The Return of In-Person Meet-Ups: Are We Finally Done Hiding Behind Screens?

Lately, I keep seeing it pop up in my feed: in-person meet-ups are back. From speed dating nights to “singles who hike” groups, it feels like everyone is suddenly ready to swap their pajama pants for actual pants and meet other humans—face to face. Imagine that.

But here’s the thing: a lot of these meet-ups seem to be happening in big cities near us. New pop-up mixers in trendy bars, dinner clubs that promise "meaningful connections," even retro throwback activities like bowling nights and trivia. It’s almost like the universe is nudging us: Hey, remember when we actually left the house to meet people? Let’s try that again.

Now, I’ll admit I am intrigued. Swiping left and right has its place (and its exhaustion factor), but there’s something refreshing about the idea of walking into a room and meeting people the old-fashioned way. No curated selfies, no weird lag on Zoom, no guessing their height based on vague “I’m tall” bios. Just… real humans.

That said, as someone in the “40 and fabulous” category, I keep wondering: where are the meet-ups for us? Because so far, most of what I’ve spotted feels like it’s geared toward the twenty-something, craft-beer crowd. And while I love a good IPA, I’d also like a meet-up that doesn’t make me feel like the chaperone.

So, tell me—have you attended one of these new in-person gatherings? Did it feel fun and energizing, or did it remind you why we once thought Netflix and a glass of wine were safer?

I’m genuinely curious because if there are events popping up for the over-40 crowd or event 50 (wink wink), I haven’t found them yet. And if they don’t exist… maybe we need to start one ourselves.

Until then, I’ll keep scrolling the invites and wondering: is this the new wave of dating, or just another trend that will fade faster than a TikTok dance?

What do you think? Would you show up to one of these meet-ups—or are you happy sticking to your apps and your couch?

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