24 Galentine’s Day Party Ideas I’ve Actually Hosted — and the 3 I’d Skip
I once hosted a Galentine’s party where three people showed up in the exact same shade of fuchsia, and my friend Dana brought a charcuterie board arranged to look like a heart. It was beautiful.
It also took her two hours to assemble, and she told me afterward she’d rather have just brought crackers.
That was the year I learned that the best Galentine’s Day party ideas aren’t about how Instagrammable the setup is — they’re about giving your friends something to do that doesn’t feel like homework.
Galentine’s Day is February 13th, the day before Valentine’s, and it’s genuinely my favorite holiday of the year.
Not because I’m anti-Valentine’s — I’m not — but because there’s something about a room full of women who chose to spend an evening together that feels different from a room full of couples.
Less pressure. Better snacks.
The problem is that searching for Galentine’s Day party ideas brings up a lot of the same stuff: pink cocktails, heart-shaped everything, and craft projects that require a Cricut.
I’ve hosted enough of these to know what actually works, what’s a waste of money, and what only works if your friends are a very specific type of person.
So here’s my real list — 24 ideas, organized by the kind of party you actually want to throw, with costs and prep time for each.
First, the honest comparison
Before you pick an idea, figure out what kind of host you are and what kind of friends you have. Here’s the framework I use:
| If you want… | Try… | Cost for 6–8 people | Prep time | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest effort | Movie marathon, game night, clothing swap | $0–$20 | 15–30 min | Relaxed, no-pressure |
| Something creative | Candle making, flower arranging, paint and sip | $25–$50 total | 1–2 hours | Focused, hands-on |
| A proper activity | Pottery painting, cocktail class, murder mystery | $35–$60 per person | 1–3 hours | Structured, memorable |
| Food-focused | Waffle bar, fondue, pizza party, potluck | $30–$70 total | 1–2 hours | Chatty, lingering |
| Cozy and intimate | Spa night, book exchange, journaling | $10–$30 total | 15–45 min | Quiet, close-knit |
The biggest mistake I see people make is trying to do all five at once. Pick one lane. A craft night with a full cocktail menu and a photo booth and a game station is not a party — it’s an event, and you’ll be exhausted by 9pm. I’ve been that exhausted host. It’s not worth it.
The Food & Drink Ideas
These are the easiest to pull off because everyone understands the assignment: show up, eat, talk. The trick is not overcomplicating the menu.
1. The Leslie Knope Waffle Bar
Why it works: This is the Galentine’s party idea that started it all — the Parks and Recreation episode where Leslie Knope invented Galentine’s is literally about waffles. A waffle bar is cheap, forgiving, and gives people something to do (assemble their own toppings) while you finish cooking.
How to do it: Make a big batch of waffles (frozen works fine — I’m serious, nobody’s judging), set out toppings in small bowls: whipped cream, strawberries, chocolate chips, sprinkles, peanut butter, Nutella, bananas. A can of whipped cream goes a long way toward making it feel festive.
Pro tip: Make the waffles ahead and keep them warm in a 200°F oven. The biggest waffle-bar mistake is cooking them to order, which means you’re stuck at the waffle iron while everyone else is chatting. I learned that the hard way at a party where I made 19 waffles and sat down for exactly four minutes.
Cost: $40–$60 for 6–8 people. Most of that is toppings.
2. Charcuterie Board Competition
Why it works: This is the party idea I recommend to people who want something low-effort but still feels like an event. Everyone brings their own board, you vote on categories (Most Beautiful, Most Creative, Best Use of Cheese), and then you eat everything. It’s a potluck with a competitive edge.
How to do it: Set categories and prizes in advance. Tell people to bring their own board and ingredients. Provide crackers and a few backup cheeses because someone always forgets. My friend Dana once made a board that looked like a literal painting and then refused to let anyone eat it for the first 20 minutes because she wanted to take photos. We still ate it. It was fine.
Pro tip: Provide small plates and napkins and let people serve themselves. The mistake is trying to arrange everything on one giant board — it becomes a traffic jam and a mess. Multiple small boards actually look better and make it easier to eat.
Cost: $10–$20 per person (everyone brings their own), plus $10–$15 for you to provide crackers and backup cheese.
