Valentine’s Day Celebration Ideas For Couples and Families During COVID

The global pandemic may have taken many Valentine’s Day ideas off the table, with indoor dining, movie theaters, and other activities shut down due to COVID-19. However, there are still many creative and safe ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your significant other or the whole family.

Craft Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards and Decorations With Your Kids

Enjoy a fun day with your family full of arts and crafts and decorations. Cut out construction paper hearts to hang in the windows and have your children use their drawing skills to create Valentine’s Day cards. Encourage them to include special notes about what the person means to them. The past year has been a challenging one, so the thought and care that goes into a homemade card will surely be appreciated by friends and family.

Turn Your Home into a Movie Theater

Bring the theater experience home for your Valentine’s Day date night. Print out custom tickets and setup your own concessions stand with popcorn and other snacks. If you have kids, enlist their help creating themed DIY décor. Settle in with cozy blankets, turn on your favorite romantic comedy or classic love story, and enjoy the show.

Cook a Romantic Meal Together

Write up a menu of your favorite foods, pick up the ingredients, and spend time preparing it with your partner. There are recipe videos you can follow along with on YouTube or online cooking classes you can sign up for in advance. Some local restaurants even offer DIY dinner kits you can pick up and make in your own home. Dinner will taste even better knowing how much love went into making it.

Bake Your Way Into Their Hearts

Spend the afternoon baking heart-shaped Valentine’s cookies with your whole family. Kids can help prepare the dough before it goes to oven and decorate with red and pink frosting and sprinkles once cookies are done. Enjoy the treats together and consider leaving any extras off on a friend’s doorstep (from a safe social distance) to share the love.

Attend a Virtual Concert

With music venues and theaters shut down around the country, many artists have turned to the internet to share performances. Do some research and see if your favorite band has a concert to stream or if there is a virtual comedy special you can buy tickets for. This can also be a great way to support local businesses. When you are looking for show options, check out websites of your local theater and concert venues to see what virtual events they may be hosting. Ditch the sweatpants and dress up as if you were headed out for the evening.

Plan a Staycation

Tired of spending time at home after nearly a year of quarantine? Book a stay at a local hotel or B&B for a change of scenery. Splurge on room service, relax in fancy robes, and enjoy each other’s company. If you want to pamper yourself without leaving your home, order food delivery from local restaurants, and don't forget to add dessert!

Learn Something New

Do you like painting? Dancing? Or maybe sewing? Sign up for a virtual class you can partake in from the comfort of your living room. Many distilleries and cocktail bars are also hosting virtual cocktail classes. If you have a favorite local drink spot, check out their website to see if they offer cocktail kits for pickup and get mixing!

Host a Game Night

Get the competitive juices flowing with an at-home game night. Play tabletop games with the whole family, or plan a double date and get friends involved virtually over Zoom. Brainstorm fun prizes (loser takes out the trash, for example) to raise the stakes even higher.

Get Outdoors 

Find a local trail and plan a hike or a bike ride with your significant other. Enjoy the scenic views together and unplug from the modern world for a while. If you live in a colder climate, make sure to bundle up before heading out. Bringing hot chocolate in a thermos is a nice touch that can keep you warm.

If you want to get out in a more relaxed style, consider visiting a local restaurant that offers outdoor, socially-distanced dining. Take all proper safety precautions, and have a backup restaurant in mind in case your initial choice looks too crowded when you arrive. 

Have a Socially Distanced Picnic

Grab a blanket, pack a basket with your favorite treats, and find a romantic place for a socially distanced picnic. Dealing with winter weather? Transform a spot in your home into a secluded nook and enjoy some wine, cheese, and chocolate indoors.

Tour a Museum from your Couch

Museums around the world have created virtual experiences you can enjoy no matter where you live. Whether you or your family are interested in art, history, or science, there’s something for everyone just a click away.

Enjoy Breakfast in Bed

Start the day off right and surprise your loved one by making their favorite meal for breakfast. Go the extra mile and turn those pancakes or waffles into heart shapes for an extra special Valentine’s treat.

Not confident in your cooking skills? Support local restaurants by sneaking out early and picking up treats along with your partner’s favorite coffee. That way you can have it ready for them first thing when they wake up.

No matter how you plan to celebrate Valentine’s Day during COVID-19, be sure take proper health and safety precautions if leaving your home. Even if you’re not going out to your favorite restaurant this year, there are still plenty of ways to have fun, celebrate and enjoy the day with your family at home! Happy Valentine’s Day!