Galentine’s Day Ideas: Creative Ways to Celebrate Friendship

Galentine’s Day, the Leslie Knope-inspired holiday from Parks & Recreation, has evolved from a fictional TV moment to real-world celebration. It’s now a worldwide celebration of friendship, waffles, and women supporting women. Happening every year on February 13, it’s the perfect excuse to gather your friends, treat yourself, and make memories that have nothing to do with romance.

If you’re looking for creative ways to celebrate friendship, we’ve rounded up a variety of fun and meaningful Galentine’s Day ideas to celebrate, whether you’re throwing a full-on party, keeping it simple, or celebrating solo.

Table of Contents

• Party-ready ideas
• Experience-based ideas
• Digital Galentine’s ideas
• DIY Galentine’s Day ideas
• Low-key ideas
• Planning tips
• Making Galentine’s Day inclusive

Party-ready Galentine’s Day ideas

One of the beauties of Galentine’s Day is its flexibility; it can be as low-key or as extra as you want it to be. 

Brunch + mimosa magic

Nothing says Galentine’s like a leisurely brunch with endless mimosas. Set up a DIY mimosa bar with various juices (guava, peach, pomegranate) and let everyone customize their perfect glass. Add heart-shaped waffles, fresh fruit displays, and plenty of coffee for the perfect morning celebration. Include a few extra decor touches like festive glassware or personalized place cards to make the spread feel extra special.

Themed costume parties

Transform your gathering with a creative and engaging theme that gets everyone excited to participate:

• Dance Club: Host your version of “Earlybirds Club,” a women-, trans-, and non-binary–friendly dance party that skips the late-night scene. Kick things off around 6 p.m., spin throwback hits from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, and let everyone dance, sweat, and socialize in a fun, judgment-free space until 9 p.m., then home in time for a good night’s sleep. (I recently went to one of these in Baltimore and it delivered.)
• Pink Pajama Party: Slip into your comfiest all-pink loungewear and relive the best parts of a sleepover. We love board games, face masks, nail polish, gossip, plenty of snacks, and elastic waistbands. 
• Rom-Com Rewind: Everyone dresses as their favorite rom-com character (especially when accompanied by a prop…boombox à la Say Anything). Screen clips or play a trivia game to keep the laughs going.
• Galentine’s Gala: Think over-the-top glam with sparkly dresses, feather boas, and fancy mocktails/cocktails. Basically prom night, but with your best friends. Check out more Galentine’s outfit ideas and inspiration to nail the look.
• Barbie & Bratz Bash: Lean into nostalgia with doll-inspired outfits: glossy, glittery, and unapologetically extra.
• “Bring the Thing You Love” Party: Each guest brings something that represents what they love most (plants, books, a favorite snack, photos) and shares the story. Instant icebreaker + heartfelt vibes.

Interactive game nights

Some of the best Galentine’s Day ideas come from laughing until your cheeks hurt, and nothing delivers quite like a Galentine’s game night. Add a little wine, a few snacks, and a whole lot of silliness, and you’ve got yourself an instant hit.

• Karaoke Night: Turn your living room into a stage with a DIY karaoke setup. Add themed cocktails and finger foods and suddenly you’re living your own Pitch Perfect fantasy. Extra props to the girls who whip out Celine Dion or a power ballad.
• Mario Party Tournament: For friend groups who thrive on playful competition, fire up Mario Party (or your favorite nostalgic game). Keep a leaderboard, offer silly prizes (like a plastic tiara or friendship sash), and let the smack talk fly.
• Relationship-Themed Games: Lean into the holiday with cheeky picks like Red Flags or Never Have I Ever. Or, up the ante with a “Worst First Date” contest: everyone anonymously submits their best worst story, then the group votes on the winner. Prepare for some truly hilarious (and maybe even cathartic) confessions.
• DIY Trivia Night: Put together a trivia game featuring inside jokes, friendship milestones, or pop culture moments (Who cried the hardest during the “Notebook” screening?). It’s equal parts hilarious and heartwarming because the questions are all about you.
• Galentine’s Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of quirky challenges like “find something pink in the house,” “snap a selfie with the best pout,” or “bring back an item that screams nerd.” It works indoors or outdoors, and it gets everyone moving and laughing.
• Friendship Bingo: Make bingo cards with funny, relatable squares like “Someone mentions waffles,” “Complains about dating apps,” or “Quotes Parks & Rec.” First to fill a row gets the last mimosa.