3. Chocolate Fondue Night
Why it works: Fondue feels fancy but is genuinely one of the cheapest party ideas on this list. A bag of chocolate chips, a splash of cream, and a rotation of things to dip. It’s interactive, it’s warm, and it gives people an excuse to eat strawberries and call it dinner.
How to do it: Melt chocolate in a fondue pot or a small slow cooker. Set out dippers: strawberries, bananas, pretzel rods, marshmallows, cubed pound cake, shortbread cookies. Provide long skewers or fondue forks. That’s it.
Pro tip: Skip the fancy fondue set and use a small slow cooker on the lowest setting. I bought a $40 fondue pot for one party and it’s been in my cabinet ever since. The slow cooker does the same job and you probably already own one.
Cost: $25–$40 for 6–8 people.
4. Cocktail or Mocktail Mixing Class
Why it works: This one works if your friend group likes drinking and likes learning things. It’s a party and an activity in one, and it takes the pressure off you to entertain because the “class” structure does the work.
How to do it: Hire a local bartender for a private class ($40–$60 per person, usually), or DIY it: pick 3 cocktails, buy the ingredients, print out recipe cards, and let everyone make their own. I’ve done both. The hired version is more fun if you have the budget; the DIY version is more fun if your friends are the type to riff and improvise.
Pro tip: Always include one zero-proof option. I made the mistake of doing an all-alcohol cocktail night once and my friend Margaret, who was pregnant at the time, spent the whole night drinking sparkling water and looking politely miserable. Now I always do one mocktail that’s as good as the cocktails. It costs almost nothing and it means everyone actually gets to participate.
Cost: DIY version is $30–$60 total for supplies; hired version is $40–$60 per person.
5. Pizza-Making Party
Why it works: Everyone likes pizza, and making it together is more fun than ordering it. It’s a good choice for a group where not everyone knows each other well, because there’s a built-in activity and the stakes are low.
How to do it: Buy pre-made pizza dough (Trader Joe’s is fine, your local pizzeria will usually sell you dough balls for $2–$3 each if you ask), set out toppings, and let people build their own. If you have a pizza stone, great. If not, a sheet pan works.
Pro tip: Pre-heat your oven to the highest setting it goes — 500°F or higher — and let it heat for at least 30 minutes before the first pizza goes in. A screaming hot oven is the difference between a crispy crust and a sad, floppy one. I learned this from a friend who worked at a pizzeria and I think about it every time I make pizza now.
Cost: $30–$50 for 6–8 people.
6. Themed Potluck
Why it works: Potlucks are underrated because they’re cheap, they share the labor, and they let people show off. The theme is what makes it feel like a party instead of just dinner.
How to do it: Pick a theme that’s specific enough to be fun but not so specific that people stress. “Bring something pink” works. “Bring your favorite childhood snack” works. “Bring something you’ve never made before” does not — that’s how you end up with three people making the same experimental brownie recipe and one person bringing a bag of chips out of spite.
Pro tip: Assign categories, not dishes. “Someone bring a dip, someone bring a dessert, someone bring a main” prevents the all-appetizer situation. I once went to a potluck where literally everyone brought a dip and nothing else. It was delicious and also we were all starving by 8pm.
Cost: $10–$20 for you (you provide the main dish and drinks); everyone else brings a dish.
The Craft-Based Ideas
Craft nights are the most popular Galentine’s idea on Pinterest, and also the most likely to go wrong if you don’t pick the right craft. The rule is: pick something that’s genuinely doable in 1–2 hours and doesn’t require skills nobody has.
7. Candle-Making
Why it works: Candles are expensive to buy and surprisingly cheap to make. A candle-making night gives everyone a useful, pretty thing to take home and costs less than a nice candle at Anthropologie.
How to do it: Buy a soy wax candle-making kit (around $25–$35 on Amazon for a starter kit with wax, wicks, and jars), plus a few fragrance oils. Melt the wax, add scent, pour into jars, let set. The whole thing takes about an hour and a half including cooling time.
Pro tip: Do this at the very beginning of the party, not the end. The candles need 1–2 hours to set, and if you do it last, everyone’s leaving with a liquid candle. I made this mistake once and my friend Rachel drove home with a jar of hot wax balanced in her cupholder. She said it was fine. It was not fine.
