Its Valentine’s Day! Time for chocolate covered everything, conversation hearts, and ooey-gooey-ness of all kinds. How will you celebrate this year? Whether you’re in the mood to take in a show, make your kids part of the day or try something a bit out of the ordinary, our list of Valentine’s Day ideas has got you covered!
Family Friendly Valentines
Got kids? Don’t wanna hire a sitter? Make your little ones part of your Valentine’s celebration. Kid friendly ideas.
Have a Heart Day
Have A Heart Day Is A Fun Opportunity To Learn More About Your Heart And How To Keep It Healthy. Visitors Will Enjoy A Day Of Heart-Related Activities At Sci-Quest Ranging From Valentine’s Day Crafts To Viewing A Live Sheep Heart Dissection. Children Can View Their Own Heartbeat Using Simple Materials And Make Their Own Stethoscopes.
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012
Time: 10:30am – 2:30pm
Where: Sci-Quest, Hands-On Science Center
Cost: Free With Sci-Quest General Admission.
Father/Child “Make a Valentine for Mom” Workshop
Father and child will make a Valentine candle lantern from a reused jar (pickle or mayo jar). We provide all the materials. Use discount code “Valley” to receive a $1 discount.
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012
Time: 2 – 4pm
Where: Sam & Greg’s Pizzeria
Cost: $20 per Father/Child combo
Use discount code “Valley” to receive a $1 discount.
Valentine’s Day Cupcake Class
Presented by the Earth Fare Bakery. Fun for the whole family!!!
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012
Time: 12 – 2pm
Where: Earth Fare
Cost: FREE
Cupid Skate
Skate with your Valentine! Join us for a romantic ice skating session and your Valentine receives free admission! Ice Prince & Princess: Skate in your best royal attire. Also included: crowns for our ice princes & princesses, on-ice games & specialty lighting, costume contest. We will be crowning a King & Queen of the Ice!
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Time: 2 – 4pm
Where: Benton W. Wilcoxon Municipal Ice Complex
Love is Like a Cabbage
Warm cupid’s heart with crafts and confections on Valentine’s Day! Create cards, paper flowers and decorate a sweet treat to give away to your special Valentine while learning the history behind this holiday! Discover other ways to “warm a heart” with hands-on science experiments too! For children K-5th grade.
When: Sunday, February 12, 2012
Time: 1 – 3pm
Where: Huntsville Botanical Garden, Anderson Education Center Classroom
Cost: Members $10, Non-members $20
Dinner and a Show
Dixie’s Tupperware Party
Back once again in Huntsville by popular demand! In her third appearance at Merrimack Hall, Dixie is back with a fresh load of “plastic crap!” Dixie Longate, the fast-talking Tupperware Lady, packed up and left her Alabama trailer park and took Off-Broadway by storm
When:
Thurs, Feb 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Fri, Feb 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Sat, Feb 11 at 2 p.m.
Sat, Feb 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Merrimack Hall Performing Arts
Cost: Varies, see website for pricing www.merrimackhall.com
Alice In Wonderland
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is the story of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures.
When: February 9, 10 & 11
Time: 7pm
Where: Grissom High School Theatre
Cost: $5 Students $7 Adults
Standing By Tammy Wynette; The Donna Chapel Story
The brand new musical based on the true story as told by her one time stepdaughter, Donna Chapel who sang with Tammy in 1967 when she was 14 years old.
When:
February 10th, 11th 16th, 17th and 18th at 7:30
February 12th and 19th at 2:30.
Where: Burritt on the Mountain’s Old Country Church
Cost: $20
Celtic Women in “Believe”
Celtic Woman is the all-female singing sensation featuring vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Lambe, newest member Susan McFadden and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt.