If your living room can’t handle all the love (or the karaoke), consider these spacious Galentine’s party rooms and let the venue do the heavy lifting. 

Experience-Based Galentine’s Day ideas

Looking to create something truly special? These creative concepts will give your celebration a memory-making plot.

Active and outdoor adventures

• Galentine’s Race: Join a themed 5K run that celebrates female friendship and empowerment. These events focus on community over competition and often benefit women-focused organizations.
• Group Hike: Hit the trails together for fresh air and meaningful conversations, followed by a potluck picnic-style lunch.
• Park Picnic: Pack a basket with finger foods, rosé, and cozy blankets for an outdoor picnic brunch in your favorite spot.
• Playground Adventure: Embrace your inner child at a massive playground, complete with swings and slides, then grab ice cream afterward.

Learn something new together

• Creative Classes: Sign up for something hands-on like a flower arranging workshop, woodworking skills, or a mixology class. You’ll pick up a new skill, share plenty of laughs, and walk away with a meaningful keepsake (or a tasty cocktail).
• Outdoor Adventure Downtown: Explore your city’s downtown area, hit up local cafes, and discover new spots together.
• Volunteer Together: Spend the day giving back, whether it’s serving at a local shelter, assembling care kits, or helping with a community project. Sharing kindness with friends is a powerful way to celebrate the spirit of Galentine’s Day.
• Chore-Swap Party: Rotate between each friend’s home to tackle a small project they’ve been putting off: organizing a closet, hanging art, planting a garden corner. With music, snacks, and laughter, even chores become a celebration when you do them together.

Capture the moment

• Local Brewery Events: Many breweries host Galentine’s parties with crafting stations and specialty drinks.
• Playlist Creation: Curate Spotify playlists filled with songs that soundtrack your friendships.
• Photo Booth Setup: Create a DIY photo station with props that represent your group’s inside jokes.
• Media Club: Instead of a book club, share a meme, podcast, or article that made you think (or laugh) recently. 

If you want to keep the memory-making activities going, we’ve gathered even more Galentine’s Day activities for you to explore.

Digital Galentine’s Day ideas

Not all your besties live in the same city, or even the same country, but distance doesn’t have to mean missing out on celebrating together. Here are a few fun ways to keep the spirit alive from afar:

• Virtual Brunch: Slip into your cutest pajamas, whip up some waffles or mimosas, and hop on Zoom for a cozy brunch date. Screenshot shares in matching PJs are highly encouraged.
• Watch Party: Use Amazon’s Watch Together (or Teleparty) to stream your favorite rom-coms in sync. Add a group chat or FaceTime call so you can laugh, cry, and quote iconic lines together.
• Surprise & Share: Mail small gift boxes, care packages, or curated playlists in advance, then open or listen to them at the same time on video chat. 
• Digital Game Night: Play online trivia, Jackbox, or a themed bingo night to keep the laughs flowing. Screen-share the game, sip your favorite drink, and let the banter fly. 
• Shared Ritual: Light a candle, make the same cocktail, or do a face mask “together” while chatting. It’s the little rituals that can make you feel close, even across miles.

DIY Galentine’s Day ideas

Sometimes the most meaningful celebrations are the ones you create together. These hands-on activities double as entertainment and keepsakes.

Craft stations 

• Friendship Bracelet Bar: Set up beading stations with a secret exchange system.
• Succulent Planting: Create mini gardens everyone can take home.
• Affirmation Jar Making: Fill jars with handwritten compliments and inside jokes for each friend.
• Wine Glass Painting: Decorate glasses you’ll use during the party, then take them home as mementos.

Spa day at home

Transform your space into a wellness retreat with DIY body scrub stations, sheet masks, and relaxing music. Provide mason jars and let guests create custom scrubs with Epsom salts, essential oils, and dried flowers. Add some lavender bath salts and you’ve got the perfect self-care celebration.

Cooking and baking together

Food-focused Galentine’s gatherings create natural bonding moments:

• Taco Bar Setup: Use a crockpot for easy taco meat/veg and let everyone build their perfect combination.
• Cookie Decorating: Bake sugar cookies in advance and set up decorating stations with colorful icing.
• Soup Trading Night: Everyone brings a pot of their signature soup to share and trade containers.
• Dessert Swap: Everyone bakes something indulgent to share. Red velvet cupcakes encouraged, lewd cookie decorating optional.

Low-Key Galentine’s Day ideas

Not every celebration needs elaborate planning. Sometimes the simplest gatherings create the most cherished memories.