Cost: $30–$50 total for supplies, or about $5–$7 per person if everyone chips in.
8. Flower Arranging
Why it works: This is the craft night for people who don’t think they’re crafty. Flower arranging is forgiving, it smells good, and everyone leaves with something that looks professional even if they have no idea what they’re doing.
How to do it: Buy a few bunches of flowers from the grocery store (Trader Joe’s is the move — $4–$6 per bunch), some cheap vases from a thrift store, and let everyone arrange their own. Play florist videos on YouTube in the background if you want to feel fancy.
Pro tip: Buy more flowers than you think you need. The mistake is buying one bunch per person — arrangements look sparse and sad. Two to three bunches per person, with a mix of big blooms and filler, is the right ratio.
Cost: $15–$25 per person.
9. Friendship Bracelet Making
Why it works: It’s a nostalgia play. Everyone made these at summer camp, everyone remembers how, and there’s something genuinely nice about sitting in a circle making bracelets while you catch up. It’s also basically free if you already have embroidery floss.
How to do it: Buy a pack of embroidery floss ($8–$12 for a big pack), print out a few pattern instructions, and let people make whatever they want. This works best with a small group — 4 to 6 people — because it’s a quiet, focused activity.
Pro tip: Make it a swap. Everyone makes a bracelet and then you exchange them at the end of the night. It gives the activity a purpose and means everyone leaves with something that someone else made for them. My friend Leila organized this two years ago and I still wear the one she made me.
Cost: $10–$15 total.
10. Paint and Sip (At Home)
Why it works: Paint and sip studios charge $40–$60 per person and the wine is usually bad. Doing it at home is cheaper, the wine is better, and nobody’s watching you paint a sad tree.
How to do it: Buy small canvases ($15–$20 for a pack), acrylic paint, and brushes. Pick a simple reference image that everyone paints — something with big shapes and not a lot of detail. Put on a YouTube tutorial if you want structure, or just let people freestyle.
Pro tip: Don’t pick a complicated reference image. The mistake is choosing something with fine detail and watching everyone get frustrated in the first 20 minutes. A landscape with big blocks of color works. A detailed portrait does not. I’ve seen both go down and the landscape version was significantly more fun.
Cost: $25–$40 total for supplies.
11. Vision Board Party
Why it works: Vision boards are having a moment, and they’re a good fit for Galentine’s because they’re reflective and personal without being overly emotional. It’s a craft night that doubles as a goal-setting session.
How to do it: Buy poster board, magazines (ask friends to bring old ones), glue sticks, and scissors. Give people 30–45 minutes to cut and paste. If you want to add structure, have everyone share one thing from their board at the end.
Pro tip: Provide a prompt. “What do you want your life to look like by next Galentine’s Day?” gives people a focus and keeps the boards from becoming random collages. A reader emailed me after trying this and said the prompt was the difference between a fun craft and an actual meaningful activity.
Cost: $15–$25 total.
12. Pottery Painting
Why it works: Pottery painting studios are a classic group activity, and they work for Galentine’s because everyone leaves with a usable object. It’s more expensive than the at-home crafts but requires zero setup on your end.
How to do it: Book a group session at a local pottery studio ($35–$55 per person, usually includes the piece and firing). Most studios let you bring snacks and drinks. You paint, they fire, you pick up your pieces a week later.
Pro tip: Call ahead and ask about group rates and whether you can bring food. Most studios don’t advertise it, but many will waive a studio fee for groups of 6 or more, and almost all of them allow snacks. I saved $40 on a group of eight just by asking.
Cost: $35–$55 per person.
13. Perfume Blending
Why it works: This is the craft night for people who want something a little more grown-up. You blend essential oils and carrier oils to make custom perfume, and everyone leaves with a rollerball that smells like them.
How to do it: Buy a perfume-making kit ($40–$70 on Etsy or Amazon) that includes rollerball bottles, carrier oil, and a set of essential oils. Print out a basic blending guide. The kit usually comes with one. It’s a focused, quiet activity that works best with a small group.
Pro tip: Have everyone write down their formula. The mistake is blending something you love and then not being able to recreate it. A simple index card with the number of drops of each oil solves that.
