Every year on Feb. 13, the iconic Leslie Knope gets together with her lady friends, encouraging them to leave their boyfriends or husbands behind to “kick it breakfast style” in celebration of one another. It’s the day of “uteruses before duderuses” and “ovaries before brovaries,” she says.
Galentine’s Day got its start as a fictional holiday introduced in Season 2, Episode 16 of “Parks and Recreation” and is meant to celebrate and empower women rather than patronize or pity those without partners. Fictional women like Knope and real women I know remind me daily what it means to show up for each other. Galentine’s Day is an excellent excuse to celebrate how beautiful and important those friendships are.
Knope, a fictional character portrayed by Amy Poehler, is known for going over the top. In addition to gathering her friends for a lavish breakfast that features waffles (her favorite food), she hands out thoughtful, often handmade gifts, including crocheted flower pens, portraits made from crushed bottles of her friends’ favorite sodas and personalized, 5,000-word essays detailing why her friends are all so awesome.
Last year, I attended a delightful Palentine’s Day event hosted by a friend of mine in Greeley who reminds me a lot of Knope. She’s ironically never seen the show, but that’s probably because she’s too busy planning and hosting elaborate theme parties.
This friend set up a pink balloon arch and pink and red candles and placed heart-shaped goodies out on the dining table. Rosé—including a non-alcoholic version for the pregnant women who attended—also graced the table. She printed out a bunch of photos we took throughout the year and wrangled some picture frames for us to paint in thematic red, pink and white. We spent the evening crafting, munching and talking.
For years, I’ve been inspired by this friend. She somehow always has time for the people around her and manages to send thoughtful texts and little gifts that are just right for the occasion. This friend is perhaps an outlier. A social machine, if you will. But she is also a reminder of what deep, meaningful friendships can look like in adulthood.
It’s easy to let friendships wither and fade. It takes work to maintain meaningful connections and show up in friends’ lives, especially when things get more logistically complicated thanks to romantic relationships, growing families and developing careers.
As the mother of a rambunctious toddler (with another baby on the way) who recently wrapped up grad school as part of a career change, I know how hectic life can be. At some point, I’ve dropped every ball I’ve juggled.
Galentine’s Day doesn’t have to look exactly like Knope’s elaborate celebrations (though who doesn’t want to read a 5,000-word essay about how great they are?). It can be anything from a fancy night out to a low-key evening at a friend’s house.
The important thing is to carve out time to spend with friends who matter to you. If you’re looking for ideas, you can borrow some of mine.
Free or low cost
Kick it breakfast style. Gather at a friend’s house for a waffle-centric meal (bonus points if you make them heart shaped to remind your friends you love them). You can also decorate cookies for a tasty, low-stakes way to get creative and bust out some colorful sprinkles.
Do a craft. Paint picture frames, make a collage out of photos you’ve taken together or pick out some flowers and press them. Making friendship bracelets is another time-honored tradition that has seen a huge resurgence (IYKYK) in recent years. For flower pressing, check out local florists like Mariposa Plants & Flowers in Greeley, Wild Posies Floral & Plant Boutique in Loveland and CC’s Flowers in Fort Collins.
Head to the library. For a moodier celebration, check out the Goth Galentine Night at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Greeley’s LINC Library Innovation Center.
The evening is dedicated to celebrating friendship with sweet treats and creative crafts. At the event, you’ll be able to decorate your own custom candy boxes, design Galentine’s Day cards for your friends and more. To register, visit highplains.libcal.com/event/15606668.
A group of friends celebrating at Tesoro in Old Town Fort Collins.
Out on the town
Sip some vino
If you’re in the mood for a fancier night out, head to Sweet Heart Winery & Event Center in west Loveland or their new tasting room, Tesoro, in Old Town Fort Collins.
“Wine has been around for centuries bringing people together,” says Megan Nickelson, Sweet Heart’s marketing coordinator. “There’s something for everyone, and there’s just so much history in each kind of wine.”
Nickelson says February is the winery’s Super Bowl. Between Galentine’s Day and Valentine’s Day, Sweet Heart starts planning for the season in June. From Feb. 12-14, they also plan to host their Taste of Sweet Heart events.
“That’s an opportunity to come and try all our wines, have some small bites and listen to live music,” Nickelson says. “We’ll probably have a live painting or maybe some different fun art pieces or romantic things going on. We’ll try to have a dancing area this year, which will be fun.”
There will be a Valentine’s edition of the Taste of Sweet Heart this year, but for those who want a more Galentine’s Day feel, Nickelson says it tends to be about half couples, half girl groups at the event.
As of press time, Sweet Heart was planning a ticketed event featuring local artists Feb. 16-18. Details hadn’t yet been finalized, but Nickelson encourages readers to check Sweet Heart’s social media pages for updated information.
For those looking to check out a new spot in town, she recommends stopping by Sweet Heart’s recently opened tasting room, Tesoro.
“We do specialty cocktails at Tesoro, like wine- and cider-based cocktails,” she says. “Come with your gals and enjoy a Galentine’s Day outing. It looks really fancy and cute, so it’s kind of fun for photo ops as well.”
And for those who want to keep the spirit of Galentine’s Day going strong, Nickelson says Sweet Heart’s wine club works wonders. The wine club itself is free to sign up for: You commit to purchasing three bottles per quarterly release, which come with special perks, like exclusive wine parties for members and alcohol discounts.
“I was talking to some gals the other day, and they were like, ‘Oh my gosh, we have to sign up for wine club so we have to hang out with each other every three months,’” Nickelson says. “I thought that was really cute. That way they know that every three months all the gals are getting together to do something fun.”
Support a local nonprofit
The Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center will host its annual Galentine’s Day event from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 6 at Hillside Vineyards in northwest Fort Collins. Enjoy a glass of wine, a tasty charcuterie spread and desserts while you participate in a silent auction and other activities. For more information, visit savacenter.org/events/galentinesday.
A bouquet featured in a Galentine’s Day class at Bath Garden Center & Nursery.
Take a class
Bath Garden Center & Nursery, a locally owned, family-operated nursery and garden center in Fort Collins, plans to host a Galentine’s Day Floral Workshop in collaboration with Breckenridge Brewery. Elcee Evershed, Bath’s social media manager, says the nursery hosts a variety of classes throughout the year to educate plant lovers in the community.
“We love creating a space where people can gather, connect and appreciate the friends who support them, inspire them and make everyday life brighter,” she says.
The workshop will teach attendees how to create pink-hued floral arrangements with tips from an expert instructor. The price of the ticket includes a beer or seltzer from Breckenridge Brewery.
“We hope this class gives you the chance to reconnect with friends you haven’t seen in a while and enjoy a relaxing, creative time together,” Evershed says. “We also hope you leave feeling more confident about cut flowers and floral arranging.”
When: 5-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13
Where: 2000 E. Prospect Road
Cost: $65
For more information, visit bathgardencenter.com/events.
Ginger and Baker will also host classes throughout the month of February as part of their teaching kitchen in Fort Collins. This month’s cooking classes focus on dishes such as beef bourguignon, biscuits and pasta from scratch.
When: Throughout February
Where: 359 Linden St.
Cost: $85-120
For more information, visit gingerandbaker.com/events/house-events.
