Just to be clear, despite their proximity on the calendar, Valentine’s Day and Galentine’s Day are two vastly different holidays.
The former takes place on Feb. 14 and derives from a Christian feast day honoring a martyr named Saint Valentine that celebrated fertility and love. It’s since evolved into a pink and red cultural — and very commercial — celebration of commitment and romance.
In other words, it takes two to Valentine.
Then there’s Galentine’s Day on Feb. 13, an event created out of whole cloth in 2010 by the highly paid TV writers of “Parks and Recreation.” It was intended to be an all-female celebration of women’s friendships and, just as meaningfully, a purposeful push back on the cliched conventions of Valentine’s Day.
No date — or men — are required to Galentine’s Day.
But despite different purposes and celebration dates, the two holidays have somehow managed to meld into one big gooey, overlapping bonbon left too long on a Fan apartment radiator. Let’s just say it’s hard to tell where one stops and the other starts. So, whether you want to be romantic a deux or wrapped in the glow of your best gal pals, Richmond has plenty of ways to do both. (It may not be on the appropriate day, but since when does anyone follow the rules anymore?) Read on for ways to find your heart’s desire, regardless of relationship status.
(“Sometimes I Wish I Had a Gun” by Mink Stole is featured on “A Date with John Waters,” a special curated Valentine’s Day mix from the Prince of Puke)
For the quintessential Galentine’s Day experience, grab your girlfriends for the Galentine’s Day Singalong Brunch at Harry’s at Hofheimer. Safe to say there will be sipping from the mimosa bar, a carb-filled brunch and two straight hours of belting it out with a roomful of tipsy women to DJ Chuck T’s anthems, throwbacks and pop hits. Seatings at 11 and 1:30. Saturday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets
Or maybe you want to celebrate a threesome? If you’re down to party for Galentine’s Day, Friday the 13th, and pre-Valentine’s day, you may want three bands as well. Noted veteran musician Prabir will be joined by Villages and Ionna for a sure-to-bang Galentine’s Day Show at Bandito’s Burrito Lounge at 8 p.m. You get all three for $15 bucks.
Because Valentine’s Day falls the day after Friday the 13th this year, you may be looking for a hybrid love-terror experience. How about the Haunted Valentine’s Dinner at Patrick Henry Pub? Besides getting fed, you can expect an evening of ghostly tales of love from right here in River City. Friday, Feb. 13, 6:30 p.m. Tickets
Grab your partner for the third annual Honky Tonk Valentine’s Dance at Gallery 5 with Ramona and the Holy Smokes and openers, Dogwood Brothers. If you need a refresher lesson, two-step and waltz instruction will be provided at 8 p.m., with dancing to follow. Moonshine not provided. Feb. 13, 7 p.m. Tickets
For something a bit more Goth-like, there’s the Dark Valentine’s Fantasy Ball: Morbid Masquerade at the Hofheimer. We’re talking about a masked costume contest, morbid-themed cocktails, face paint masks, dark-themed vendors, an aerialist and enough Goth, Industrial, EDM, house, ‘80s and electro music to keep you moving. As a bonus, canned goods will be collected for Feedmore. Feb. 13, 8 p.m. Tickets
Strangeways Brewing is hosting their Galentine’s Day Market on Valentine’s Day. Go figure. Expect craft beer and bakers, makers, artists and vintage resellers offering varied goods for those of the unattached and taken persuasions. Feb. 14, noon.
If you’re not the fancy dinner type, Northside Grille has you and your Valentine covered with a reverb-drenched evening of low-budget garage stompers, thanks to the Last Respects. The music starts with DJ Heath Haynes spinning vinyl. Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Consider dancing with yourself. Having a Valentine is not a prerequisite for dancing the night away at the Silent Headphone Party at the Valentine Museum. With wireless headphones and multiple live DJ channels, who really needs a partner anyway? Feb. 14, 7 p.m. Tickets
If shopping is your love language, check out the Valentine’s Day Market at Bingo Beer Co. The beer garden patio sets the scene for local artisans, makers and small businesses to show you their girlie stuff. You could do a lot worse on Valentine’s Day than shopping, sipping beer and cocktails, and playing arcade games. Feb. 14, noon.
Call it old school, but if it takes the Great American songbook to put the cherry on top of your Valentine’s Day sundae, look no further than Legends on Grace: My Funny Valentine, an Evening with Scott Wichmann and friends. The Performing Arts Alliance downtown is the setting for crooner Wichmann to bewitch and beguile with the style and flair of years past. And he’s funny, too. Feb. 14, 8 p.m. Tickets
For an extra sweet celebration, take your honey to the Valentine’s Day Mead and Dessert Pairing at Black Heath Meadery. Stardust Bakery will create the four desserts and Black Heath will launch two V-Day offerings: Evangeline, a chocolate and vanilla mead, and Aphrodite’s Ambrosia, a raspberry, chocolate and vanilla mead, along with two surprise meads. $25 tickets available at the door. Feb. 14, 4 p.m.
Looking for a furry Valentine who’ll ignore you at their whim and shed hair everywhere? Fortunately, there’s the Valentine’s Day Market and Adoption event at Purring Hearts VA. Find something for yourself or a loved one from the local makers and artisans or take the leap and adopt a kitten or cat to be your forever friend. When it wants to be. Feb. 14, noon.
Pink Disco: A Galentine’s Bash welcomes singles, couples, besties and crews to Harry’s to celebrate the love of women in all its forms: friendship, romance, confidence and community. Female DJs will keep the estrogen up while photographers capture the pink-themed evening dedicated to sisterhood. Dress to make yourself happy. Feb. 14, 7 p.m. Tickets
Leave it to Fallout RVA to invite you to dance until you die at a gore-filled gala they’ve dubbed My Bloody Valentine. DJ Scareypete provides the goth, New Wave, darkwave and dark alternative beats for a blood-pounding good time. And while you may come in alone, who’s to say what will happen by 2 a.m.? Feb. 14, 9 p.m.
You need not be happily coupled to spend an evening drinking in love songs. You can, though, while away Valentine’s evening being sung to at Révéler Experiences. For Janet Martin & Wrecking Ball: A Night of Love Songs, count on some of Martin’s original material and a selection of love songs spanning roots rock, folk and blues. Feb. 14, 6:30 p.m. Tickets
