26 Things To Do This Valentine’s Day in YYC

We've got all the ideas to keep your bae swooning this Valentine's Day.
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Written by: Chloe Wong and Kayla Pearcey

Valentine’s Day is the holiday we all love to hate and hate to love. But it’s still the perfect opportunity to impress your bae. Cut the clichés, get creative and start planning! If your significant other has a favourite meal, cocktail or bottle of wine, remembering the small details will help. If creativity ain’t your strong suit, we’ve got your back. Read on for our date ideas and gift suggestions to make February 14th perfectly memorable.

1. Twelfth Night
January 30th-February 24th
Theatre Calgary, 240 9 Ave SE
Website

The perfect date night out. Watch as twins Viola and Sebastian are separated in a shipwreck and forced to find their way in a strange new land on their own. Fortunately, Illyria holds much misadventure, love, and laughter for them both. This refreshing take on Shakespeare’s classic comedy will leave you rolling in the aisles and begging for a thirteenth night.

2. Treat Your Sweetheart: Valentine’s Day Brunch
February 8th and 9th from 12pm-1pm
ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen, 909 11 Ave SW
Website

It’s true – the way to your love’s heart is often through their stomach and there’s no better way to spoil your sweetie than to prepare a romantic Valentine’s Day brunch. The chef instructors at ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen will share some French techniques to help you take your brunch game to the next level, with dishes like heavenly crepes suzette with prosciutto, fresh fruit and cheese and a classic quiche Lorraine all on the menu.

3. Valentine’s Day Celebrations at the Ranche
February 10th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 18th from 10am-2pm and 5pm-10pm
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, 15979 Bow Bottom Tr SE
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Celebrate love with your sweetheart at Fish Creek Park. Executive chef Jenny Kang and her team have curated a two-week celebration of love featuring love-inspired brunch and dinner menus. Start the day or evening off with a romantic walk through a winter wonderland and then wander into the Ranche to indulge to your heart’s content in culinary delights.

4. Chef’s Table: Valentine’s Day
February 10th, 13th and 14th from 6:30pm-9pm
ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen, 909 11 Ave SW
Website

Enjoy a night of sparkling strawberries and chocolate as the culinary team at ATCO Blue Flame Kitchen collaborates for this unique and exquisite seven-course dining experience. Some of the highlights will include an elegant seafood composition and a main course of local game.

5. YYC Girl Gang Galentines Market
February 11th from 10am-4pm
The Commons, 1206 20 Ave SE
Website

Get yo’ shop on and join YYC Girl Gang for their Galentines Market on February 11th. Featuring some amazing talent and girl bosses in our local community, this 1 day market will include 23 vendors and products everyone is sure to love. $3 cash entry at the door.

6. Valentine’s Day Week
February 12th-February 17th from 5-9pm
Cravings Market Restaurant, 7207 Fairmount Dr SE
Website

Food is the way to our hearts – and Cravings Market Restaurant has figured that out. From February 12th to February 17th, bring your bae down for some good eats from their special Valentine’s Day Week menu. Choose from a 2-course or 3-course Chateaubriand set menu, heart-shaped seafood medley en croute, heart-shaped pizzas, or their feature soup and salad.

 

7. Trivia Night at Wurst: Sex and The City
February 13th from 7-9pm
WURST, 2437 4 St SW
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On Tuesday February 13th, we’ll be hosting Trivia Night at Wurst with Sex and The City. Round up your gal pals and let’s make this the best galentines. We can’t wait to see you there. This is an 18+ event.

8. In the Heat of the Night
February 13th and 14th from 6-10:30pm
The Calgary Zoo, 210 St. George’s Dr NE
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The Calgary Zoo has been cranking up the Valentine’s Day heat in Calgary for over two decades. Join them for In the Heat of the Night. This adult only event runs for just two nights, on February 13 and 14—basically the two most romantic nights of the year. Your ticket includes a delicious meal, romantic wandering violinists, educational talks, games and a playful intimate exchange about romance in the wild. Not sold yet? They’ll say hello when you get there with a welcome prosecco.

9. Galentine’s DIY Terrarium Workshop
February 13th and 14th at 6:30pm
Plant, 1327 9 Ave SE
Website

Plant is celebrating Galentine’s Day! Round up your squad and come spend the evening with them. They’ll have wine, cheese and bean-to-bar chocolate to celebrate your amazing lady friends with. You and your gal pals will spend the evening getting artsy with a DIY terrarium-making workshop. All supplies included.

10. Pop-Up Market
February 14th from 11am-1pm
South Health Campus – Market Cafe, 4448 Front St SW
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The Calgary Farmer’s Market will be hosting a pop-up market at South Health Campus this Valentine’s Day. Swing by their mini market and pick up gifts from 11 local market vendors including Flowers at the Market, Crafted, Master Chocolat, Totalitea, Cherry Pit, Going Nuts, and more. Whether your boo is into flowers or chocolate (or both), this is a one-stop shop you’ll definitely want to swing by.

