Being single on Valentine’s Day can be rough, especially when the upcoming holiday constantly reminds you of your singleness. However, you can still celebrate love on Galentine’s Day!
Galentine’s Day originated from the sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” In the show, the main characters observe Galentine’s Day on Feb. 13 to celebrate their platonic friendships alongside romantic relationships. Since the “Galentine’s Day” episode aired, Galentine’s Day has made its way into mainstream culture, with more and more people spending time with their friends the day before Valentine’s Day. Galentine’s Day is all about showing your love for the people who have your back, so what better way to celebrate than to spend time with them?
Consider the Logistics
Before you have friends over for Galentine’s Day, consider the logistics like parking to make your hangout stress-free.
Parking
Before you have all your friends over, understand the guest parking policies at your apartment community. If your friends need a guest parking pass, grab them ahead of time to make parking a seamless process. If guest parking is limited, ask your friends to carpool or use a ridesharing app to minimize the number of cars they’ll need to park.
Prep for a sleepover
If you and your friends plan to drink alcohol, be prepared for them to sleep over to avoid unsafe driving. Make sure you have a place for everyone to sleep, whether on a couch, a guest bed, or an inflatable mattress. Have plenty of blankets and pillows on hand so everyone is comfortable!
Plan an Activity
While you enjoy catching up with your friends, have an activity planned to make Galentine’s Day special! Here are some ideas of things to do.
Breakfast for dinner
If you enjoy having Sunday brunch with your friends, have breakfast for dinner at your place for Galentine’s Day! You and your friends can cook up pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and some yogurt parfaits. Wear your favorite pajamas and sip on mimosas to top it all off.
Potluck party
If you’d prefer not to cook, opt for a potluck party! Ask each of your friends to bring a dish of their choice to share. You’ll probably end up with a hodgepodge of foods, but that’s the fun of it! There will be something for everyone, and you’ll minimize your time in the kitchen.
Spa night
If you and your friends prefer a relaxing hangout, host a spa night! Stock up on face masks, hair masks, and nail polish. Turn on some fun music, pour some cucumber-infused water, and enjoy your night of self-care.
Wine tasting
If you and your friends enjoy drinking wine together, host a wine tasting! Ask each of your friends to bring their favorite bottle of wine to share. Pour small glasses of each wine and take turns pointing out the flavors and aromas you notice. Take notes on which wines you like and dislike for when you want seconds!
Wine pairs perfectly with pizza or charcuterie, so have some on hand for you and your friends to snack on throughout the night.
Karaoke night
If you and your friends love singing and dancing, hosting a karaoke night would be the perfect way for you and your gal pals to jam out on Galentine’s Day. To host the perfect karaoke night in your apartment, find YouTube videos of karaoke versions of your favorite songs. If you can’t access YouTube on your TV, connect YouTube to your TV with Airplay or an HDMI cord.
Provide snacks and drinks for your friends while you all sing and dance the night away! Order some pizzas and make a pitcher of a signature drink so your friends can get refills as they please.
Movie night
When all else fails, go for a movie night! Set up your living room with blankets, pillows, popcorn, and drinks. Queue up your favorite movie or reality TV show, get comfy, and have fun hanging out with your friends!
Whether or not you’re celebrating Valentine’s Day with a significant other, you can spread the love to your friends on Galentine’s Day. Hosting a Galentine’s Day party is a great way to spend time with your friends and show them how much you care. Regardless of what you choose to do, make sure it’s something everyone will enjoy. Your party doesn’t have to be perfect—celebrate your friends in whatever quirky way suits your group.
Happy Galentine's Day, renters!
This article was originally published on Feb. 1, 2023, by Helen Ann Wells.