Cost: $40–$70 for the kit, which covers 6–8 people.
The Cozy/Chill Ideas
These are for the friend groups that don’t need an activity. The party is the hanging out. The trick is to provide enough structure that people don’t just sit in a circle looking at their phones.
14. Spa Night
Why it works: Everyone likes being told to relax. A spa night is cheap, it’s cozy, and it gives people permission to do nothing for a few hours.
How to do it: Set up stations: a face mask station (buy a multipack of sheet masks), a nail polish station (ask everyone to bring their favorite color), a hand massage station (lotion and a bowl of warm water), and a snack station (fruit, chocolate, sparkling water). Put on a chill playlist. That’s the whole party.
Pro tip: Provide robes or cozy socks. It sounds extra, but it makes the whole thing feel like an event instead of just a bunch of people in sweatpants. I found cheap robes at a thrift store for $6 each and they’ve been used at every spa night since. Also: get the good sheet masks. The $2 ones from the drugstore are fine, but the $4 ones from a Korean beauty store are noticeably better and it’s a small upgrade that makes people feel taken care of.
Cost: $20–$40 total.
15. Movie Marathon with Themed Snacks
Why it works: It’s the lowest-effort party on this list, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need. The trick is making the snacks match the movie so it feels intentional instead of just a Netflix night.
How to do it: Pick a theme — rom-coms, 90s movies, movies based on books — and make or buy snacks that match. 10 Things I Hate About You gets pretzels and chocolate. Clueless gets mini quiches and sparkling cider. You get the idea.
Pro tip: Pick shorter movies. The mistake is starting a three-hour epic at 8pm and watching half the group fall asleep by 10:30. Two 90-minute movies with a snack break in between is the right structure. I’ve tested this extensively.
Cost: $15–$30 for snacks.
16. Book Exchange
Why it works: If your friend group reads, this is the best low-key Galentine’s idea. Everyone brings a book they love (wrapped, with a short note about why), you swap, and you spend the rest of the night talking about books. It’s a party that gives everyone something to take home.
How to do it: Set a spending limit ($15–$20) so nobody feels pressured to bring something expensive. Ask everyone to wrap their book and write a one-sentence note about why they chose it. Swap white-elephant style or just let people pick. I’ve done both and the white-elephant version is more fun.
Pro tip: Include a “currently reading” check-in at the start. It gives people something to talk about before the swap and makes the whole thing feel less like a transaction. A reader told me she started doing this and it turned her book exchange into a monthly thing.
Cost: $15–$20 per person (the book they bring).
17. Karaoke Night
Why it works: Karaoke is either the best party idea or the worst, depending on your friends. If you have even two extroverts in the group, it works. If everyone is shy, it doesn’t. Know your audience.
How to do it: You don’t need a machine. A TV with YouTube karaoke videos and a Bluetooth microphone ($25–$40 on Amazon) is enough. Or book a private room at a karaoke bar ($30–$50 per hour in most cities, split among the group).
Pro tip: Start with a group song. The mistake is expecting someone to volunteer to go first. Pick a song everyone knows — “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls, “Since U Been Gone,” “Mr. Brightside” — and have everyone sing it together. After that, people are warmed up and willing to do solos.
Cost: $0–$40 (if you buy a microphone) or $30–$50 per hour for a private room.
18. Journaling and Letters to Future Selves
Why it works: This is the quietest idea on the list, and it works for friend groups that are more introspective. Everyone writes a letter to themselves to open next Galentine’s Day. It’s personal, it costs almost nothing, and it gives the party a meaningful ending.
How to do it: Buy nice envelopes and paper ($10–$15), set out pens and stickers, and give everyone 20–30 minutes to write. Seal the letters, write the date on the front, and have everyone leave their letter with you (or with a designated “letter keeper”). Open them next year.
Pro tip: Provide prompts. “What do you want to be true about your life next February?” and “What are you proud of right now?” give people a starting point. The blank page is intimidating — a few prompts make it feel doable.
Cost: $10–$15 total.
The Interactive/Game Ideas
These are the parties with a built-in activity that isn’t a craft. They work well for bigger groups or groups where people don’t all know each other.
