How to Make Friends in Omaha: Clubs, Groups, and Meetups

Whether you’re new to Omaha or simply want to expand your local friend group, it’s no secret that it can be real tough making new friends as an adult.

I’ve been there myself. I know it’s not fun feeling isolated. From my own experience, once you’re out of school it gets so much harder to meet new people. It’s not impossible. It just takes a little more effort.

I think one of the best ways to put yourself in a position to meet new people is to pick a hobby you enjoy and join a local group for it, so you can be around people who have similar interests on a fairly regular basis. Similar interests + seeing the same people repeatedly = prospective friendships!

The good news is Omaha has a darn good variety of groups, clubs, and events that are great opportunities to get connected with new people around town. If you’re willing to put yourself out there a little, it’d totally doable to make lasting friendships as an adult.

Below are some suggestions to check out.

Running clubs

• Fleet Feet Omaha: multiple running clubs that meet weekly at different locations.

• Omaha Running Club: maintains a calendar of various runs happening around town. They also have a membership.

• Run 402: Facebook group that posts about variety running events/groups around town, so you can see everything in one spot.

• Dale Run Club: multilingual club that meets at various locations for runs.

• G.O.A.T.z Trail Runs: nonprofit that organizes running events around town.

• Scriptown Running Club: meets weekly for regular runs.

Hiking & walking clubs

• Trail Seekers Omaha: Facebook group that plans one hike per month at rotating locations.

• Trail Sisters: women-only community with an Omaha chapter that hosts group runs and hikes.

• Omaha Girls Who Walk: meets regularly to walk together at different locations around town.

• Omaha Women's Nature Club: new local group that meets for a monthly hike.

Book clubs

• Omaha Public Library: hosts a bunch of book clubs at library branches across town focusing on a variety of genres.

• The Bookworm: in-house book clubs that meet monthly, each with a different focus.

• Silent Book Club: has an Omaha chapter that meets at different places around town for quiet reading time and a social hour.

• OutNebraska’s LGBTQ+: their book club meets every 3rd Tuesday evening of the month via Zoom.

• The Wandering Page: hosts a variety of monthly book clubs.

• Pop Fiction Bookstore: hosts a variety of monthly book clubs.

• Benson Book Club: meets monthly for a silent reading session.

Gaming groups

• Spielbound: hosts board game events throughout the month and also has a board at their location to help connect individuals to groups looking for more members to play.

• Nebraska State Chess Association: chess clubs that meet weekly.

• The Jack Spence Chess Club: meetup that usually happens weekly.

• Omaha Go Club: meets regularly to play “Go" (AKA Igo, Wei Qi, and Baduk).

• The Omaha Board Gamers: Facebook group that arranges meetups to play games together.

• Omaha Nebraska D&D: Facebook group that often has posts from people looking for more D&D players to join their group.

• Nebraska Gamers: Facebook group that often posts local gaming events.

• The Game Shoppe: hosts open play sessions and other events.

• The Geek Room: hosts gaming events.

• Dungeon Crate: hosts gaming events.

• Cafe Monster: hosts gaming events.

• Dragon’s Lair: hosts gaming events.

• Ground Zero: hosts gaming events.

• Krypton Comics: hosts gaming events.

• Dark Light Studios: hosts gaming events.

Cycling clubs

• Omaha Pedalers Bicycle Club: meets monthly for a recreational ride.

• Bellevue Bicycle Club: meets monthly for a laidback ride.

• Omaha Metro Gravel and Adventure Club: meets weekly (seasonally) for a casual ride.

Skating & roller sport groups

• Omaha Roller Derby: meets regularly for games and community events.

• Blade and Edge Figure Skating Club: non-profit offering skating programs for all ages.

• SkateFest Omaha: hosts events around the city for all ages.

Rec leagues & groups

• City of Omaha: offers paid leagues for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball.

• Omaha Sports Club: paid membership and leagues for various sports, including bowling, cornhole, darts, golf, pickleball, pool, softball, and volleyball.

• Omaha GLBT: offers games and sporting events, including volleyball, bowling, softball, and darts.

• Greater Omaha Leagues: paid darts leagues.

• Game On Omaha: paid leagues for bocce ball.

• Omaha Broomball: has paid leagues.

• Aksarben Curling: paid leagues and classes.

• Omaha Metro Disc Golf Association: paid membership and leagues.

• Omaha Fencing Club: paid classes, open fencing hours, and tournaments.

• Blue Sky: paid pickleball leagues and mini bowling leagues.

• Smash Park: paid pickleball and cornhole leagues.

• Crew Social Club: paid leagues for various sports including cornhole, fowling, and sand volleyball.

• Latino Golf Association: paid membership for events, networking, discounts, and special access.

• Omaha Metro Armed Combat Academy: paid membership for swordplay classes and training.

• Omaha Hell Hounds Armored Combat: paid membership to participate in tournaments and events.

• G.O.A.T.S Rugby: nonprofit with rugby teams and clubs; women’s team can be found on Facebook.

Fitness groups & classes

• Females in Action: has an Omaha community that meets regularly to exercise.

