Forget Valentine’s Day: instead, save those lovey-dovey vibes for your best pals with a Galentine’s Day to remember.
It might not be as famous as Valentine’s Day, but Galentine’s Day deserves its own spot in your February calendar. Typically celebrated on 13 February (one day prior to Valentine’s), Galentine’s Day was introduced to the world by TV character Leslie Knope, the protagonist of hit series Parks and Recreation — the fictional civil servant debuted the holiday in a 2010 episode, where she threw her ‘annual Galentine’s Day party’ for her female friends on Valentine’s Day eve.
Galentine’s offers a great excuse to shower your friends with love and to enjoy your favourite activities — whether it’s a pampering sesh or singing your hearts out at a karaoke bar. Here are all the exciting things you can do with your bestie when the big day arrives.
Binge your favourite TV show
What better way to start your Galentine’s Day night in by paying homage to the person who started it all? Load up season two, episode 16 of Parks and Rec and watch as Leslie Knope serves up her own unique brand of girl power. Afterwards, you can binge the show’s seven-season run while enjoying your favourite ice cream, wine or chocolates (Wine Delivered has a wide range of wine baskets to choose from). All episodes are available to stream on Prime Video.
If that doesn’t take your fancy, there are plenty of other shows that honour female friendship: Broad City (available to buy on Prime Video), Gilmore Girls (available to stream on Netflix), Grace and Frankie (also streaming on Netflix) and Sex and the City (available to buy on Prime Video) will do the trick.
Pamper yourselves with these at-home spa products
OK, we know it’s a bit of cliche, but who doesn’t love a good pampering session every now and then? Boots has a wide selection of face masks and footcare packages for you and your friend to choose from.
Korean brand Clapoti offers an entire organic pedicure series that features a foot exfoliant mask, a foot cream and a foot gel cleanser. Alternatively, splurge on the ultimate wellness basket, available at The White Company for £65. It comprises a spa candle, hand & body wash and balm, and body brush.
Sip on fashion-forward afternoon tea
Who knew afternoon tea could look so stylish? If you feel like heading out, the Collins Room at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge, London, will give you the chance to enjoy this beloved British ritual with a fashion twist.
Invite your friend to this charming dining room (created by acclaimed designer Robert Angell) and taste all kinds of elegant canapes and sandwiches by head pastry chef Mourad Khiat, which look as if they’ve sprung straight from the catwalk. Expect fluorescent cakes shaped as clutch bags and desserts made in the form of dresses, all inspired by actual collections or fashion shows. Take a bite out of that Prada camel coat reimagined as a piped, cocoa-rich biscuit, and afternoon tea will never be the same again.
Indulge in bottomless brunch and sing along to your favourite tunes
Is belting out Spice Girls classics your kind of fun? Then you’ll love this ultra-pop, girls-only event taking place at the Cottons Club in London’s Shoreditch on 12 February 2023 (from 1 to 5pm). Warm up your vocal cords and revisit the ‘90s and ‘00s on the day before Galentine’s, by joining this epic Gurl PWR party.
The event includes a three-course brunch menu with bottomless prosecco, as well as meat, fish and vegan delicacies, including the jerk chicken leg, vegan curried ‘mutton’ with jackfruit and aubergine, and an indulgent coconut rum cake.
Play arcade games
To enjoy some fun, friendly competition, organise an afternoon of games at Four Thieves in Clapham Junction, southwest London. Sway on the illuminated platform of Dance Revolution or feel the rush as you shoot the targets during a round of POINT BLANK 2.
Four Thieves also hosts one of London’s most popular comedy nights, with line-ups that often feature a host of famous faces from the TV, from Josh Widdicombe to Rob Beckett. The best part? Tickets are only £8.
Catch a live performance from your favourite band
Longing for a loud concert or a small intimate gig to bring you just a few steps away from your favourite act? Check to see who’s playing on 13 February, buy tickets for two, and see which of you manages to catch a flying drumstick at the end.
Songkick and Bandsintown are good for discovering what bands play in your area, but it’s always worth just walking around the neighbourhood to see what’s on at your local pub, bar or music venue.
If you’re based in London, Sofar Sounds is an excellent way to discover new bands and attend gigs at intimate, often quirky venues, such as museums and rooftops and even in people’s living rooms. Subscribers don’t find out the details of the gig until 36 hours beforehand.