11. Valentine’s Paint & Prep
February 14th at 5pm and 730pm
Raw Canvas, 1130 Kensington Rd NW
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Spend your Valentine’s Day at Raw Canvas getting your hands dirty with your date. The evening will start with a fresh, clean canvas for you to paint on and instructions from professional art instructors. Once you’ve loosened up, the second part of the evening will begin. Prepare to get messy and learn how to prep fresh pasta from scratch from their house chef, The Spice Chica.

 

12. Sweetheart Valentine’s Dinner
February 14th, 5pm-close
Barcelona Tavern, 501 8 Ave SW
Website

Join Barcelona Tavern for your Valentine’s Date Night. Their chef has created a tantalizing 5-course Sweetheart Tapas Tasting dinner for two so you and your bae can spend the evening getting lost in each other’s eyes in romantic Barcelona. $85 per couple. For reservations, call Molly at 403-265-6555.

13. Valentine’s Day at The Lake House
February 14th from 5-10pm
The Lake House, 747 Lake Bonavista Dr SE
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Impress your Valentine with an intimate evening at The Lake House. Enjoy a four-course chef-crafted dinner in a romantic candlelit setting complete with a cozy fire and a stunning view of Lake Bonavista. Reservations are now being accepted.

14. February Brewmaster’s Dinner
February 14th from 6-9pm
CRAFT Beer Market – Southcentre, #273A 100 Anderson Rd SE
Website

You better put your stretchy pants on for this one. Whether celebrating Valentine’s Day with bae or hitting the town with your friends and family, this four-course dinner paired with beer and wine tastings will be sure to impress. Hosted by a local Cicerone & Sommelier, guests will enjoy an Amuse Bouch followed by three courses that are selectively paired with complementing wine or beer and of course, dessert. Get involved in the evening by casting your vote for which pairing you digged the most for each course – a winner will be chosen by the end of your meal.

15. Adults Only Night: This is Your Brain on Love
February 14th from 6-10pm
TELUS Spark, 220 St Georges Dr NE
Website

Get nerdy this Valentine’s Day by exploring all things about human emotion from learning how dopamine affects the brain’s reward and pleasure centres to identifying which triggers drive your oxytocin levels sky high. Elevate this experience even more and make reservations for a romantic Spark the Love dining experience.

16. Oxbow’s First Valentine’s Day
Oxbow, 1126 Memorial Dr NW
Website

It’s true what they say, the way to our hearts is through our stomachs. This Valentine’s Day, let the talented team at Oxbow dazzle you and your date with a delicious five-course set menu – only available for Valentine’s Day. Dishes will include Side Stripe Prawn Risotto and Seared Petit Ribeye of Beef complemented with expertly curated wine selections. Don’t wait, reservations are highly recommended.

17. Valentine’s Dine & Paint
February 14th from 6:30pm-9pm
Vin Gogh, 7004 Macleod Tr
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This Valentine’s Day, Vin Gogh has you covered. Sign up for their Valentine’s Date Night and treat yourself and your boo to an all-inclusive night including painting, drinks, appetizers, dinner, dessert and a parting gift. The evening begins at 6:30pm.

18. L’Amour! A Romantic Valentine Dinner
February 14th from 6:30-9:30pm
Cuisine et Chateau, #103 227 10 St NW
Website

You can never go wrong with a romantic dinner date, especially when you are served French cuisines that were inspired by love. That’s exactly what Cuisine et Chateau offers with its L’Amour! A Valentine’s Day special four-course dinner with wine pairings to be prepared for guests on Sunday Feb. 14, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The cost for this dinner is $115 (plus tax) per person. The French are known for being experts in the language of love and chances are after this date you’ll be fluent in the language too.

 

19. Valentine’s Day at The Met
February 14th from 7-10pm
The Met, 150, 317 7 Ave SW
Website

Complimentary champagne. Need we say more? On February 14th, Justine Tyrell will be making an appearance at the Met for a live acoustic performance. The music will be paired with a glass of free champagne and a three course special prie fixe menu. Plus, there will be 1/2 priced bottles of house wine flowing all night long. You won’t want to miss it.

20. Valentine’s Day Trivia
February 14th from 7-10pm
National on 17th, 550 17 Ave SW
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Valentine’s Day is near and love is in the air! Join Ayla & Twyla for a fun-filled night of trivia at National on 17th. The evening will feature buckets of Wild Rose cans on special for $15, and for the first time in National history, there will be NACHOS on the menu. So bring your crush, your squad, or your single brother and get ready for a night of love songs, candy hearts, prizes, and beer.

21. Dave Kelly Live Valentine’s Day Special
February 14th from 7:30-9:30pm
Theatre Junction GRAND, 608 1 St SW
Website

This Valentine’s Day, bring your boo to Theatre Junction GRAND and celebrate the day of love with a special Valentine’s edition of Dave Kelly Live. Enjoy special musical guests from the Calgary Folk Music Festival and kick off this year’s Folk Fest with unique performances and conversations. We’ll see you there.

22. Valentine’s Day at Raw Bar
Raw Bar, 119 12 Ave SW
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No plans for Valentine’s Day yet? Raw Bar has got you covered. Spend the evening enjoying an intimate family-style dining experience with their custom-set menu. All dishes are perfect for sharing and can be paired with their special love-inspired cocktail, available for the night only.

