Celebrating romantic love every year on Valentine's Day is always a treat, but celebrating your friendships on Galentine's Day every year is truly an unbeatable experience. While Parks and Recreation's Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) taught us many things on the show, we don't think it's an exaggeration to say her invention of Galentine's Day truly changed the course of female friendship and society itself. As Knope explains, "Oh, it's only the best day of the year. Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies." Since that episode aired in 2010, the friendship-centric holiday has become a staple for so many friend groups, and this year we think you should celebrate it with one of our fabulous Galentine's Day party ideas.
Whether you're spending time with your solid friend group or using this holiday as an opportunity to introduce multiple close ones in hopes of creating a solid friend group, there are so many activities you can partake in to celebrate the day and show your friends you love them. Take some time to plan the events in advance—not only will this show your dedication to the unofficial holiday, but it'll make whatever activity you choose better if you're fully prepared.
From hosting a relaxed brunch to spending the entire day with your gal pals at a 24-hour read-a-thon, our list of Galentine's Day ideas has every type of activity you could want to do (including getting matching tattoos if you're really dedicated!).
Set Up a Dessert Buffet
Whatever vibe your Galentine's group is feeling this year, you can never go wrong with a dessert buffet table to sweeten the mood. Either make it a potluck and have every one of your friends bring their favorite treat, or surprise them with a fully prepared table as they walk through the door.
Make (And Eat) Heart-Shaped Pizzas
They say the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, and there's nothing like reinforcing the love you hold for your closest friends with heart-shaped foods. Make a whole evening of it: Roll out the dough, pick the toppings, dress up your pie, and throw it in the oven to enjoy in a few minutes.
Design Custom Charm Necklaces
Wake up your inner jewelry designer and go make some custom charm necklaces or bracelets with your besties. It's a unique experience to your group, and you'll all come out of it with something entirely yours.
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Host a Knitting Party
Don't feel like getting out but still want to have a fun day with your friends? Invite everyone over for a cozy knitting party. You'll get to relax on your couch, maybe drink a few cups of something warm, and make great progress on whatever it is that you're knitting.
Paint Pottery Together
Make the day a nostalgic one with a pottery painting session. It's a relaxing pastime and the perfect opportunity to let your creative juices flow. Either buy the materials yourself or head over to a local shop that offers this craft. Plus, depending on the places, they may offer wine or beer for you to sip while you paint.
Host a 24-Hour Read-a-Thon
For those friend groups with piles upon piles of purchased but unread books among them, this one's for you. Have everyone gather in a comfy space, grab some snacks, and bring a handful of novels with you to read over a span of 24 hours. Even if you can't make it the whole day, at least you'll have gotten somewhere on your "to-read" list.
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Book a Wine Tasting
Take wine night a step further by planning a wine-tasting experience for your Galentines. At best you'll discover a new favorite wine, and at worst you'll still have fun with your friends while getting tipsy in the process.
Get Matching Tattoos
Prove your dedication to your friendship with some permanent ink. While we don't suggest this for everyone, if this is your vibe, it'll definitely be a Galentine's Day to remember. Maybe save this option for someone you know is going to be in your life forever!
Book Some Blowouts
There's a reason going to the hair salon with your girls is such a huge cliché: It's a really fun thing to do! There's nothing like having someone do your hair for you as you chat with your friends and coming out of the salon looking like a million bucks.
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Dip Your Favorite Fruit in Chocolate
If your gal pals are more sweets people than savory, ditch the cheese and go for dark, milk, and white chocolate dipping options with an array of your favorite fruits at your disposal. Reminder: The healthiness of the fruit is not canceled out by the sugar of the chocolate, and you should enjoy as much as you want!
Consider a Fondue Night
Your lactose-intolerant gal pals may want to sit this one out. In our opinion, few appetizers are more delicious than melted cheese and bits of bread (or veggies), so if you agree, snag yourself a fondue set and have your friends bring the rest: cheese, baguettes, and wine.
Take a Hike
If you live in or near a city with mountains, lakes, or deserts, you may want to consider throwing on your athletic clothes and hitting a hiking trail with your pals. After all, what's better than good conversation with your favorite people in fresh air? Plus, think of the photo opps with that gorgeous view as a backdrop! Don't forget to stay hydrated, though.
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Have Brunch at Home
The original Galentine's Day featured a big brunch, so if you want to honor Amy Poehler's character, host one yourself. You can ask each each pal to bring a favorite dish to make it less overwhelming.
Host a Floral Arrangement Class
Everyone loves flowers, right? That said, arranging them is more difficult than most may realize. So if you have any botanists in your friend group, you may want to ask them to lead a demonstration so that everyone's bouquets look as good as they smell. Have everyone bring their favorite vase and a few stems to get started.
Try a Bake-Off
Whether or not your friends would consider themselves talented in the kitchen, a bake-off is always fun. Plus, a little competition never hurt anyone, right?
