30 Fabulous Galentine's Day Party Ideas Your Friend Group Will Adore
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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: Make and roll out the dough, pick out the toppings, dress your pie up, 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.
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 you'll have made some 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 on while you paint.
Host a 24-Hour Read-A-Thon
For those friend groups with piles upon piles of purchased but unread books between them, this one's for you. Have everyone gather in a comfy space, everyone bring 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 be read" list.
Book a Wine Tasting
Take wine night a step further with 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 though 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 cliche media: It's because it's a 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.
Dip Your Favorite Fruits 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 cancelled out by the sugar of the chocolate, and you should enjoy as many 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, of course, 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 warmest 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.
Have Brunch at Home
The original Galentine's Day featured a big brunch, so if you want to honor Amy Poehler's character, host the brunch yourself. If cooking for all of your friends is a bit overwhelming, ask each of them to bring their favorite dish.
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?
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 just 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.
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.
Have a Dance Party
Invite your friends over for a night of dancing, and make a playlist with classics you know everyone will have fun singing along to. Add some on-theme cocktails like these, and you've got yourself a party. You could also go out to a karaoke bar if you're feeling extra rowdy and vocal.
Write Each Other Appreciation Notes
Though you probably do this every day already, Galentine's Day is the perfect occasion to gush about how much you love all your friends. So write each other notes of appreciation. If there are too many people to write a note for everyone, have everyone pick a name out of a hat, or write about the person next to them. While the entire Galentine's Day bash doesn't have to revolve around this activity, it's definitely a great way to supplement a dinner or cocktail party.
Plan a Spa Day
If there's ever a time to pamper yourself, it's Galentine's Day. Book massages at a spa and then spend the day lounging and detoxing in the sauna with your nearest and dearest.
Get Active
Get out of the house and do something out of the ordinary and nostalgic together: anything from bowling to paintballing, racecar driving, ice skating, hiking, rock climbing, trapeze-ing, rollerskating, or even laser-tagging. Just think of all the birthday parties you went to as a kid—and replicate them. Bonus points if you bring a camera to snap the sentimental moments.
Give It a Wellness Spin
Let's just say it: Valentine's Day can to dredge up some painful emotional memories. But addressing them with close friends by your side is a good thing. Make it more fun by bringing in some positive energy. Learn how to do crystal readings, bring in a fortune teller and/or chakra healer, or do a group meditation to rebuild and practice self-love together.
Host a Viewing Party
Now's the time to embrace all the cheesy bliss of Valentine's Day with a marathon of romantic comedies or dramas. Unless, of course, you're more of an action or true-crime kind of crowd? Or, choose a book to read together and make your Galentine's Day party a book club.
Have a Slumber Party
When was the last time you had a full-on slumber party? Invite your friends over for a sleepover, and make sure they pack their favorite pajamas and slippers. You can watch movies, do face masks, cook dinner, and, my personal favorite, make some funny prank calls.
Throw a Boozy Brunch Party
Go grocery shopping and make a feast together, or whip everything up in advance. You can go all out with the Galentine's Day theme, or just use it as an excuse to gather all your loved ones to eat good food and sip mimosas.
Play an Adult-Friendly Game
Organize a fun card game that helps conversation flow without putting people on the spot at your Galentine's Day party. You can stick to the classics, or you can try something new.
Set Up a Crafts Table
An arts-and-crafts table is always a fun party trick. This way, everyone will have something to do with their hands and have a goodie to take home with them. Things like DIY potpourri, terrariums, and candles are always great options. Here are plenty more ideas to help you get started.
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