23. LOVE, A Tribute to Quentin Tarantino – VDAY Cabaret
February 14th from 8-11pm
The Rec Room, 1180-901 64 Ave NE
Website

Do Valentine’s Day different this year with The Rec Room. Join them as they showcase a twisted cabaret of curated performers starting at 8pm. The show is a tribute to Quentin Tarantino and tickets include a dessert bar, one beverage per person, and a chance to win a Tarantino Couples Love Package (valued at $250). This event is 18+ years.

24. MOMIX Opus Cactus
February 15th-17th at 730pm (with an additional Saturday matinee at 2pm)
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, 1415 14 Ave NW
Website

Treat yourself and your Valentine with a date to the ballet. From February 15th to 17th, MOMIX will be in Calgary celebrating their 35th anniversary. With a sense of danger, sensuality and humour, come see the desert world of soaring cactuses, slithering snakes, and frolicking insects all come to life.  And because we love hooking you up with the best deals, use promo code ABLOVE for a two for one promo on your tickets.

25. Constellations
February 27th – March 17th from 7:30-9pm
Alberta Theatre Projects, 215 8 Ave SE
Website

An international Broadway hit, Constellations is coming to Alberta Theatre Projects this month. This captivating love story tells the tale of an unlikely romance between a beekeeper and a physicist. After an unexpected encounter brings them together, romance doesn’t seem likely, but what happens next defies the limits of our understanding of time and space. Called “the most sophisticated date play broadway has seen,” by The New York Times, this play makes you think about how love can either bring us together or pull us apart.

 

26. Speed Dating (Singles 25+)
February 28th from 6-8pm
Bourbon Room, 341 10 Ave SW
Website

Spent Valentine’s Day solo? Put down your phone and join us for 3D Tinder. Each event has 20 single women and 20 single men to connect with. The women stay in the same seat and the men rotate. Each date will last from 4-5 minutes. You can practice your flirting skills and game while meeting new people. We collect your matches at the end of the night and will contact you with your matches the following day. This is so you don’t have the awkward phone number exchange at the end of the conversation. Your contact info is only shared with permission and if you have a match.

BONUS – Galentines Day Special
February 1st -February 28th
Sucré Body Sugaring Boutique, 339 17 Ave SW
Website

Send your favourite gal pal or your favourite self (yas Queen) to Sucré Body Sugaring Boutique on 17th Avenue – or better yet make it a ladies date and go with her! Book a BRAZILIAN (Mademoiselle treatment ) in the month of February and receive 25% off! Don’t forget to write date night promo in code when booking. Your friend and her lady parts will seriously thank you.

10 PERFECT GIFTS FOR YOUR VALENTINE :

Looking for the perfect gift for your bae? Here are our favourite local picks and goodies to help impress your sweetie.

 

Fiasco Gelato

As the saying goes, you can’t buy love, but you can buy gelato .. and that’s pretty much the same thing. Stop by Fiasco’s happiness freezer and pick up a few pints to share with your special someone. They also have Gelato Academy at their test kitchen – an evening where you and your date can go make your own custom gelato flavour.

The Sugar Cube

Remember old school candy grams? That’s what The Sugar Cube delivers. No matter if the recipient is your best friend, crush, or mom, their candy cubes are sure to impress.

Adorn Boutique

Looking for the perfect Valentine’s Day outfit to impress your guy or some local sparkles to point in his direction? Adorn Boutique has got you covered with all things girly, pink and sparkly.

Bamboo Ballroom

Dress to impress with Bamboo Ballroom’s statement accessories, unique dresses, and all around fabulous pieces.

clear float spa

This Valentine’s Day, treat your love to the gift of relaxation with some float therapy at clear float spa. They’ve even got a Valentine’s Day special – 2 floats for $99 – which, if you ask us, is a steal of a deal.

ESMÉ Beauty & Floral Bar

Every lady loves the gift of a good floral arrangement. Head to ESMÉ to pick from a stunning selection of pre-made or custom bouquets. Gift cards are also available to treat her to any aesthetic service offered by their talented team of beauty professionals.

Enchanted Fleur

Take a page from one of our favourite Disney classics this Valentine’s Day. Enchanted Fleur, a new local floral company, offers beautiful single roses in a dome – think Beauty and the Beast style. Guaranteed to last for two years – because your love is everlasting and your roses should be too.

 

National Music Centre

Give your date the gift of music with a membership to Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre (NMC). These magical memberships unlock year-round access to Studio Bell and comes with special discounts to live concerts to continue your dates all-year-long. Plus, for a limited time between February 9-19, purchase any NMC Membership and receive 20% off regular price. No more boring dates for you and your boo!

It’s Date Night

Say hello to the magic little black book that unlocks $500 in date night deals; aka the #21Dates Passport. We’ve collaborated with 21 local businesses to get you off your couch and exploring the city. Whether you’re looking to share the experiences with your SO or you’re using it casually, let this free you of all those date night woes.

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