Galentine’s Day is dedicated to all things friendship, serving as an annual opportunity to gather the gang together to show some love. There’s no rulebook for when or how to observe Galentine’s Day, though the unofficial holiday falls on February 13. Many opt for a glitzy dinner out or a cozy night in, with tasty co*cktails and chocolatey treats usually on the menu. If you’re gathering with your galentines this year, we’ve rounded up nine unique party ideas to ensure a celebration filled with love.
1
“Board” Night
Elevate a potluck-style party by hosting a “board” night, where everyone can make a themed grazing board for the group to snack on. Go the traditional route with a styled charcuterie spread, or get creative with boards topped with things like desserts, junk food, fruits and vegetables, breakfast favorites, and so much more.
2
Color Party
Who says February should be limited to pink and red? Paint your Galentine's celebration in different hues by assigning each guest a specific color, instructing them to bring a food item following the theme. Purple can bring berry-flavored bites and co*cktails, orange can bring mac and cheese and mimosas, red can bring charcuterie and wine, and once all your guests arrive, you’ll have a stunning (and delicious) rainbow spread.
3
Anti-Valentine’s Party
Valentine’s Day can be a sensitive subject for some, placing an unwanted spotlight on lonely hearts and unsavory exes. Gather your Galentines for an anti-love party this year, where you can enjoy all the same sips and sweets while simultaneously denouncing the traditional celebrations. Host this party funeral-style, with plenty of black decor and indulgent food to mourn the loss of love and celebrate the life of great friends.
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4
Wine Tasting
Who says you need to wander off to wine country to do a great tasting? Host your own this year by encouraging your Galentines to bring their favorite bottle. If you prefer to make it a competition, instruct everyone to bring two bottles of the same wine, then host a blind taste test where you all submit scores based on metrics like taste, smell, appearance, and body. Whoever brings the winning wine gets to take home everyone’s second bottle as a prize.
5
Private Cooking Class
Tap into your local community and hire a chef to lead an in-home cooking class. This provides both an activity and a meal for your Galentine’s Day celebration and is sure to provide memories and lessons that’ll last a lifetime. Bonus points if you’re able to secure matching aprons.
6
Book Swap
Whether your friend group is packed with bookworms or the squad has a reading resolution for 2024, host a Galentine’s Day party where each guest is instructed to bring their favorite book from a specific genre (romance is a great option for February). This can be the gift that keeps on giving, as you'll have a huge list of books to get to, and can pass around copies.
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7
Pajama Party
Who doesn’t love a PJ party?! Make this year’s Galentine’s Day celebration extra relaxing by instructing guests to arrive in their comfies, accompanied by a spread of breakfast favorites. A waffle bar, fresh fruit, coffee cake, and mimosas can be enjoyed all hours of the day, whether it's a Sunday brunch or a Friday night in.
8
Tea Party
Pinky’s out! Host an elegant soirée for Galentine’s Day, complete with frilly dresses, finger sandwiches, and cups of tea served in your finest china. We all love an excuse to dress up, and a tea party theme lets the group break out their floral dresses in the middle of February. After all, spring is right around the corner.
9
Spa Party
Treat the gang to an evening of relaxation with an at-home spa party, complete with face masks, nail painting and healthy snacks. For an even more immersive experience, round out the gathering with touches like juice shots, flavored water, and encouraging intention-setting to reset and recenter as winter comes to a close.
Kellie Walton
Freelance Writer
Kellie Walton is a freelance writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. When she’s not eating and adventuring her way around the world, she’s busy telling stories related to all things travel – including city guides, hotel and restaurant recommendations, travel hacks and tales of her own adventures (and misadventures).
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As a freelance writer and enthusiast in all things related to friendship and celebration, I am excited to share my expertise and knowledge on Galentine's Day. With a depth of experience in organizing gatherings and exploring unique party ideas, I can assure you that I am well-versed in this topic.
Galentine's Day is an unofficial holiday dedicated to celebrating friendship and showing love to your gal pals. It takes place on February 13th, offering an annual opportunity to gather your gang and enjoy each other's company. While there are no strict rules on how to observe Galentine's Day, many people choose to have a glitzy dinner out or a cozy night in with tasty co*cktails and chocolatey treats.
Now, let's dive into the concepts used in this article:
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"Board" Night: This party idea involves elevating a potluck-style gathering by hosting a "board" night. Guests can make themed grazing boards, such as traditional charcuterie spreads or creative boards with desserts, junk food, fruits and vegetables, or breakfast favorites. The idea is to have a variety of delicious snacks for everyone to enjoy.
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Color Party: This concept challenges the traditional pink and red theme of February by assigning each guest a specific color. Guests are instructed to bring a food item that matches their assigned color. For example, someone assigned the color purple can bring berry-flavored bites and co*cktails, while someone assigned the color orange can bring mac and cheese and mimosas. The result is a stunning and delicious rainbow spread.
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Anti-Valentine's Party: This party idea caters to those who may find Valentine's Day sensitive or uncomfortable. It involves gathering your Galentines for an anti-love party where you can enjoy similar sips and sweets while denouncing traditional celebrations. The party can be styled like a funeral, with black decor and indulgent food, to mourn the loss of love and celebrate great friendships.
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Wine Tasting: This idea allows you to host your own wine tasting without having to travel to wine country. Guests are encouraged to bring their favorite bottle of wine. To make it competitive, instruct everyone to bring two bottles of the same wine. Then, host a blind taste test where guests submit scores based on taste, smell, appearance, and body. The person who brings the winning wine gets to take home everyone's second bottle as a prize.
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Private Cooking Class: This party idea involves hiring a chef to lead an in-home cooking class. It provides both an activity and a meal for your Galentine's Day celebration, creating lasting memories and valuable culinary lessons. For an extra touch, try to secure matching aprons for everyone.
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Book Swap: If your friend group loves reading or has a reading resolution for the year, hosting a Galentine's Day book swap is a great idea. Instruct each guest to bring their favorite book from a specific genre, such as romance for February. This not only allows for a fun exchange of books but also gives everyone a long list of recommendations to explore.
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Pajama Party: Who doesn't love a cozy PJ party? Instruct your guests to arrive in their comfiest pajamas and set up a spread of breakfast favorites. Whether it's a Sunday brunch or a Friday night in, a waffle bar, fresh fruit, coffee cake, and mimosas can be enjoyed at any hour of the day.
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Tea Party: Host an elegant soirée for Galentine's Day with a tea party theme. Encourage guests to dress up in frilly dresses and serve finger sandwiches and cups of tea in fine china. This theme allows everyone to break out their floral dresses and adds a touch of spring to the middle of February.
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Spa Party: Treat your gal pals to an evening of relaxation with an at-home spa party. Provide face masks, nail painting supplies, and healthy snacks. To enhance the experience, include juice shots, flavored water, and encourage intention-setting to reset and recenter as winter comes to a close.
With these nine unique party ideas, you can ensure a Galentine's Day celebration filled with love and memorable moments. I hope these concepts inspire you and your galentines to create a special and enjoyable gathering.
