4 Friend-Date Activities to Try This Winter

From wine and chocolate to candle-making, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season with your best friends.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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As the winter months drag on, there are plenty of fun indoor activities in Cleveland that are perfect for a friend date. From wine and chocolate tastings to candle-making and cosmic bowling, these experiences offer a chance to bond with your closest pals and create new memories.

Why it matters

With Valentine's Day around the corner, these friend-focused activities provide an alternative to the typical romantic date night. They allow people to celebrate the important friendships in their lives and enjoy quality time together, whether that's learning a new skill or simply having fun.

The details

The Winery at Chateau Hough is offering several friend-friendly events, including a "Dip & Sip" experience that pairs wine, chocolate, and fruit, as well as a multi-session "Let's Make Wine" class where participants can craft their own bottle. RollHouse Entertainment provides high-energy experiences like cosmic bowling, escape rooms, and an arcade. The Cleveland Candle Company lets visitors create custom scented candles. And CLE Urban Winery has a Valentine's wine flight and food pairing, plus live music.

  • The Winery at Chateau Hough's "Dip & Sip" event is on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2026, with two time slots available.
  • The Winery at Chateau Hough's "Let's Make Wine" class runs from March 14 to May 2026.
  • The Winery at Chateau Hough's "Suds and Sips" soap making session is on April 11, 2026.
  • CLE Urban Winery has live jazz performances on February 13 (7-9 p.m.) and February 15 (6-8 p.m.), 2026.

The players

Brenda Frazier

The manager of The Winery at Chateau Hough.

Phil Carpenter

The Chief Marketing Officer of RollHouse Entertainment.

David Gin

A partner at The Cleveland Candle Company.

Destiny Burns

The owner of CLE Urban Winery.

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What they’re saying

“Come, have fun and meet people.”

— Brenda Frazier, Winery Manager

“RollHouse is a place to celebrate the people you love spending time with. It's where fun lives.”

— Phil Carpenter, Chief Marketing Officer

“It's the adventure of smelling through our vast scent collection and having the shared experience that makes every candle-making session so satisfying. Every time you light the candle you made, it brings back the memory of who you were with.”

— David Gin, Partner

“In addition to a full bar, we have non-alcoholic beer, wine, cider and spirits for delightful mocktails.”

— Destiny Burns, Owner

The takeaway

From wine and chocolate tastings to candle-making and cosmic bowling, these friend-focused activities in Cleveland provide a fun and memorable way to bond with your closest pals during the winter months. Whether you're looking to learn a new skill or simply enjoy quality time together, these experiences offer an alternative to the typical Valentine's Day plans.