Single and ready to pretend that Valentine’s Day does not exist this new year? If you have no plans for this year’s romantic holiday, grab your girlfriends and celebrate Galentine’s Day on February 13th. On the eve of Valentine’s Day, Galentine’s Day exists for you and your girlfriends to commemorate your friendship while creating memories that last the entire year. Instead of splitting the bill at dinner with your situationship who refuses to treat you to a nice occasion, spend your day with your gals celebrating love and friendship. Grab your sweetheart themed candy and red plushie pillows to enjoy a festive night in or night out.
Need ideas on what to do with your girls this Galentine’s Day? Check out these 10 Galentine’s Day ideas to make the most out of Cupid’s notorious celebration.
1. Board Night with Your Favorite Rom-Com Movie
This Galentine’s Day, make a list to rewatch all of your favorite rom-coms with your girls. Movies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Wedding Planner and, my personal favorite, Mamma Mia can act as a good starting point. To make this night even more special, tell your ladies that the night’s theme is Board Night! Tell each of your friends to bring a board of food specific to whatever your heart craves for Galentine’s Day. Some options include a sushi board, taco board, charcuterie board, hot wing board or a dessert board for when you can’t eat another bite but need something sweet to wash it down. Indulge in great food and an essential rom-com to commence the night!
2. Wine & Paint Night (or Apple Cider & Paint Night)
For the artistic friend group, head down to your local craft store and purchase canvases to host a wine & paint night. For the underage Galentine’s Day planners, apple cider serves as an amazing alternative. Wine & paint night creates a relaxed but fun environment for this Galentine’s Day. If you seem to fall towards a more laid-back vibe with your friend group, this option deems perfect. Spend the night gossiping, sipping your drink of choice and catching up with your best friends. At the end of the night, showcase your amazing paintings to see who actually tried their hardest or who drank too much to even finish.
3. Weekend Getaway
Luckily, Galentine’s Day falls on a Friday in 2023. Pack your bags and head for a weekend getaway with your gals. In February, a snowy area seems perfect to fully enjoy your trip. Specifically in California, Big Bear or Lake Arrowhead create a popular spot for a short weekend trip. Other locations include Denver, Colorado, New York City or Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Make sure to pack warm clothes and a suitcase full of snacks. When you arrive at your snowy destination, plan different activities for your entire friend group, like snowboarding, sightseeing or just staying in to enjoy each other’s company. Enjoy your Galentine’s Day as a relaxing and much needed weekend getaway.
4. Spa Day
If you and your girlfriends seem to need an extra relaxing day for Galentine’s Day this year, book a spa day. With options for massages, facials and manicures, the pampering turns into an entire day activity. What better way to enjoy Galentine’s Day than to relax and practice self-care with the people you care about most on a day dedicated to your gals? At an all-inclusive spa, you can start the day by visiting the jacuzzi, steam room or sauna. Unwind and relax as you enjoy the amenities before your massage or facial appointment. Take advantage of the cucumber and lemon water—it does wonders for your skin! Your spa day will serve as an amazing group activity as well as alone time throughout your treatment. Grab your white robe and spa slippers and unwind with your girls this Galentine’s Day.
5. Beauty Product Swap
Ever wondered how your girlfriend’s makeup or skin looks so exceptionally amazing and clean? Host a beauty product swap night for Galentine’s Day to finally discover their secrets. To make the night fair and ensure your guests do not spend more than $100 at Sephora, determine who swaps with who. Whether they bring their favorite lipstick, foundation, mascara or face wash, the night provides amazing new goodies for everyone invited. To the friend who brings foundation, secure a receipt in case the shade does not match. Spend the night practicing your makeup skills with your goodies or ask the esthetician in your friend group for their step-by-step skincare routine. Enjoy beauty product swap night sharing essential beauty tips with each other.
6. Bake Galentine’s Day Treats
If no one wants to buy you roses and sweets this year, take matters into your own hands with your girls. Gather your flour, milk and eggs to begin baking the most delicious Galentine’s Day themed sweets. Do not forget the red, white and pink frosting tonight as decorating remains the best part of baking. Conduct your own research to find the best chocolate chip cookie recipe, red velvet cupcake recipe or a simple strawberry cheesecake. Grab a batch of plain sugar cookies as well as you can decorate those to your liking. Throw flour on each other as you bake as you pretend to star in a famous rom-com movie. Keep an eye on your sweet tooth friends tonight as you don’t want them to have a sugar rush hangover the next morning.
7. Game Night
For my competitive friend group, plan a board game night with the essentials: For the Girls or Never Have I Ever: Girls Edition. For the Girls includes a simple game of spinning a small wheel to land on a variety of colors. Each color corresponds with a different card deck with various categories. Categories include dares, “Give this card to the person who…,” and “Keep this card if you’ve…”. Some secrets spill and while others remain unanswered during this board game. The player with the most cards at the end of the night essentially wins. Beware, as some of the dares and questions seem ruthless. Another option entails the classic game of Never Have I Ever, only now the girls edition. To make Never Have I Ever more interesting, each player who conducted the action needs to take a shot. If no one has done the action in question, the person who pulled the card takes a shot. Create a memorable night on Galentine’s Day playing board games either sober or drunk.
8. Karaoke Night
Even if some of the girls in your friend group seem tone-deaf, experiencing a Galentine’s Day karaoke night remains unforgettable. Head down to a local restaurant or cafe that hosts karaoke night or purchase your own karaoke machine for the shy friends who’d prefer to stay home and live it up. Sing the classics, the love songs and, most importantly, a lot of Taylor Swift. Record your friends singing horribly as they ponder whether they messed up the lyrics or not. Make sure you send the videos to them the following morning to laugh all over again. Karaoke night can create a really fun night for Galentine’s Day by staying inside or going out to let loose with your girlfriends.
9. Secret Cupid
As Secret Santa remains one of the most popular holiday games throughout the year, Secret Cupid creates a perfect activity for Galentine’s Day. Gather your attendees and pick names out of a hat to secure the person you purchase a gift for. If you’d like, set a price limit for gifts as well. Make sure to pick names before Galentine’s Day so everyone can purchase the perfect gift in time for the big night. If someone in your friend group seems unable to keep a secret, you may want to choose another activity. Discover your secret cupid and enjoy your new gift for Galentine’s Day.
10. DIY Bouquets
Instead of waiting for delivered flowers at your doorstep, head to your local flower market with your girlfriends to create your own bouquets. Roses, baby’s breath, lavender and peonies create the perfect pink and white bouquet for Galentine’s Day. Don’t forget to purchase the correct nutrients to place in your water vase so your flowers stay healthy for weeks. Decorate your vase with ribbons and lace to create the perfect centerpiece for your dinner table. Purchase your flowers and head home to arrange adorable bouquets with the girls you love most.
