A recent tradition has emerged, with women everywhere celebrating Galentine’s Day in the days and weeks surrounding Valentine’s Day in Champaign-Urbana
Friendship rules supreme, and celebrating Galentine’s Day with your friends is a great way to embrace the season of love in a different way
We’ve been seeing Galentine’s Day events popping up more and more in recent years and we’d like to say we are here for it.
We realize you may need to find a sitter to make Galentine’s plans; find a sitter now! Also, almost all of these events require reservations, so if you see something that sounds like a good fit for you and your group, do not delay in snagging a spot.
And while we realize a girls’ night isn’t necessarily a date night, they do have a lot of similarities. Which is why we call our date night articles “nights out for grown-ups.” Get more than 75 ideas for a night out here. How about a restaurant to enjoy for a kid-free outing? We have a list of our picks for dining.
Galentine’s Events in Champaign-Urbana
Monday, Feb. 1
Galentine Bash, Smith & Co., Mahomet, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Sweet treats and bubbly! Microblading and lip blushing specials. Free jewelry with piercings! Espresso martini bar and sweets.
Thursday, Feb. 5
Galentine’s Sparking Party – Champaign Jewelers, Champaign, 4 – 7 p.m.
Permanent jewelry, exclusive event-only discounts, local women-owned pop-ups, drinks, and more.
Follow Champaign Jewelers for more info.
Friday, Feb. 6
Galentine’s Event – Shimmer and Sheek, Tuscola, 5 – 9 p.m.
Details coming soon! You can also plan dinner at Flesor’s, as it participates in this event too.
Check out its group for more details on this event.
Wednesday, Feb. 11
Galentine’s Glam Night – The Loft Beauty Co. Studio, Champaign, 6 – 8 p.m.
BYOM (bring your own makeup) and they’ll teach you a simple, everyday makeup routine. There will also be games, prizes, light appetizers and a cocktail.
Register now, spots are limited.
Girl Dinner, Galentine’s Edition – Yellow & Company, Mahomet, 6 p.m.
Start at The Hive to grab your charcuterie cup, do a quick craft, and browse their amazing shop (you might even learn something you never knew about bees). Then head over to Yellow & Co. (yes, you can bring your charcuterie cup with you). The bar will be open, the tunes will be playing and you’ll create a blessing bag (to donate), a letter to an anonymous woman who could use a little love (to include in the blessing bag) and a bracelet to keep or give!
The shop will be open, the bar seating is cozy, feel free to hang out and catch up with your besties or meet a new friend.
Buy tickets on the Yellow & Co. website.
Galentine’s Candle Making – Alto Vineyards, Champaign, 6 p.m.
Grab your favorite people and celebrate friendship with a cozy, creative night out at Alto Vineyards Champaign. This Galentine’s Candle Making Workshop is a 90-minute, guided experience where you’ll design and pour your own custom candle from start to finish.
All materials are included — premium wax, vessels, fragrance options, and expert instruction — so you can relax, get creative, and enjoy the process. No prior candle-making experience needed.
Wine and snacks will be available for purchase from the Alto Vineyards bar throughout the event.
Get your tickets for candle making here.
Friday, Feb. 13
Galentine’s Day Paint & Sip Party – Caffeine Rx, Champaign – 5 – 7 p.m.
Sip, snack and celebrate the amazing women in your life! Come dressed in Valentine’s pajamas or whatever you are most comfortable in. Ticket includes a slice of cake to paint and one 16 oz. drink.
Vals & Pals – Allerton Park & Retreat Center, Monticello, 5 – 10 p.m.
Get out for a low-key Valentine’s gathering with friends at Vals & Pals in the Mansion Library. Stop by anytime during this open-house style event and craft your own handmade valentines for the special someone(s) in your life. They will be playing a variety of rom-coms on the big screen to help set the mood. Some craft supplies will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own materials as well.
A bar will be available in the Mansion Solarium from 5 to 10 p.m., but no food will be available. Vals & Pals is free and no registration is required.
Galentine’s Build-A-Bear ™ Party – Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Champaign – 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Open to all Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts! Grab your best pals and join us for a Galentine’s Day Celebration at Build-A-Bear Workshop ™ at the Champaign Girl Scout Service Center!
Each participant will build their own furry friend (choice of t-shirt or vest) and participate in dancing & fun activities! Fun patch & light snack included. Cost is $50/participant. Registration required. Adults need only register if wanting to participate. Please note this not a drop off event – an adult is required to attend with their girl/troop.
Galentine’s Dinner and Wickless Candle Workshop – The Hive Honey Boutique, Mahomet, 6-7 p.m.
Celebrate friendship and the season of love with our Galentine’s Wickless Candle Workshop! This hands-on experience invites you to create a beautiful wickless candle while enjoying an evening dedicated to your closest gal pals. You’ll explore the basics of beeswax rendering, safety, and the many benefits of using beeswax in your candles. Choose from delightful seasonal fragrance blends—like honey, cocoa, or florals—or mix and match to craft a scent that’s uniquely yours.
Add a personal touch to your candle by embedding natural elements such as petals, herbs, or botanicals with a heat gun, making your piece as lovely as it is fragrant. As a special treat, each participant will enjoy a seasonal charcuterie cup—perfect for snacking and sipping while you craft.
Girls Just Wanna Have Wine – Big Grove Tavern, Champaign, 6:30 p.m.
Head to Big Grove Tavern for a five-course meal with wine pairings that celebrate female owned and operated wineries from around the world. For all wine lovers!
Buy tickets here before they sell out
Galentine’s 90’s Night – 704 N. Hickory St., Champaign, 8 p.m.
Featuring artists of the 90’s: Salt-n-Pepa, LL Cool J, Bell Biv DeVoe, Boyz II Men, Lauren Hill, Jay Z, Naughty by Nature and many more.
Find more info on 90’s night here.
Galentine’s Shopping Night – 203 N. Market St., Paxton, 7 – 9 p.m.
Enjoy sweet treats, sips, and exclusive finds for your little loves, all while celebrating friendship and fun. This is a free event to enter but if you purchase a VIP ticket you will get a goodie bag, two extra raffle entries and a coupon to stack on store deals for that night only.
Love Fest – The City Center, Champaign, 7 p.m.
A night of glitter, glam, and heart-pumping LIVE entertainment. This year, featuring Carnivale Debauche, Burlesque and Vaudeville Extravaganza paired with high energy music from DJ Silkee. Food, drink and more.
Learn about ticket options and get yours here.
Looking to decorate for a Galentine’s event?
Check out Cloud 9 Luxury Event Co. for all your Galentine’s event needs. Its Bloom Bar + Balloon + Luxury Indoor Picnic Set-Up’s are the perfect combo for Galentine’s events.
Book your date now before it fills up
