of gathering where chatting and quiet focus coexist comfortably.
Oddities and Curiosities Expo
1.3-1.4 | 10 AM | Downtown LA
The Oddities and Curiosities Expo is a dream event for wandering solo. Roam rows of carefully curated vendors selling everything from taxidermy and skulls to dark art, antiques, and handcrafted oddities, all legal and responsibly sourced. Sideshow performances run throughout the day, with taxidermy classes if you want to go deeper. It’s easy to drift, browse, and strike up conversations when everyone’s reacting to the same delightfully strange finds.
Fruitcake: A Queer Day Party
1.3 | 2 PM | Silver Lake
Untamed Spirits in Silver Lake hosts a daylight party with The Fruitcake Party that’s perfect for a solo drop-in. Dance from 2–8 PM, grab a Fruitcake or Coffee Cake drink, and bounce between games like beer pong, cornhole, and Twister, which do the introductions for you. DJs keep the energy moving, vendors give you something to browse, and the daytime setting makes it easy to come and go without pressure.
Run It Back for a Cause
1.3 | 3 PM | Downtown LA
This donation-driven run on Saturday, January 3 pairs an easy group jog with a solid reason to show up solo. Runners split between two breweries, jog to the other, sip a 5oz beer, then head back for one more. Pace stays relaxed, conversation happens mid-run, and the $10 donation goes toward canned goods for the community. Stick around after for all-day happy hour at both spots, because meeting people is easier when the run is already done.
South Bay Speakeasy Comedy Club
1.3 | 8 PM | Manhattan Beach
This pop-up comedy speakeasy takes over the Unita Club Library in Manhattan Beach on Saturday, January 3 at 8 PM. BYOB, grab a seat, and settle in for a 90-minute set with comedians from Netflix, Comedy Central, and HBO Max, including a surprise headliner. The cozy, prohibition-style setup makes it easy to show up solo, laugh with the room, and leave feeling like you were in on a secret.
Santa Monica Airport Antique Market
1.4 | 7 AM | Santa Monica
Named one of the top flea markets in America, this is the kind of place you can happily tackle solo and lose a full day to. Wander aisles packed with everything from antique furniture and estate jewelry to mid-century pieces, art, lighting, fashion, and the wonderfully eccentric. With countless vendors and zero pressure to keep pace with anyone else, it’s ideal for slow browsing, unexpected conversations, and that rare feeling of finding exactly what you didn’t know you were looking for.
Free Improvisation Workshop
1.4 | 10 AM | Culver City
This free improvisation workshop welcomes musicians of any level, including total beginners who just want to try something new. Led by Alicia Byer, the session moves through physical warmups, guided improv exercises, and both large and small group playing, so no one’s left guessing what to do. The structure makes it easy to attend solo, jump in without pressure, and connect through sound instead of small talk.
Birdwatching & friend-making outdoor gathering
1.4 | 2:30 PM | Culver City
This queer-led birdwatching walk flips the script by meeting in the afternoon, so no alarms required. Stroll at an easy pace, learn to spot local birds, and let curiosity guide the conversation. Beginners are fully welcome, and showing up solo works because the group stays together and the birds give everyone something to talk about. It’s relaxed, outdoorsy, and quietly social in the best way.
Free Hollywood Acting Class
1.4 | 3 PM | Hollywood
This free Hollywood acting class on Sunday, January 4 from 3–7 PM is a strong solo move if you’ve ever been curious about acting but didn’t know where to start. Celebrity coach Louis Stancil leads the session, and the classroom setup means everyone’s learning together, not performing at each other. It’s structured, beginner-only, and focused on growth, which makes showing up alone feel normal. Arrive early, bring curiosity, and see what happens.
Runyon Sunset Club Meetup
1.4 | 3:45 PM | Hollywood
This Sunday at 3:45 PM, this community-driven hiking club meets at 2000 N Fuller Ave for a walk that’s as social as it is scenic. The group starts with quick introductions, then hikes together before pausing at the peak for a short gratitude moment. You can show up solo and still feel part of it fast. There’s an optional January book pick, Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, if you want a side quest beyond the trail.
Handbuild a Ceramic Altar with CeraSeraStudio
1.4 | 5 PM | Venice
CeraSeraStudio returns with an intimate ceramic workshop at Shop Union LA in Venice, centered on slowing down and making something personal by hand. Guests gather to build small ceramic altars meant to hold memories, intentions, or daily rituals. No experience needed, and showing up solo works especially well since everyone’s focused on the same tactile process. It’s quiet, thoughtful, and the kind of setting where connection happens without trying too hard.
.avif)
