Galentine’s Day is a joyful reminder that romantic love is not the ultimate goal. The holiday prioritizes female friendships, chosen family, and celebrates the women who show up for us through breakups, breakdowns, breakthroughs, and boarding passes.
In 2010 Galentine’s Day made its debut on the hit TV show Parks and Recreation. What started as a fictional holiday quickly resonated with women everywhere. The idea of celebrating female friendship without romantic pressure or expectations still feels refreshing, affirming, and long overdue.
Over the years, Galentine’s Day evolved from a pop culture moment into a real-life tradition embraced by women of all ages. The popular holiday is celebrated globally as a day to support female friendships, chosen family, and queer and platonic love.
For women who don’t center romantic relationships, Galentine’s Day offers a more inclusive way to celebrate love on our own terms. Whether you’re planning an in-person girls’ night, hosting a virtual hangout, or mixing the two, a themed Galentine’s Day party is the perfect excuse to gather, laugh, and feel deeply supported.
Our Galentine’s Day Events
Before our world was forever changed in 2020, we hosted our first annual Galentine’s Day event in Los Angeles. A group of Fat Girls Traveling members met in Los Angeles for a morning of volunteering at a food bank, followed by lunch and an afternoon of workshops, and of course, a professional photo shoot! Our activism is rooted in visibility and increasing representation, so a photo shoot was a must.
This year, we’ll be hosting a virtual Galentine’s Day for members of our Fat Girls Traveling Network. Our Network is safe space outside of social media where you can connect to other plus size travel lovers and we can provide a more curated and secure community experience.
Galentine’s Day Party Themes
Hearts & Crafting Party
The Hearts and Crafting Party is a mindful crafting night focused on keepsakes and creativity. It is an opportunity to be intentional about creating something meaningful together.
Activity Ideas: Paint & Sip, Bracelet Making, Candle Making, Tote Painting, Live Sketching
How to make it virtual: Share a supply list or mail craft kits ahead of time.
Fast Food & Friendship
The Fast Food & Friendship Party is an unapologetically fun, low-pressure theme where everyone brings or orders their favorite fast food. Perfect for celebrating friendship without the fuss because nothing says love like sharing french fries.
Suggested Supplies: Frozen fries, onion rings, cheese sticks, pizza, and nuggets, a condiment bar, paper trays, playful signage, and assorted sodas.
How to make it virtual: Order delivery at the same time and rank your fries together on a shared scorecard. Make it a gift and send cash to cover each other’s order.
Rom-Coms & Cozies
Comfort movies, comfy clothes, and zero judgment are all you need for the Rom-Coms & Cozies Party. What’s better than a cozy girls night and emotional support snacks? Add your favorite rom-com or empowering chick flick to the mix and prepare for tears of joy, laughter, and sadness.
Suggested Supplies: Warm blankets, fuzzy socks, tissue, popcorn, candy, and a watchlist.
How to make it virtual: Use a watch-party app, pop some popcorn, and wear your coziest pajamas.
Great Bestie Bake-Off
Sweet treats and friendly competition are a great Galentine’s Day combination. The Great Bestie Bake-Off Party is a playful baking challenge inspired by a popular baking show. Each guest is invited to bring a home baked dish to enter in the contest.
Suggested Themes: Cutest Cookies, Miss American Pie Contest, and Chocolate Covered…
How to make it virtual: Create a timed contest where you cook together and judge fun categories like “Most Creative” or “Best Presentation.”
Favorite Things Party
Sharing is caring and for the Favorite Things Party each guest brings a few affordable favorite items to exchange and discover. This is like White Elephant, but better because you’ll want to keep everything.
Suggested Supplies: Small affordable gifts, snacks, music, and exchange rules.
How to make it virtual: Mail gifts and unbox them together over a video call or send gift cards.
Wine Down Wine Tasting
A Wine Down Wine Tasting is the perfect time to sip, swirl, and reconnect with the girlies. You deserve a relaxed Galentine’s Day party centered around wine, conversation, and slowing down together. Just keep a designated driver on standby.
Suggested Supplies: Wine or mocktails, wine glass charms, charcuterie boards, and tasting cards.
How to make it virtual: Send a wine-tasting and pairing list in advance, and host the event over Zoom.
Self-Care Soirée
Rest is resistance and Self-Care Soirée is dedicated to slowing down and practicing self-love.
Suggested Supplies: Candles, pillows, journals, pens, affirmations, sound healing, and time.
How to make it virtual: Host a guided meditation or journaling session followed by tea and conversation.
Pancakes & Pajamas
Inspired by the Parks and Rec episode, the Pancakes & Pajamas Party is a laid-back Galentine’s Day event where pajamas are the dress code, and breakfast-for-dinner is encouraged.
Suggested Supplies: Assorted pancake toppings, coffee, tea, mimosas, and cozy vibes.
How to make it virtual: Host a pancake flipping challenge or a speed pancake eating contest.
Games & Giggles
If you like to laugh-until-you-cry, you’ll love the Games & Giggles Party. This is a playful girls’ night out or in centered on games and connection. From board games and video games to axe-throwing and beer pong, the options for a fun Galentine’s Day are endless.
Suggested Supplies: Cards, board games, trivia games, judges, small prizes, and snacks.
How to make it virtual: Play online trivia, charades, or a multi-player video game together.
What’s The Tea Party
The What’s The Tea Party is an elevated tea party that blends playful gossip with meaningful conversation
Suggested Supplies: Tea varieties, cream, sugar, teacups, cookies, finger foods, and work gossip.
How to make it virtual: Mail your favorite tea or share a tea and snack menu ahead of time.
Pasta & Prosecco
It is known that carbs plus bubbles equals happiness. The Pasta & Prosecco Party is cozy dinner celebrating comfort food, quality time, and connection.
Suggested Supplies: Pasta bar ingredients, Prosecco or sparkling juice, candles, and place settings.
How to make it virtual: Cook the same recipe and enjoy the meal together over video.
Witches Circle
The Witches Circle is a magical manifestation of female power. It’s a mystical gathering focused on intention-setting and empowerment.
Suggested Supplies: Tarot or oracle cards, a safe space, candles, sage, and journals.
How to make it virtual: Host a collective intention setting ritual or tarot pull via video chat.
Galentine’s Day reminds us that women deserve to be celebrated loudly and often, and not just by partners, but by each other. Whether your girls’ night is virtual, low-key, or wildly themed, this holiday is about honoring the non-romantic relationships that sustain and empower us.
