14 Ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day

Eleanor Koehn, Staff Writer • February 10, 2022

Valentine’s Day is approaching and many people search for ways to celebrate the season. TRL’s Eleanor Koehn provides 14 ways to spend time with loved ones.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and the pressure is on to find a date or Galentine’s idea. If you are looking for inspiration on what to do on the 14th, you have come to the right place. I will share 14 different ways to celebrate your loved ones this February, whether that’s with a date or with your closest friends.

1. Picnic

A picnic is a classic Valentine’s Day celebration. Some may argue that this simplistic tradition is overdone, but with the right scenery and food to accompany the date, it can be enjoyable. I recommend finding a park where you normally don’t go. Bring lots of blankets (and if you are extra like me you can make them pink and red.) Don’t forget to pack lots of fine Valentine’s Day delicacies, ranging from heart-shaped cupcakes, brownies or the heart-shaped packages of chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A.

2. Drive-In Movie Date

This is a perfect way to watch a movie with a date or friends, without the confinements of a movie theater. You can bring blankets and pillows and watch the movie from a truck bed to make it even more adventurous.

3. Rock Paper Scissors Date

You may have originally seen this date idea on TikTok, but playing rock paper scissors to determine dinner courses is a fun twist on a seemingly casual outing. Whoever wins the battle gets to choose the location for the next course. The best thing about this date is that it’s affordable; you and your date can go to fast-food restaurants while still having fun.

4. Trampoline park

This may sound out of the ordinary, but a trampoline park is a perfect place to have an energetic date. Who said jumping up and down, doing backflips and playing dodgeball can’t be romantic?

5. Dallas Museum of Art

While the Dallas Museum of Art is just an example, going to an art museum with your friends or date can provide an intellectual and inquisitive outing. Make sure to bring along a date that appreciates the finer things in life, or it could turn boring fast.

6. Charcuterie Board Night

Also originating on TikTok, hosting a Galentine’s night of delicious trays of food couldn’t get much better. Assign each friend a theme: “Dip Tray,” “Dessert Tray,” “Fast Food Tray,” etc. They can make a charcuterie board with variations of that theme and bring it to the party. This is a creative way to provide a variety of different food choices, while still providing an excuse to have fun with your girlfriends.

7. Rom-Com Marathon

Yet another Galentine’s Day celebration, a romantic comedy marathon certainly provides laughs for hours. This idea is also on theme for Valentine’s Day. However, if you roll with a more heartbroken crowd, watching romantic tragedies is always another option.

8. Super Bowl party

If you didn’t know, the 2022 Super Bowl falls on the Sunday before Valentine’s Day. If you are looking for an excuse to get together with friends, a Super Bowl watch party is the perfect excuse. Even if they know nothing about football and are simply cheering on the most attractive quarterback, a Super Bowl is always a good way to bring people together.

9. Galentine’s Brunch

Another Galentine’s Day option is a brunch. You can go to a brunch restaurant or make brunch at home. Brunch is the epitome of a perfect Galentine’s Day celebration. Waffles, pancakes and croissants mixed with friends are the perfect combination.

10. Comedy Show

Another date activity is going to see a comedy show. It will make sure to leave a smile and a good memory for both parties. Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching so if you want to see a comedy show, check the availability and locations of your favorite comedy club.

11. Cooking Class or Cake Wars

If you want an element of food mixed with an activity, a cooking class or a cake war would be perfect. You can find cooking classes at culinary businesses in the DFW area. Not only will you learn how to craft a delicious meal, but you will also get to try out the new recipe. If a cooking class is not an option, you can have a cake war in your very own kitchen. Hosting a friendly competition with the reward of beautifully decorated cakes sounds like the perfect day.

12. Ice Skating

Another date idea that brings a sense of activeness is ice skating. You can go to a local ice skating rink and skate around the rink together. If you are like me (uncoordinated) there may be an aspect of falling or colliding with a wall. But all the more fun, as ice skating can allow you and your date to make fun of yourselves while being active.

13. Karaoke Night

A karaoke night is a great way to host a group of friends. You can find a place to do karaoke which makes the embarrassment factor play a larger role. Or if you cannot find a local karaoke spot, hook up a microphone and sing up a storm. Karaoke is a great way to have fun and laugh while celebrating with your friends.

14. Arrange flowers

Arranging flowers is another great way to combine creativity and fun. You and your date can go to a local Trader Joe’s or Market Street and buy a couple of bouquets of flowers, of varying styles, sizes, and colors. Then you can make your specialized bouquets that look like they came straight from a professional.

Looking for an activity to do on Valentine’s Day can be tricky, but these 14 ideas are a fool-proof way to spend time with your friends and loved ones while having fun.

About the Contributors

Eleanor Koehn, Section Editor

Although Eleanor Koehn is a senior, this is only her second year on staff and her first as Arts and Entertainment Editor. When she is not reviewing and/or critiquing restaurants and movies for TRL, Koehn enjoys running for the cross country team. If you see her dying at Celebration Park… pretend you didn’t. Koehn has a strong love for fall football, preferably for a SEC team of some kind. When an SEC game isn’t on, Koehn will be pretending that the Cowboys are going to have a “comeback season” and promising people that they are good this year. Besides sports, Koehn loves 90s country music, Nashville hot chicken, Chipotle and volunteering at Allen Community Outreach. While she may be stressing about college applications and dorm deposits, she can’t wait to make her last year on Red Ledger the best.

Kaitlin Anderson, Graphic Designer

Beginning her fourth and final year on staff, senior Kaitlin Anderson is excited to finish off her final year with her favorite TRL family. After joining a journalism class in the seventh grade, Anderson quickly found an opportunity to express her creativity through graphics and has used her passion for it ever since. Outside of class, Anderson spends most of her time rodeoing or helping with FFA show cows. Most people consider rodeo as a hobby, but in her own words, “it’s a lifestyle.” She enjoys spending time with friends and family and loves overcoming challenges that life presents to her. She's eager to conquer her last year of high school and take on what the great world beyond it has to offer.

Sarah Hibberd, Editor-In-Chief

All good things must come to an end, but what about great things? Although she’s approaching the end of her high school career, senior Sarah Hibberd is confident her TRL adventures will last a lifetime. With one year left to make her mark, Sarah returns as an over-optimistic Editor-In-Chief eager to maintain The Red Ledger's multi-award-winning legacy. When out of the newsroom, you may find her in scrubs working towards her pharmacy technician certification, stressing over the application process or gushing over her haircare regimen. Sarah is a proud member of HOSA, the Helping Hands Club, and the National Honor Society. As a victim of the baby fever phenomenon and an aspiring healthcare professional, Sarah will stop at nothing to work with tiny humans in the NICU; she believes in speaking for those who can't speak for themselves. She loves Novo Amor music, smelling candles, making lists and laughing with family. Though fiercely independent, Sarah dreads the thought of leaving home, driving her to make this year one for the books.