Women Celebrate Galentines Over Valentines

Galentine's Day gatherings offer an alternative to traditional Valentine's Day celebrations.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Some women are choosing to celebrate Galentine's Day, a growing trend where friends gather to honor their female friendships around Valentine's Day. These celebrations can include activities like taking classes, hosting parties, or simply spending quality time together without distractions. The day provides an opportunity for women to create new bonds, support each other, and find community, especially for those who may not have a romantic partner on Valentine's Day.

Why it matters

Galentine's Day has emerged as a way for women to celebrate their platonic relationships and find community, especially on a holiday that is traditionally focused on romantic love. These gatherings allow women to prioritize their friendships and create meaningful shared experiences, which can be empowering and fulfilling, particularly for those who may not have a significant other on Valentine's Day.

The details

Galentine's Day celebrations can take many forms, from hosting elaborate parties with hired bartenders and DJs, to taking classes together like cookie decorating or calligraphy, to simply going out for coffee or a hike. The key is spending quality time with female friends, being present, and building memories without distractions like phones. Some women use Galentine's Day to fill a void if they don't have a romantic partner on Valentine's Day, while others see it as a chance to create new friendships and strengthen existing ones.

  • Galentine's Day is celebrated on February 13, the day before Valentine's Day.
  • The trend of Galentine's Day celebrations started gaining popularity after a 2010 episode of the TV show 'Parks and Recreation'.

The players

Christie O'Sullivan

A resident of Trinity, Florida, who has spent 21 Valentine's Days with her husband but enjoyed a Galentine's Day celebration with a girlfriend before getting married.

Chela Pappaccioli

A resident of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, who has been hosting a Galentine's Day party at her home for the last three years, complete with a bartender and DJ.

Liz Momblanco

A 'serial hobbyist' from Berkley, Michigan, who invites her friends to take classes like cookie and cake decorating, calligraphy, and stained glass for Galentine's Day.

Marney Wolf

The owner of the retreat company Luna Wolf, which offers Galentine's-themed retreats near Valentine's Day, providing opportunities for art, creativity, and community building.

Amy Poehler

The actress who played the character of Leslie Knope on the TV show 'Parks and Recreation', which featured a Galentine's Day episode that helped popularize the trend.

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What they’re saying

“For me, it was 10 out of 10. That whole day was intentional.”

— Christie O'Sullivan (kslnewsradio.com)

“What's Galentine's Day? Oh, it's only the best day of the year.”

— Leslie Knope, Character on 'Parks and Recreation' (kslnewsradio.com)

“It's an escape to just be with your girls, be silly, do something fun and just focus on the friendships you've created and enjoying each other's company.”

— Chela Pappaccioli (kslnewsradio.com)

“It bonds you, whether it's the smallest thing or really deep. You watch these grown women turn into almost like a childlike kindergarten response like, 'Oh my gosh! Good job! You're so talented!' That little lift is the easiest thing to do.”

— Marney Wolf, Owner, Luna Wolf retreat company (kslnewsradio.com)

“We could be fully present — no photos, no texts, no nothing. So while that means there's no actual record of that day occurring, it also means the details became a core memory without it.”

— Christie O'Sullivan (kslnewsradio.com)

The takeaway

Galentine's Day celebrations offer women an alternative to traditional Valentine's Day festivities, allowing them to prioritize their platonic relationships, create meaningful shared experiences, and find community - especially for those who may not have a romantic partner on February 14th. These gatherings demonstrate the power of female friendships and the importance of making time to nurture those connections.