• F3: has an Omaha chapter offering bootcamp-style workouts for men.

Dance groups

• Omaha Jitterbugs: a non-profit that hosts regular swing dancing events.

• Nebraska Salsa Scene: hosts regular salsa dances in the community.

• Omaha West Coast Swing Dance Club: meets regularly for social dance parties and lessons.

• Omaha Westies: meets regularly for swing dance lessons and dance parties.

• SBK Omaha: meets regularly for Latin dance lessons and dance parties.

• Omaha Latin Dance: a dance community hosting regular lessons and events.

• The Salsa Kitchen: hosts beginner-friendy salsa dance parties.

Writing groups

• Nebraska Writers Collective: hosts events, including a monthly poetry slam in town.

• Nebraska Writers Guild: has several groups that meet monthly in town for paid members and non-members.

• Nebraska Writers Workshop: hosts weekly meetups that alternate between in-person and Zoom meetings.

• Romance Authors of the Heartland: offers monthly meetings for its paid members, along with a book club.

Photography groups

• Omaha Photography Group: hosts paid classes and workshops.

• The Photographers Club of Omaha: paid membership to join activities and twice monthly meetups.

• Omaha Camera Club: paid membership to join programs, photo walks, competitions, exhibit opportunities, and mentor program.

• Heron Haven Photography Club: meets monthly at Heron Haven.

• Fontenelle Forest Photo Club: meets monthly at Fontenelle Forest and occasionally other locations.

• Rockbrook Camera Community Photo Club: meets monthly at Rockbrook Camera.

Arts & crafts groups

• Craft Day Club: hosts monthly crafting meetups.

• Urban Sketchers: Facebook group that meets monthly to draw on location.

• Omaha Knit Night: meets regularly to work on knitting projects.

• Stitchers Meetup: meets regularly to work on fiber projects.

• Omaha Beady Bunch: a non-profit that meets monthly.

• ACN Omaha: meets for monthly arts and crafts nights.

• The Soul Creates Art Studio: hosts regular open studios and other art gatherings.

Nature & outdoor groups

• Omaha Bee Club: hosts regular events and has a membership.

• Greater Omaha Iris Society: hosts regular meetups, garden workdays, and community events.

Other hobby & interest groups

• Omaha Maker Group / Made New Makerspace: has weekly makerspace hours for their paid members.

• Omaha Woodworkers' Guild: meets regularly for presentations and has a membership.

• Bench Omaha: offers a paid co-working space and paid membership for woodworkers, plus classes and trainings.

• Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club: hosts events, rock swaps, and paid member open workshop hours.

• Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club: has a paid membership, monthly member meetings, and other events.

• Omahawks R/C: has a paid membership and regular meetups for those interested in radio-controlled model aviation.

• Singing Meetup Group: meets for sing-alongs, karaoke nights, and vocal workshops in Omaha and Lincoln.

• Omaha Cigar Club: meets monthly for cigars and conversation.

• Omaha Horror Community — Fright Club: meets monthly for horror movies, games, etc.

• Omaha Hackers: meets monthly for technical discussions.

Classes

• Backline Comedy: paid improv and standup comedy classes.

• Big Canvas Comedy: paid improv and standup comedy classes.

• Ware House Comedy: paid improv comedy classes.

• Omaha Community Playhouse: paid theater classes and workshops.

• The Rose Theater: paid theater classes for kids and teenagers.

• Omaha Performing Arts: paid theater classes and workshops.

Social groups

• Sober Socials Omaha: hosts events for anyone who is sober, sober-curious, or just sober for the duration of their meetups.

• Gals That Brunch: has an Omaha chapter where you can register to attend a brunch outings (or one of their other get-togethers) around town.

• Nerd Nite Omaha: hosts a monthly meetup to listen to local presenters speak on a variety of topics.

• Omaha Neurodivergent Social Club: has a Discord server and meets regularly.

• Out Wild Adventures: meets regularly for various activities to build community for LGBTQ+ folks and allies.

• CreativeMornings: has an Omaha chapter that hosts a monthly breakfast series for the creative community.

• Omaha Girls Club: paid monthly membership, member meetups, and paid public socials.

• Travel and Culture Group: takes group trips together around the globe.

• Omaha Culture Cuisine and Conversation: meets regularly to socialize around art-centered events and experiences.

• Omaha Childfree Collective: regular meetups for those who are intentionally child free.

• Women’s Coffee and Chat: regular events and activities for women.

• Stuck in the Middle: regular meetups for women/men and singles/couples who are 45+.

• Metro Omaha Prime Timers: regular meetups for gay and bi men.

• CAMP OMA: women’s social club.

• Explorer Chicks of Omaha: organizes group travel trips.

• The Queer Collective: events and meetups for the queer community.

• Omaha Women Connecting Women: monthly meetups for women.

• Hacking Happiness Discussion Group: regular meetsup to discuss joy.

Other resources

• Bumble BFF: app for making friends in your area.

• Timeleft: app for joining planned meetups with a select group of people.

• Meetup.com: listings for local get-togethers.

• r/Omaha: sometimes has posts from locals looking to promote a group or meetup.