19. Galentine’s Brunch
Why it works: Brunch is a classic for a reason. It’s cheaper than dinner, it’s more relaxed than an evening party, and it gives you an excuse to eat carbs in the middle of the day. Plus, if you have a mix of friends with different schedules, a daytime party is often easier to pull off.
How to do it: Keep the menu simple: a frittata or quiche (one big one, not individual), a fruit salad, some pastries from a bakery, and a pitcher of mimosas or a mocktail. Set it up buffet-style and let people serve themselves.
Pro tip: Make a timeline. Brunch has a natural end point (people have afternoon plans), which is actually a good thing — it means the party doesn’t drag. The mistake is not setting an end time and then everyone feels obligated to stay until 3pm. Say “11 to 1” on the invitation and stick to it.
Cost: $40–$70 for 6–8 people.
20. Photo Booth Night
Why it works: Everyone loves a photo booth. It’s silly, it’s interactive, and it gives people something to do besides stand around. You can DIY it for under $30 or rent one for significantly more.
How to do it: DIY version: buy a photo backdrop ($10–$15 on Amazon), some props (heart sunglasses, boas, a “Galentine’s” sign), and set up a phone on a tripod with a ring light. Or just use a Polaroid camera if you have one. The DIY version is honestly more fun because people can take as many photos as they want.
Pro tip: Provide a “photo prompt” list. “Take a photo with someone you’ve known the longest,” “take a photo doing your best impression of each other,” etc. It gives people ideas and keeps the photos from being 40 variations of the same pose.
Cost: $20–$40 for DIY supplies.
21. Game Night
Why it works: Board games and card games are a solid Galentine’s choice because they give the group a shared activity and a natural structure. The key is picking the right games — not too competitive, not too long, and easy to learn.
How to do it: Pick 3–4 games that take 15–30 minutes each. Good options: Codenames, Sushi Go, Just One, Exploding Kittens, or a card game like Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. Provide snacks that aren’t messy (no Cheetos near the game table).
Pro tip: Start with a game everyone knows. The mistake is opening with a complicated new game and spending 30 minutes on rules while people lose interest. Start with something familiar, then introduce the new ones once everyone’s warmed up.
Cost: $0–$15 if you already own games; $30–$50 if you’re buying new ones.
22. Murder Mystery Party
Why it works: This is the most involved idea on the list, and it’s also the most memorable. A murder mystery party gives everyone a role, a costume, and a reason to be dramatic. It works best with a group of 6–10 people who are willing to lean in.
How to do it: Buy a murder mystery kit ($15–$30 on Etsy or Amazon) that’s designed for a group your size. Assign characters in advance so people can dress up. Provide snacks and drinks. The kit gives you the script and the clues. You just have to facilitate.
Pro tip: Lean into the theme. The mistake is doing a murder mystery with a group that’s too cool to dress up. If you’re going to do this one, go all in — assign costumes, decorate, make it a whole thing. A half-hearted murder mystery is just a bunch of people reading from a script and feeling awkward.
Cost: $15–$30 for the kit, plus whatever you spend on snacks and costumes.
23. Clothing Swap
Why it works: A clothing swap is free, it’s sustainable, and everyone leaves with something new (to them). It’s also a good excuse to clean out your closet, which is a gift in itself.
How to do it: Set a minimum number of items per person (5–10). Set up a “shopping” area — a clothing rack or a few chairs with clothes draped over them. Set ground rules: everything must be clean and in good condition, no stained or torn items, and anything left over goes to donation. Bring a mirror and a few reusable bags.
Pro tip: Do it in rounds. Round 1: everyone picks one item. Round 2: everyone picks two. Round 3: it’s a free-for-all. This prevents the most aggressive person from grabbing everything in the first five minutes, which I have seen happen and it was not cute.
Cost: $0.
24. Tarot and Crystal Night
Why it works: Tarot is having a moment, and a tarot night is a fun, low-key way to spend an evening with friends. It works whether you believe in it or not — the fun is in the ritual and the conversation it sparks.
How to do it: Buy a tarot deck ($15–$25) and a book or app for interpretations. Have everyone draw a card and talk about what it means to them. Set out crystals if you have them (or skip them — they’re optional). Provide wine or tea and snacks.
