Meeting new people in Toronto — or anywhere, for that matter — can be scary, but it doesn't have to be. Whether you're searching for a special someone or a new BFF, ditch the apps and try meeting new people by doing something you enjoy. Yes, it actually is possible.

Here are some ways to meet new people in Toronto.

Lace up your running shoes

What could put you in a better headspace for making new friends than a good old-fashioned runners high? The city is home to a slew of running clubs like the Running Rats, who host free community runs every Tuesday evening.

Explore the outdoors

The city is home to a bounty of beautiful outdoor spaces including a host of breathtaking hiking trails. If you're looking for something more formal, the Toronto Field Naturalists group offers more than 140 a year.

Get dancing

Let your moves do the talking with a visit to one of the city's many dance clubs, or, if you suffer from two left feet, you can spring for a night out that features a dance lesson, like Salsa Sabado at Lula Lounge, where you can get a salsa lesson between DJ sets.

Team up with a furry friend

There's no better wingman than your very own fur baby, so let them do the sniffing for you. Hanging out at the city's many dog parks is a great way to meet fellow pet parents, or head to Woofstock, Toronto's dog-themed festival.

Street festivals, like Pedestrian Sundays, bring out the best in everyone. Photo by Jesse Milns.

Visit a street festival

Street festivals are one of the best parts of spring and summer in the city, and luckily there are plenty to visit. From monthly events like Kensington Market Pedestrian Sundays to highly-anticipated annual festivals like Do West Fest, they're the perfect chance to let loose and sample great food.

Hit the pickleball court

The recent popularity of this sport can be chalked up to how easy it is to learn and play — little to no athleticism needed. New courts, like Fairgrounds, are popping up all over the city, so there's no shortage of places to play.

Go see live music

Bond with your fellow music aficionados by heading to any of the city's best live music venues, or check out a special event like those held year round by local non-profit, Wavelength.

Tour the city's food scene

Food tours in Toronto aren't just for tourists — in fact, they're one of the best ways you can bond over the city's diverse array of cuisines. There are food tours where you can 'Taste the World' held in Kensington Market all summer long.

The St. Lawrence Market Farmer's Market is open year round. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Go on a vintage crawl

Nothing boosts your confidence quite like a no wardrobe, so why not kill two birds with one stone? The Little Portugal BIA hosts vintage store and gallery crawls on the last Saturday of every month to expore one of the city's coolest neighbourhoods.

Hang out at a brewery

If there's one thing the city has plenty of, it's breweries, and plenty of them regularly host fun events, like Henderson, who have a beer-fuelled rodeo and a huge pickle festival planned for this summer.

Browse a farmer's market

Toronto has a different farmers' market for each day of the week. Multiple, actually. Make the most of a sunny day by picking up groceries from local vendors, and you might even walk away with a new special someone.

Take a cooking class

Wow any potential suitors (or pals) by honing your skills in the kitchen. You can find cooking classes all over the city, from long-term courses at George Brown to drop-ins at Nella Cucina.

Sweat and Tonic's location at The Well attracts a slew of like-minded fitness fans. Photo by Fareen Karim.

Dine with strangers

While the mere notion of showing up to a dinner where you don't know anyone could be enough to raise the hair on your arms, Jess Janz, the founder of Toronto's Dinner with Strangers, actually believes it could lead to more genuine connections.

Sweat it out at a group fitness class

I have a personal theory that getting sweaty next to someone is one of the best ways you can break (or melt) the ice. Book a drop-in class at a new gym, the Sweat and Tonic's latest location at The Well, to see who you meet.

Participate in a pub crawl

Sometimes a little liquid courage doesn't hurt. Pub Crawl Toronto teams you up with a group of like-minded party people as you crawl between some of the city's coolest bars. If you're looking for something more unique, you can always opt to book a seat with Pedal Pub.

Get crafty

When words fall short, it's nice to know that you can always express yourself artistically — and there are no shortage of DIY art spaces in the city, like Paint Cabin for painting or Pottery Dream to get your hands dirty.

Your pup can join your trivia team at Black Lab Brewing's trivia night. Photo by Hector Vasquez.

Show off your skills at trivia night

Toronto has a number of popular recurring trivia nights at hotels and bars across the city. The Pilot hosts a weekly pop-culture trivia night, or you can bring a furry friend to dog-friendly trivia at Black Lab Brewery.

Join a sports league

There's no I in team, but there could quite possibly be a group of new friends. There are adult sports leagues all over the city, from Ashbridge's Bay Beach Volleyball in the summer to various leagues operating out of the Hangar at Downsview Park.

Join a biking club

Burn some rubber by riding your bike alongside one of the city's numerous bike clubs, like the Toronto Bicycling Network, or you can up the ante by going on a nighttime rave ride with the Toronto Neon Riders.

Take an improv class

Everybody loves to have their funny bone tickled, and you can get some extra practise in by taking drop-in improv comedy classes or long-term courses at renowned establishments like Second City and Bad Dog Theatre.