Thinking about starting a puzzle group, meet-up or swap in your local area but not sure where to begin? Here are some practical tips to help you get started.
Puzzle events are great way to meet other puzzlers. Puzzle swaps enable you to easily refresh your puzzle stash and give your preloved puzzles a new home. Puzzle meets are more about puzzling together, rather than swapping puzzles. They can be one-off social events or regular weekly, monthly or quarterly catch-ups. You can also combine the two – the key is to keep it simple, welcoming and fun.
Choose a location
Look for a venue that is:
- easy to access and centrally located – nearby parking is a must
- free or low-cost
- happy for people to stay for a couple of hours.
Popular options include:
- local libraries
- community centres or halls
- cafés (check with the owner first)
- scout halls or neighbourhood houses.
- private areas in pubs
- local park or carpark (car boot style)
Make sure there’s enough table space for puzzles to be laid out and swapped easily.
Advertise your event
Facebook is an easy and effective way to promote a puzzle event. If this will be a regular event, consider setting up a Facebook Page so people can follow future events. You can then create a Facebook Event from that page which can be shared with the AJPA Facebook group.
When promoting your event, remember to include the following:
- What is the event? For example, Jigsaw Puzzle Swap
- Why are you holding it? For example, to bring puzzle lovers together and refresh puzzle collections
- Where is it held?
- When is it held?
- Who can people contact with questions? Provide an email address or phone number
- How will it work? Is it free? Can people sell puzzles? Are tables provided? Is parking available? Can people buy refreshments?
Clear information helps people feel confident about coming along.
Share your event
Once your event is live, share it widely:
- Local buy/swap/sell Facebook pages
- Local community or council pages
- “What’s on” pages for your suburb or town
- Jigsaw-related Facebook groups, including the AJPA group
Always check group rules or ask admins for permission before posting.
Offline promotion can also help:
- Put up flyers at libraries, cafés and local shops
- Share through community noticeboard
What happens at a puzzle meet?
Puzzle meets can be very flexible. Some common formats include:
- working on one large puzzle together
- everyone bringing their own puzzle to work on
- you provide puzzles for people to do
- speed puzzling for fun (no competition)
- teaching beginners simple speed-puzzling techniques.
The goal is connection, not competition — keep it relaxed and inclusive.
Tips for successful puzzle meets
- Start small — even 3–5 people is a great beginning
- Choose puzzles with clear images and minimal glare
- Let people know whether puzzles will be provided or if they should bring their own
- Encourage people to stay as long or as little as they like
- Be welcoming to beginners — everyone starts somewhere
A few final tips
- Consistency matters more than size — regular events build momentum
- Clear communication helps people feel comfortable attending
- Don’t be discouraged if the first event is small
- Puzzle communities often grow slowly, then suddenly.
If you’re unsure or would like advice, feel free to post in the AJPA Facebook group. Our community is always happy to help.
Happy puzzling! 🧩