Pro tip: Make it personal, not predictive. The mistake is treating tarot like a fortune-telling session instead of a conversation starter. Ask questions like “What does this card make you think of?” instead of “What’s going to happen to me?” It’s more fun and less awkward. I’ve done both and the conversational version is the one people ask to do again.
Cost: $15–$25 for a deck if you don’t already own one.
The 3 I’d Skip (and Why)
The balloon arch. I’ve bought the balloon arch. I’ve spent 40 minutes inflating balloons and attaching them to a strip and then watching them slowly deflate over the course of the party. Nobody remembers the balloon arch. Skip it. A bouquet of grocery store flowers and a few candles do more for the vibe and take five minutes.
The “everyone brings a dish” potluck with no assignments. I covered this above, but it’s worth repeating: without categories, you get seven dips and no dinner. Assign categories or just do a waffle bar where you control the whole menu.
The elaborate themed cocktail menu. Unless you’re doing a cocktail class (idea #4) where the drinks are the activity, a complicated cocktail menu means you’re stuck behind the bar all night. Pick one signature drink — alcoholic or not — and provide sparkling water and wine. That’s it. I learned this after a party where I spent 45 minutes making lavender-honey-rosemary gin fizzes and didn’t sit down once.
What I’d Do First If I Were Starting Over
If I were hosting my first Galentine’s party again, I’d skip the elaborate decorations and the themed cocktails and just do a waffle bar. It’s the cheapest, easiest, most forgiving option on this list, and it’s the one that people still bring up years later. The waffles aren’t the point — they’re just the thing that gets people in the door. The point is the two hours of sitting around a table with a group of women who chose to be there.
The second thing I’d do: pick a party idea that matches my actual energy level, not my Pinterest aspirations. A spa night with three close friends is a better party than a murder mystery with ten people where half of them don’t want to dress up. The best Galentine’s Day party is the one where you’re not stressed out the whole time you’re hosting.
And I’d text everyone the day before with a specific reminder: “Bring a book / bring a board / bring your favorite nail polish.” Vague invitations lead to vague attendance. Specific invitations lead to people showing up with what you need. That’s not a party tip, that’s just life.
FAQs
What is Galentine’s Day, exactly?
Galentine’s Day is February 13th — the day before Valentine’s Day. It was popularized by the TV show Parks and Recreation, where Leslie Knope celebrates her female friends with waffles and gifts. It’s not a real holiday in the official sense, but it’s been adopted by a lot of people as a day to celebrate friendships.
Do you have to be single to celebrate Galentine’s Day?
No. It’s about celebrating female friendship, not about being anti-Valentine’s. Plenty of people in relationships celebrate Galentine’s and then do something with their partner the next day. It’s a friend holiday, not a relationship status holiday.
How much should I budget for a Galentine’s Day party?
It depends on the idea. A clothing swap or game night can cost under $15 total. A waffle bar or fondue night runs $30–$60 for 6–8 people. A pottery painting outing or cocktail class is $35–$60 per person. The cheapest options are the ones where everyone contributes — potlucks, swaps, and book exchanges.
What if my friends don’t all know each other?
Pick an activity with a built-in structure — a craft, a game, a cooking project. The activity gives people something to talk about besides each other. I’ve hosted parties with mixed groups and the ones with a hands-on activity always went better than the ones where people were just expected to mingle.
What’s the easiest low-effort Galentine’s Day party idea?
Movie marathon or spa night. Both require minimal setup, minimal spending, and minimal cleanup. If you want something slightly more structured, a book exchange is almost no work and gives everyone something to do.
How many people should I invite to a Galentine’s Day party?
That depends on your space and your tolerance for hosting. For a craft night or a cozy movie night, 4–6 people is ideal. For a game night or a waffle bar, 6–10 works. For a murder mystery or a clothing swap, you need enough people for the activity to function — usually 6–10 for murder mystery, 4+ for a clothing swap.
Do I need to buy decorations?
No. This is the thing I wish someone had told me years ago: nobody remembers the decorations. They remember the food, the activity, and whether they had a good time. If you want to do something festive, a few candles and a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store is plenty. Skip the balloon arch. I’ve bought the balloon arch. It’s not worth it.
