Love These Ideas
20+ things to do for Valentine's Day in Austin with whoever you want

Variations on a Love Theme is showing February 14-16 at First Street Studio.
Valentine's Day might have some pretty strong associations, depending on who you ask. For some it conjures up sweet memories of candy hearts and cards, first crushes, flowers, and all things pink and red; for others, it's simply a consumer-driven Hallmark cash grab.
Wherever you happen to stand on this somewhat divisive holiday, Austin is going all in on Valentine's this year. Not only are there tons of dining specials going on for date night, but there are a variety of other love-themed events for both couples and friends. And some of them are pretty weird.
So here are some of CultureMap's favorite Valentine's events this month, that don't necessarily involve sitting down at a dinner table.
Galentine's Craft Night at Dainty Dillo
February 6, 3201 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Dainty Dillo is partnering up with local candle crafters Those ATX Chicks for a girls' night of candle creating. Ladies can create their own Valentine's themed candles and enjoy live music while sipping Dainty Dillo's craft cocktails. The event goes from 6-9 pm and tickets are $25.
Galentine's Day at the Cathedral
February 8-9, 2403 E. 16th St.
ATXGals and The Cathedral are hosting their eighth annual Galentine's Show on February 8. This event includes pop-up art exhibits by 12 local women and nonbinary artists, complimentary craft cocktails and sips, custom love poems, BFF tattoos, astrology friendship readings, food pop-ups, and much more. Tickets are $15-$22.
Galentine's and Valentine's Craft Nights
February 13-14, 234 W. 2nd St.
Upstairs Circus is a DIY workshop-meets-bar in downtown Austin, and on February 13 and 14 respectively, they're hosting special Galentine's and Valentine's craft nights. Attendees can make their own Valentine's crafts with distressed wood art, urban silhouette art, and more, all while sipping a drink from the bar. The cost is $43 per person and tickets are available online.
Upstairs Circus invites guests to celebrate Galentine's or Valentine's by making crafts.Photo from Upstairs Circus ATX Facebook page
Puppies & Pilates at the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines
February 13, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd.
Another Galentine's celebration, but this time add puppies. Yes, the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines is combining Pilates and puppies for a 30-minute mat Pilates class surrounded by adoptable dogs from the Bastrop County Animal Shelter. After the class, attendees can craft a friendship bracelet, enjoy a juice bar, and explore fostering and adoption options. Tickets are $30 and a portion of the proceeds go to the shelter.
A Swiftie Soirée
February 13, 2800 N. Interstate Hwy. 35, #200
On February 13, Cover 3 Round Rock is hosting the ultimate Taylor Swift-themed Galentine's Day celebration. Starting at 6:30 pm, the Swiftie Soirée will include specialty cocktails like the Lavender Haze, friendship bracelet-making, Taylor Swift trivia, and prizes. Guests are encouraged to dress up in their favorite Taylor Swift era attire. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased online.
Fondue, Flights, and Fun at Cape Bottle Room
February 14-16, 500 San Marcos St., Ste. 102
Cape Bottle Room is offering two experiences for Valentine's this year: a couples celebration with fondue and flights from February 14-16, and on February 13, a girly-themed Galentine's night with pink bubbly, flowers, a prom-style balloon arch, and girl-power tunes all night. Tickets for the Fondue and Flights event are $110 per couple and $20 per person for Galentine's.
February 14, 575 Hyatt Lost Pines Rd.
From 8-11 pm, the Hyatt Regency will transform its brand-new River Bend Event Barn into an all-out dance venue. This special Valentine's Day event features live music, dance instruction, a full bar, and a photo booth. Tickets are $45 each and can be purchased online.
Pease Park Waltz Class
February 14, 1100 Kingsbury St.
On February 14 from 6:30-7:15 pm, Austinites are invited to join J. Wagner, a local songwriter and dance instructor, at the Tudor Cottage Terrace in Pease Park for a lesson in waltzing. This will be followed by an outdoor dance party from 7:15-8:15. This event is free and open to all. Austinites are also invited to order their Valentine's rose bouquets from Pease Park, to help support the Pease Park Conservancy. You can pre-order your roses now and pick them up at the Tudor Cottage anytime during the week of February 10th.
Bob Schneider at ACL Live
February 14, 310 W. Willie Nelson Blvd.
On February 14, Bob Schneider and the Moonlight Orchestra will play their annual Valentine's Day concert from 8-10 PM at ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Schneider has released 19 albums in his career, most recently In A Roomful Of Blood With A Sleeping Tiger in 2021. Tickets range from $25 to $55 and can be purchased online.
Austin's favorite Talking Heads tribute band is playing a special PJ-themed Valentine's Day show.Photo from Heartbyrne.org
Talking Heads Valentine's Day Tribute
February 14, 1204 Regal Row
HeartByrne, Austin's favorite Talking Heads tribute band, is playing a special Valentine's Day show at Regal Room. Attendees are invited to wear their favorite PJs for a cozy and weird David Byrne-esque pajama party. Doors are at 7 pm, and tickets range from $25-$100.
Radiohead Sound Bath at Casa de Luz
February 14, 1701 Toomey Rd.
From 8-9:30 pm at the Casa de Luz village guests can bask in the warm glow of candlelight and the relaxing sounds of Radiohead. Music will be played live by a violin, clarinet, piano, and acoustic guitar, and will start out with a soothing poem or two. Attendees can bring their own yoga mats and pillows, or chairs will be provided for those who want to sit. Tickets are donation-based at the venue, or you can reserve special VIP tickets online.
