Logo with cream-colored text 'Sad Hour' over a blue clock face showing two white stars.

Grief.
But Make It Social.

Because not every hour is happy. And faking it gets old, fast.

Join real-life gatherings where you can ditch the “I’m fine” act and actually talk about what’s going on — the heavy stuff, the messy stuff, the human stuff — with people who get it.

Join real-life gatherings where you can ditch the “I’m fine” act and actually talk about what’s going on — the heavy stuff, the messy stuff, the human stuff — with people who get it.

So, What Exactly
Are Sad Hours?

Sad Hours are casual, come-as-you-are gatherings where we skip the small talk and get real about what’s actually going on in our lives — griefy or not.

We host them in low-key spots like breweries, cafés, and wine bars. Emphasis on low-key; we’re taking grief support out of the places you expect it to be and putting it in the places where you actually are.

But, no two Sad Hours are the same. That means one month there might be 10 people talking about divorce in a cafe, and the next month there are 50 people roller skating, half of them with a dead parent, and the other half holding all different kinds of grief.

Group of eight casually dressed people standing and posing together outdoors on a wooden deck with a green wall and blue sky behind them.Group of nine people sitting together at an outdoor picnic table under a red umbrella at night, with trees and parked cars in the background.

We’ve shared stories over pints, made candles together, unrolled yoga mats — and we’re always game to try something new.

The vibe is simple: real people, real feelings, no pressure, no pretending.

Two women standing outdoors on either side of a sign for GrieveLeave with sun and cloud illustrations.Group of people sitting at a long table with black tablecloth, listening to a person standing and speaking at the front in a room with white walls and hanging bull artwork.
Two women hugging and smiling in front of a decorative wall covered with orange marigold flowers and autumn leaves.Two women smiling and hugging each other in front of a backdrop decorated with vibrant orange flowers and autumn leaves.

We're Done Pretending Grief is a Private Problem

Sad Hours aren’t your typical grief support group, sermon, or counseling session — and that’s the point. They’re casual, come-as-you-are gatherings where you can talk, listen, or simply exist alongside people who get it. There’s no pressure to be “okay.” No toxic positivity. No silver linings required. Just space for whatever you’re carrying, however it shows up.

Not Therapy. Not Religious.
Not Clinical. Not Weird.

Group of people seated around a table in a restaurant with a server handing a drink to a woman, surrounded by string lights and large windows.

Why Come Hang Out?

“Grief has to come out. Whether it’s at home, out with a friend, or an event like Sad Hours... it eventually has to come out.”

Mike
Asheville, NC
Sad Hours @ New Belgium
Brewery

“Thank you for hosting and inventing Sad Hours. The hour we didn’t know we actually needed! I’m a big fan...

Valerie
Durham, NC
Sad Hour @ Mezcalito

“I just wanted to chill with people who understood how I felt. I couldn’t find it, so I made it myself.”

Rebecca Feinglos
Founder

Want in on a Sad Hour? Or Want to Host?

Sad Hours are popping up everywhere; in cozy cafés, neighborhood bars, indie bookstores, and community spaces across the country. You can show up to one that’s already on the calendar, or help make one happen where you live or work.

Group photo of thirteen diverse adults smiling indoors with plants and flowers in the background.

FAQ: Sad Hours