When: Sunday, February 12, 2012, 2pm & 7pm
Where : Von Braun Center, Mark C Smith Concert Hall
Cost: $71 & $48 each
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by the American Shakespeare Center
The American Shakespeare Center of Staunton, VA will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Thirty minutes of live acoustic music and a pre-show talk precede each performance.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Time: 7 – 9pm
Where: UA Huntsville University Center Exhibit Hall
Ticket information: Contact Dr. Jeff Nelson, UAHuntsville English Department at nelsonj@uah.edu or 256-824-2369
Valentine’s Blues Festival
When: Saturday, February 11, 2012, 6:30 – 9:30pm
Where: Von Braun Center
Cost: $39.50
Valentine’s Lunch at Carrabba’s Italian Grill benefiting Huntsville Botanical Garden
Celebrate Valentine’s Day with the one you love at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in the Parkway Place Mall. The delicious menu includes a crispy Caesar Salad, Chicken Marsala, a Pene Pomodoro pasta, bread, non-alcoholic drink and Sogno di Cioccolata, also known as “Chocolate Dream.” Each couple receives a Valentine rose.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Time: Two seating times 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Where: Carrabba’s Italian Grille, Parkway Place Mall
Cost: $45.00 for two lunches
Reservations required. Call 830-4447 ext. 232 to reserve your space.
Valentine’s Dinner at Amendment XXI
Downstairs enjoy a four course dinner, glass of champagne, and gift for the ladies. Book upstairs for a more intimate setting in one of our exclusive Love Booths. Enjoy a four course dinner, glass of champagne, gift for the ladies, fondue fountain, private bartender, and live entertainment provided by Shane Wilson
.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Time: Two seatings downstairs at 6:00pm and 8:30pm; One seating upstairs at 7:00pm
Where: Amendment XXI
Cost: Dinner $75.00 per person; booth rental at $100.00 or $150.00 for entire evening
. Upstairs: purchase of bottle of wine or champagne required per booth.
Valentine Evening in the Gallery
Join us for an evening in the gallery and your own personal photo shoot with Sarah Brewer of Click Photo Designs! Receive: photo shoot + cd with photos plus wine and chocolates in the gallery.
When: Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Time: 4 – 9pm
Where: 16 Main Gallery
Cost: $25 per couple or family
Staycation
Looking to get away but without all the traveling? These local hotels will make you feel like you’re getting a break from it all.
Westin Valentine’s Day Package
Fall in love with our Valentine’s Day Experience. This package includes breakfast for two in-room or at Sage Grille daily, a heart-shaped cake, a bottle of sparkling wine.
When: Friday, February 10th-Tuesday-February 14th
Where: Westin
Cost: starting from $245 per night
Reservations required. Call 256-428-5424 to reserve your space today.
Four Points Sheraton
Escape to the Fou Points Sheaton this Valentine’s Day. Your escape will incude a welcome basket of champagne, keepsake glasses and a delicious box of chocolates, a luxurious dinner for two and made to order breakfast. King room and king suite packages available.
When: February 10-February 14, 2012
Where: Four Points Sheraton
Cost: Packages starting at $149
Reservations required. Call 256-772-9661 to reserve your spot.
Out of the Box Ideas
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to break the bank. After all at its heart, it is a holiday meant to celebrate love. This Valentine’s, why not try break out of the traditional candy, roses, dinner routine and do something more meaning to you? And who said you have to celebrate Valentines exactly on February 14th? If your schedules line up better to celebrate the weekend before of after, then have at it! Who’s going to tell you that you are wrong?
Re-live your 1st date
Can you remember what you did on your very first date? Even if it was something simple, re-living that special memory just might bring back those same butterflies.
Make a difference
Volunteer together. Choose a nonprofit and spend a morning or afternoon volunteering. Whether it is building a home with Habitat for Humanity or sorting cans at the Food Bank, the important thing is that you go together. Not sure where to volunteer? Click here to visit our Facebook Page and find a list of local nonprofits.
Picnic
If the weather stays on the same course, pack some treats, a blanket & head to Big Spring Park (other places?) and spend a lazy afternoon enjoying the sunshine and each other’s company. If you don’t want to prepare the picnic here’s several restaurants within walking distance:
- Pane Vino
- Sam and Greg’s
Share a hobby
You and your sweetie each have separate hobbies. Try sharing those hobbies. You could see a side of your sweetie that you never knew.
Donate
Flowers, candy, and gifts are at an all time high around Valentine’s Day, so instead of buying these marked up items donate! You and your sweetie each choose a charity and have the other make a donation in each other’s honor. The charity will make much better use of the funds than Hallmark.
Create
Spend an evening making something together. Like a night painting at My Spirited Art.

Guest blogger for We Are Huntsville. Are you interested in writing a post for our site? Email katelyn@wearehuntsville.com.