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Rent Out a Bar or Restaurant
Instead of cooking for a bunch of people or hiring a caterer for a formal sit-down dinner, go out together. Rent the back room at a special restaurant or keep things simple with drinks at your favorite watering hole. Just don't forget your wallet!
Take a Class Together
Whether it's calligraphy, painting, ceramics, cooking, floral arranging, or skydiving, learning something new is a great way to practice self-care and bond with friends. So sign up for a class or activity to explore together.
Plan a Weekend Getaway
It's safe to say we're all craving a little sunshine once mid-February hits, so why not plan a weekend getaway somewhere sunny with your friends? If a warm-weather destination isn't feasible or a road trip sounds more realistic, rent a cozy cabin and cuddle up indoors. A fireplace will do for now.
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Get Manis and Pedis
Book appointments for a group of friends at your go-to nail salon, or treat yourselves at a more artisan, design-y salon you've been wanting to check out. It's simple, affordable, and makes an errand you'd probably do anyway a lot more fun.
Book a Private Fitness Class
Give your Galentine's Day party a healthy-living angle and invite an instructor come over to give you a private lesson in yoga, Pilates, or whatever else.
Hadley Mendelsohn
Contributor
Hadley Mendelsohn is the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again. Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
Jessica Cherner
Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.
Meghan Shouse
Assistant Editor
Meghan is the assistant editor at House Beautiful where she writes about interior design, pop culture, and furniture.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a vast amount of information on various topics, including Valentine's Day and Galentine's Day. I can provide you with insights and ideas related to celebrating these special occasions with your friends. Let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14th each year. It is traditionally associated with romantic love and is a time when people express their affection for their romantic partners through gifts, cards, and special gestures. The holiday has its roots in the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia and was later associated with Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr. Today, Valentine's Day is celebrated worldwide and has become a commercialized holiday focused on romantic love.
Galentine's Day
Galentine's Day is a holiday that originated from the television show "Parks and Recreation." The character Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, introduced the concept of Galentine's Day in a 2010 episode. Galentine's Day is celebrated on February 13th, the day before Valentine's Day, and is dedicated to celebrating female friendships. It is a day for women to come together and appreciate their platonic relationships with their female friends. The holiday has gained popularity and has become a way for women to show love and support for their friends.
Activities for Galentine's Day
This article suggests various activities to celebrate Galentine's Day with your friends. Here are some ideas mentioned:
- Set Up a Dessert Buffet: Create a dessert buffet table where each friend can bring their favorite treat or surprise them with a fully prepared table.
- Make (And Eat) Heart-Shaped Pizzas: Spend an evening making heart-shaped pizzas with your friends, from rolling out the dough to picking the toppings.
- Design Custom Charm Necklaces: Have a jewelry-making session and create custom charm necklaces or bracelets with your besties.
- Host a Knitting Party: Invite your friends over for a cozy knitting party where you can relax, chat, and make progress on your knitting projects.
- Paint Pottery Together: Enjoy a pottery painting session, either by buying the materials yourself or visiting a local shop that offers this craft.
- Host a 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Gather your friends for a day of reading, snacks, and conversation. Spend 24 hours reading books from your "to-read" list.
- Book a Wine Tasting: Plan a wine-tasting experience for your Galentines and discover new favorite wines together.
- Get Matching Tattoos: If you're dedicated and want a lasting symbol of friendship, consider getting matching tattoos with your friends.
- Book Some Blowouts: Visit a hair salon together and enjoy getting your hair done while chatting with your friends.
- Dip Your Favorite Fruit in Chocolate: Create a chocolate dipping station with a variety of fruits for a sweet treat.
- Consider a Fondue Night: Set up a fondue set and enjoy melted cheese with bread or veggies.
- Take a Hike: If you have access to nature, go hiking with your friends and enjoy good conversation in the fresh air.
- Have Brunch at Home: Host a brunch at home, asking each friend to bring a favorite dish to share.
- Host a Floral Arrangement Class: Ask a friend with botanical knowledge to lead a demonstration on floral arranging.
- Try a Bake-Off: Organize a friendly baking competition among your friends.
- Rent Out a Bar or Restaurant: Instead of cooking, go out together and rent a back room at a special restaurant or enjoy drinks at your favorite watering hole.
- Take a Class Together: Sign up for a class or activity, such as calligraphy, painting, cooking, or skydiving, to explore something new together.
- Plan a Weekend Getaway: Plan a weekend getaway to a sunny destination or rent a cozy cabin for a relaxing time with your friends.
- Get Manis and Pedis: Book appointments for a group of friends at a nail salon or try out a new salon for a fun outing.
- Book a Private Fitness Class: Invite an instructor to give you and your friends a private lesson in yoga, Pilates, or another fitness activity.
These are just a few ideas to inspire your Galentine's Day celebration. Choose activities that resonate with your group and enjoy a day dedicated to celebrating your friendships.
I hope these suggestions help you plan a memorable Galentine's Day with your friends! Let me know if there's anything else I can assist you with.