V-Day Gay Speed Dating for Men
February 14, 305 W. 6th St.
The Belmont is hosting a special Valentine's Day speed dating night exclusively for men who are over 25. This event, from 8-9:45 pm, will allow attendees to meet up to 15 other gay men in three-minute speed dates. You'll need to make sure your phone is charged, as guests will be selecting matches in real time on their device. After the event, guests are invited to mix and mingle. Tickets are $35 per person and are available online.
Jazz Special at Opa
February 14, 2050 S. Lamar Blvd.
Opa's twinkling, low-lit courtyard is already a romantic vibe, but on Valentine's Day it will play host to the Adam Weiss Quartet for a special evening of jazz. Entry is free and the show will be from 7-9 pm.
Meet Cute at the Bookshop
February 14, 603 N. Lamar
BookPeople welcomes guests to Meet Cute at the Bookshop — an evening like if a rom com were heavily cast with tatted up Austinites. This early evening event, from 5:30-8:30 pm, will feature a flash tattoo pop-up from Cherry Pop Ink, special cafe drinks, and a Valentine's craft station where attendees can make cards for their favorite authors. This event is free and open to the public.
Boner Giallo at Come and Take it Live
February 14, 2015 E. Riverside Dr., Bldg. 4
This "XXXtreme" erotic variety show will feature "filthy" performance art, pole dance, neo-burlesque, aerials, contortion, sideshow, fire breathing, rope bondage, fetish play, comedy, drama, and "all things perverse, grotesque, and socially unacceptable," according to the event page. Trigger warning: expect lots of blood. Tickets are $30 and doors open at 8 pm.
Acro Yoga for Couples
February 14, 13376 N. Hwy. 183
This special Valentine's Day acro workshop at Impact Martial Arts North is designed specifically for couples, and will focus on connection and collaboration. From 7:30-9 pm couples will work together in small groups to practice basing, flying, and spotting fundamental poses. This event is beginner-friendly and costs $39 per couple.
"Gen X" Valentine's Day Speed Dating
February 14, 4323 N. I35 Frontage Road
Hosted by Hideaway Kitchen and Bar, this speed dating event is specifically for Gen X singles, born between 1965 and 1980. Each attendee will get the chance to meet up to 15 potential matches in three to five minute speed dates. Tickets are $35 per person.
Ventana Ballet's Variations on a Love Theme
February 14-16, 701 Tillery St.
For the third year in a row, Ventana Ballet and Austin Camerata will perform Variations on a Love Theme. This intimate dance and live music performance will go through eight different love stories, just inches away from the audience. New this year, guests are invited to a before-show cocktail lounge at Lone Star Light House, across the foyer at First Street Studio Theater. For a full schedule of showtimes and tickets, visit Eventbrite.
Heart's Desire by Ballet Austin
February 14-16, 701 W. Riverside Dr.
This Valentine’s Day weekend, Ballet Austin presents Heart’s Desire: Three Exceptional Dances at the Long Center for the Performing Arts. This show features three separate performances, each telling a different story, and each with its own unique tone. Tickets are $20 to $105.
"Desire" is one of three performances in Ballet Austin's "Heart's Desire."Photo by Anne Marie Bloodgood
Two Stepping in Salado
February 14, 416 S Main St., Salado, TX
This Valentine's Day, the historic Stagecoach Inn invites guests to a special edition of the Stagecoach Shindig at Grace Jones Ballroom. This will be an evening of two-stepping to the tunes of the lively Cactus Country Band for dancers of all experience levels. Doors open at 6:45 pm for dance lessons and 8 pm for open dancing. Tickets range from $20-$75 for a VIP dinner add-on.
Couples Massage at Hiatus
February 14, 1611 W. 5th St. #155
Hiatus Day Spa invites couples to relax this Valentine’s Day with its Love Birds couples massage. This 90-minute massage includes sugar foot soaks, hot stone shoulder massage, a glass of champagne and EarlyBird Full Spectrum CBD Gummies. The cost is $399 per couple, of $298 for H-Circle Members.
Love Bites: Haunted House
February 14-16, 2632 Ridegepoint Dr.
From the people who bring us House of Torment every year comes Love Bites: A Valentine's Haunted House. This is exactly what it sounds like: a Valentine's Day-themed haunted house. Aside from this main attraction, guests can also participate in mini escape games, a "Hades Zombie Simulation," axe throwing, and food and drinks. Tickets start at $20.
Brunch with Women in Music Austin
February 15, 702 West Ave
It's time to spread the love in the music industry. On February 15, Women in Music (WIM) Austin are hosting a networking brunch attended by music industry professionals including South by Southwest (SXSW) speakers Alex Casolaro and Pixie Weyand. There will be some business talk alongside breakfast tacos, Bougie's Donuts, and a coffee and mimosa bar. Valentine's Day crafts and music bingo keep things fun, and some players might even win prizes like a SXSW wristband or other goodies from Moody Amphitheater, Still Austin Whiskey Co., and Aguasol. Members attend for free; anyone else can pick up tickets for $10-$20.
Girl Dinner Galentine's at Dainty Dillo
February 14, 3201 E. Cesar Chavez St.
In case one Galentine's at Dainty Dillo wasn't enough, there is another one on Valentine's Day itself. This party starts at 7 pm and includes half off espresso martinis, "Girl Dinner" specials, chocolate-covered strawberries by the fire pits, and tunes by DJ Manny Mo.