Valentine’s Day in Grand Rapids

Feast of Love

Restaurants are back open for indoor dining just in time for V-Day! Capacities are limited, so check in advance, you may need to make reservations. Even better – celebrate Valentine’s before or after the weekend, when fewer people will be dining out. Search our restaurant listing by location and cuisine to fine one that makes your heart go pitter-patter.

Many local restaurants continue to offer outdoor dining as an option, on heated patios, in heated domes and at fireside tables. (How romantic!) Again, space is limited, so check in advance.

Keep in mind that many restaurants are also offering carryout and delivery service, just in case you want to treat your sweetheart or your family to fabulous dinner (and you don’t want to fix it yourself).

Does your sweetheart have a sweet tooth? Shop Kilwin’s, MoKAYA and Sweetland Candies for a delectable assortment of locally handcrafted chocolates.

Are you in love with a beer lover? Download the Beer City Brewsader® app and earn a free t-shirt by visiting just eight of 45+ local breweries.

Say it with love – make a trip to Love’s Ice Cream and Chocolate in the Downtown Market Grand Rapids for organic treats made with locally sourced ingredients.

The Downtown Market Grand Rapids is a great place to shop for your V-Day dinner, too – and the venue is hosting a Brunch Bites event on Feb. 14, celebrating breakfast and brunch classics all day long with featured items.

They say French is the language of love – so you can’t go wrong with the Parisian delights at Le Bon Macaron and Brown Butter Creperie and Café.

The 9^th Annual Love, Wine & Chocolate event at Robinette’s Apple Haus & Winery is TAKE OUT this year – meaning you can order your choice of two delectable gift boxes online and pick them up between Feb. 9-13.

It’s a Date

The Elevated Love Language project places short poetic expressions on billboards and downtown buildings throughout February for you and your love to find. It’s part of the World of Winter Festival in downtown GR, which includes multiple ice sculptures and outdoor art installations ­– perfect for a romantic stroll!

Valent-ICE is a World of Winter gallery of 80+ ice sculptures in downtown GR – plot your own path or take a guided tour to learn the backstories of each sculpture. Feb. 12-14.

Large, colorful hearts are scattered throughout downtown as part of World of Winter’s Have a Heart art installation – see if you can spot (and selfie with) them all. Feb. 12-28.

How about a live concert for you and your Valentine? World of Winter hosts Circle Theatre Pop-Up: Seasons of Love, showcasing love songs, outdoors at Canal Park. (Dress warm!) Feb. 13.

Also on Feb. 13, World of Winter hosts Winter’s a Drag, a drag show and early happy hour at downtown’s Blue Bridge. This event will also be live-streamed.

Speaking of strolling, the Happy Hearts Luminary Park Stroll is an all-ages, luminary-lit winter walk at one of three city parks: Huff Park, Garfield Park Nature Reserve or Roosevelt Park. Feb. 12, 13 & 14.

Movie theatres are open! See your favorite stars back on the big screen at Celebration! Cinema Studio Park (downtown), Celebration! Cinema North & IMAX Theatre (northeast), Celebration! Cinema Rivertown (southwest) or AMC Star Grand Rapids 18 (northwest).

Grand Gestures

The Art, Love, and Chocolate Tour at Grand Rapids Art Museum is a guided exploration of art celebrating love, companionship, passion and dedication. Guest will receive a chocolate treat to complete the visit! Feb. 11.

Make your significant other’s heart soar on a Valentine’s Day Date Night Helicopter Tour over downtown Grand Rapids. Feb. 13 & 14.

On Feb. 14, World of Winter hosts Love on Ice, offering you and your loved ones the opportunity to get your names carved on a giant interactive wall – and get your photo taken in front of the wall.

Skate under the moon and stars at the Rosa Parks Circle ice rink in downtown Grand Rapids. Skate times must be reserved this year, so act fast!

Give your young ones a Valentine from Sesame Street – bring them to see One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure at the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium. The film plays every Saturday and Sunday mornings in February. 

Love on the Run (or Walk)

Take part in the Valentine’s Dash 5K to explore a combination of trails and paved pathways in two Kentwood parks. Feb.12.

Work off some of those Valentine sweets on The Chilly Challenge – a FREE walking tour through downtown GR spotlighting the Heartside neighborhood. Feb. 17.

Make your heart pound – go skiing, snowboarding, snowtubing, snowshoeing, ice skating or fat tire biking with your sweetie. You can even rent gear!

Home for the Holiday

Snuggle together at home to watch a virtual performance – you’ll enjoy the best seats in the house! You can also eat during the performance, just try that in the theatre. (May we suggest a carryout/delivery meal?) 

• The Grand Rapids Symphony presents Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, available to view anytime between Feb. 5-March 6.
• St. Cecilia Music Center presents Mendelssohn Liszt Field featuring Gloria Chen on the piano, Feb. 11.
• The Grand Rapids Public Library presents guitarist/singer/songwriter Tom Cutts on Feb. 11.
• St. Cecilia Music Center presents legendary songstress Judy Collins on Feb. 12.
• La Casa Norte presents a Valentine’s Day Comedy Jam featuring rising comic stars Ana Belaval and Eli Castro, Feb. 13.
• Circle Theatre presents Spoon River Anthology, documenting the lives (and deaths) of the residents in a fictional farming town. Feb. 15.
• Ebony Road Players present Anne and Emmett, a fictional meeting between German-Dutch Jewish girl Anne Frank and African American boy Emmett Till. Feb. 16.