For the cozy ones

Create the perfect cozy atmosphere with:

• Themed Movie Marathon: Watch Booksmart, dive into Pitch Perfect, or binge episodes featuring your favorite TV characters.
• Grilled Cheese Bar: Set up various cheeses, breads, and add-ins for gourmet grilled cheeses paired with tomato soup.
• Board Games & Pajamas: Low-key laughs with puzzles, Pictionary, or Valentine’s-themed card games.

Intimate dinner gatherings

• Wine and Pizza Night: Order from your favorite local spot and focus on conversation over elaborate cooking.
• Charcuterie and Catch-Up: Create beautiful boards with cheeses, meats, and seasonal fruits.
• Potluck Style: Everyone brings a dish that represents something they love about friendship.

Solo celebration ideas

Galentine’s isn’t just for groups, it’s also about honoring yourself:

• All-Day Pancake Extravaganza: Some years Galentine’s overlaps with Shrove Tuesday: hello waffles’ carb-loaded cousin! Lean into it. 
• Flower Power: Splurge on a beautiful bouquet for yourself.
• Adventure Day: Visit a bakery, explore a new neighborhood, or tackle that hiking trail you’ve been meaning to try.
• Treat Yourself: Splurge on your favorite wine, order the fancy takeout, or take a long bath with rose salts.
• Do Nothing (and Love It): Buy half-off candy on the 14th, make yourself a spritzer, and enjoy your own company guilt-free.

Want more cozy inspiration? We’ve rounded up even more ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day at home.

Planning tips for Galentine’s Day 

The best Galentine’s celebrations balance fun, thoughtfulness, and just enough planning to make things feel special, without turning it into a stressful project. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Set the vibe early

Whether you’re going for cozy, glamorous, or silly, choose a theme and communicate it in your invite so everyone can get excited.

Keep it manageable

Pick one or two main activities (like brunch + cookie decorating, or karaoke + cocktails). Too many moving parts can make it feel overwhelming.

Prep ahead

Do as much as you can the day before: chill the drinks, set out craft supplies, pre-bake the cookies, and snag your flowers. For more easy setup ideas, we’ve got you covered.

Think about space

Choose a setting that fits the mood and the group size. Hosting at home works for cozy vibes, but booking a creative Galentine’s party space through Peerspace gives you extra room and less cleanup.

Mix practical with playful

A balance of useful touches (like a taco bar or soup swap) with something whimsical (like friendship bracelets or themed trivia) makes the event memorable.

Personal touches go far

A handwritten note, a shared playlist, or Galentine’s gifts that act as party favors tied to an inside joke will feel more meaningful than anything store-bought.

Know your numbers

Intimate activities like dinners work best with 4-6 people, while karaoke and game nights thrive with 6-12 participants, and larger themed parties need 12+ for that celebratory buzz. If your guest list exceeds your activity’s sweet spot, consider rotating smaller groups through different stations or choose crowd-friendly options like dance parties or potluck gatherings.

Making Galentine’s Day inclusive

Galentine’s Day is all about celebrating the bonds that matter most, and those bonds don’t all look the same. Modern celebrations are embracing all kinds of friendships and family connections:

• Palentine’s Parties: Include friends of all genders in your celebration—it’s about love and connection, not labels.
• Family Galentine’s: Celebrate with daughters, nieces, or goddaughters, creating traditions that highlight how they deserve to be respected and cherished.
• Adapt to personalities: Not every guest loves karaoke or crafts. Build in a mix of activities from puzzles and coloring stations to trivia and dance floors so everyone feels comfortable.
• Flex your timing: Some groups thrive on a lively evening party, while others prefer a sunny afternoon brunch. Pick the time that matches your crew’s vibe.

No matter how you celebrate, the key is making space—literally and figuratively—for the people you love most. And if your gathering calls for a little extra room, or a unique backdrop that feels just as special as the friendships you’re honoring, Peerspace makes it easy to find the perfect Galentine’s Day party setting.

The heart of Galentine’s Day

At its core, Galentine’s Day is about celebrating the friendships that sustain us: the people who show up, make us laugh, and turn ordinary moments into extraordinary ones. And whether your celebration looks like karaoke or puzzle night, an over-the-top brunch, or a cozy movie marathon, the magic is in making time for the people (and yourself!) who make life brighter.

Or as Leslie Knope herself reminds us: “Ovaries before brovaries. Uteruses before duderuses. Galentine’s forever.”