Celebrate love with these 5 New Jersey Valentine's Day events

Valentine's Day is nearly upon us, and it's the perfect time to do something special with your significant other in the name of love.

While you can opt to dine at one of North Jersey's finest restaurants, or surprise your person with flowers and a box of chocolates, consider mixing it up this year and showing someone you care with a Valentine's Day-themed event.

From creative activities to ones that test your knowledge, there's something for everyone this holiday. Here's five things to do in New Jersey to celebrate love:

Get creative at a paint-and-sip studio

If you and your loved one are artistic, or, just enjoy discovering new date night activities — try out a local paint-and-sip studio for Valentine's Day.

Paint-and-sip studios allow guests the chance to sip their favorite drink while painting a pre-selected design, led by an experienced artist. Pinot's Palette has three North Jersey locations — Ridgewood, Montclair and Nutley — which are all hosting Valentine's Day-themed paint-and-sip parties on Feb. 14.

Each studio is offering two time slots on Valentine's Day, and the featured painting for each timeslot varies across all three studios. Prices range from $35 to $45 per person, depending on the location and the time slot, and all guests get to take their paintings home.

Go: 25 Oak St., Ridgewood; 351 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair; and 510 Franklin Ave., Nutley, Pinotspalette.com

Try making a new meal through a virtual cooking class

While you might be cooking dinner every night, you might not be using it as an opportunity to have quality time with your significant other. Consider scheduling a virtual cooking class on Valentine's Day to sharpen your skills with a professional chef and make the most of your time in the kitchen.

Tony Boloney's offers virtual cooking classes, where owner Mike Hauke will walk you through the process of making the perfect pizza. You can select the time for your live cooking class, and Tony Boloney's will send you an at-home kit with all of the necessary ingredients. You can book a class by emailing ship@tonyboloneys.com.

Celebrate with Valentine Cream Tea at the historic Wisner House

Couples are invited to sit back and relax at the Secret Tea Room in the historic Wisner House for Valentine's Day.

While overlooking the Reeves-Reed Arboretum's winter grounds, guests will be offered a menu with different teas and infusions that they can enjoy in Victorian-style chinaware. In addition to tea, visitors will be served freshly baked scones, jam, homemade clotted cream, baguette tea sandwiches and flourless chocolate cake. Then, midway through the service, guests will be offered a complimentary glass of Prosecco or sparkling lemonade.

Registration is required, and admission is $45 for members and $50 for non-members. There are timeslots available at 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Go: Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit; 908-273-8787, reevs-reedarboretum.org/calendar.

Reservations: 6 hidden gem North Jersey restaurants to dine at this Valentine's Day

Learn about the stars at a planetarium

For a romantic Valentine's Day outing where you can learn about the stars, plan a trip to the planetarium at Raritan Valley Community College. At 7 p.m. on Feb. 14, the planetarium will be hosting its "Romancing the Stars" program. The evening event is open to couples 16 years and older, and will feature a show that focuses on stars, constellations and stories that celebrate love.

The show will run anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door on the day of the show, but you can reserve tickets by emailing planet@raritanval.edu.

Go: 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg; 908-231-8805, raritanval.edu/planetarium.

Play Valentine's Day trivia at Montclair Brewery

For a more casual Valentine's Day celebration, spend the evening at Montclair Brewery and play some trivia.

Montclair Brewery hosts Taproom Trivia every Wednesday, and on Feb. 14 will be holding Valentine's Day-themed trivia with questions about romantic-comedy movies, love songs, history of Valentine's Day and more. The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and there is no admission fee, so just sit back and relax with your favorite Valentine's Day beverage.

Go: 101 Walnut St., Montclair; 973-850-0541, montclairbrewery.com.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at MMcGay@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Valentine's things to do in North Jersey: Create, learn and have fun