I second the suggestion for StartupWeekend. You can come and go as you please, so if you're not digging the vibe, you can split. Plus, even if you stay for the entire time, you've only invested one single weekend.

If you don't want to wait for the event to hit your hometown again, attend one in a nearby city.

Also, I'd go become a member of a co-working office space and hang out there and mix and mingle. Startup folks and the nicest and most-helpful I've ever met.