Favorite Valentine’s Day Activities for Families
By: Heather Flett
Looking for Valentine’s Day activities families can enjoy in the East Bay? We are excited to share this round-up of love- and heart-themed activities in February. Read on for our favorite Valentine’s Day activities for families, including romantic dinners, special outings, crafts, projects, family together-time, and parents-sneaking-away-but-staying-home time (hint: turn on the TV).
Local Drop-in Activities for Family-friendly Valentine’s Day
Thursday, February 8, 2024
3:00 PM:Make and Play Lab: Valentine Cards@ Albany Library, Albany
Saturday, February 10, 2024
10:00 AM: Kids' Craft Club: Butterfly Painted Rocks (RSVP)@ Michaels, Emeryville, Emeryville
11:00 AM: Valentine's Day Storytime & Dance Party@ Moraga Public Library, Moraga
12:00 PM: Learn to make Valentine's Cupcakes!@ 81st Avenue Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
Sunday, February 11, 2024
11:00 AM: Animal Amore (RSVP)@ Sunol Visitor Center, Sunol
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
10:00 AM: Tiny Tuesday: Be My Valentine@ Lindsay Wildlife Experience, Walnut Creek
4:00 PM: Paper Flower Bouquet Craft@ Newark Library, Newark
4:00 PM: Valentines Crafts with Erica@ Rockridge Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
2:00 PM: Drop-In Valentine Making@ San Lorenzo Library, San Lorenzo
3:00 PM: I Slime You@ West Oakland Branch | Oakland Public Library, Oakland
3:30 PM: Teens Chocolate Valentine's Treat Event@ San Lorenzo Library, San Lorenzo
4:00 PM: Magical Valentine's Day Cards@ Fremont Main Library, Fremont
Reserve your Spot for Family-friendly Valentine’s Day
Love at the Lake, Lake Chabot, Castro Valley
February 1 to 25. The signature Valentine’s Day package at Lake Chabot is nice for a special date or small family. Enjoy a covered and decorated patio boat for two hours with a picnic basket for $209-$259. Add more snacks, sweets, or flowers. Reserve your spot >
Galentine’s Tea, Berkeley
Saturday, Feb 10 & Sunday, Feb 11. Book a special “Galentine’s Day Tea” for your girlfriends or daughters to enjoy a splurge at the Claremont. Tea times are available at noon, 12:30, and 2:30 pm. Adults $135 and children $85. Reserve your spot >
Family Botanical Valentine’s Tea, Berkeley
Sunday, Feb. 11, 10 to 11:30 am or 1 – 2:30 pm. UC Berkeley Botanical Garden hosts a lovely botanical tea party to celebrate the ones you love. Children and their grown-ups will explore the garden through an educational walk, make their own tea party snacks and drinks, and craft valentines from pressed botanicals. Select the morning or afternoon session. $20 per child/$24 per adult; discounts for members. Pre-registration is required.
Tiny Tuesday, Walnut Creek
Tuesday, Feb. 13, 10 am – noon. Join Lindsay Wildlife Experience’s Tiny Tuesday, where children ages 2-5 can visit outside of regular hours to play and learn with an adult caregiver. Explore the natural world and learn how wildlife show their affection. Activities include crafts, storytime, puppet show and up-close experiences with animal ambassadors. ($32-$42+) or you can join virtually with a penguin cam. Learn more.
Penguin Valentines, San Francisco
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 10:30 am. The Cal Academy penguins will continue their annual tradition of receiving valentines from the biologists who care for them. Watch the penguins nab felt hearts to line their nests and learn more about the colony during a visit to the museum. Included with admission ($10-$12 per person).Learn more.
Pro tip: Reschedule your Valentine’s date night
It can be really hard to schedule childcare and a dinner out that falls exactly on Valentine’s Day. Can I strongly suggest you take advantage of one of these incredible Parents’ Nights Out programs any night you can get in this month? There are a bunch to choose from: Kids do judo, paint rainbows, watch movies, flop on trampolines, and generally have a blast!
This February, you can find:
Feb 2: Date Night Drop Off with pizza, movies, and play at Swings & Wings, Alameda
Feb 3: Kids Night Out “Sunset Love” (painting) at Aran’s Art Studio, Castro Valley
Feb. 9: Free play, pizza, and movie at The Busy Bee Activity Center, Alameda
Feb. 9: Free play and pizza at PlayGround, Castro Valley
Feb. 10: Movie, fun, and optional judo at Hanabi Judo, Albany
Feb 10: Kids Night Out “Love You Beary Much” (painting) at Aran’s Art Studio, Castro Valley
Feb. 10: Gymnastics, crafts, and movies at Encore Gym, Walnut Creek
Feb. 10: Art and pizza at Picassos at Play, Pleasant Hill
Feb 16: Date Night Drop Off with pizza, movies, and play at Swings & Wings, Alameda
Feb. 16: Free play and pizza at PlayGround, Castro Valley
Feb 17: Kids Night Out (pottery crafts) at Color Me Mine, Alameda
Feb 23: Parents Night Out with pizza and play at Habitot, Emeryville
Feb 23: Parents Night Out at Axé, Oakland
Feb. 24: Free play, pizza, and movie at The Busy Bee Activity Center, Alameda
Feb. 24: Gymnastics, crafts, and movies at Encore Gym, Walnut Creek
Kid-friendly Valentine’s Activities at Home
DIY Valentine’s Day Cards For School
If you have a willing participant, you can take a photo of your child against a blank wall, posed as shown below. Print or order prints (pro tip: Amazon does it for $0.17 per photo!). Then, hole-punch twice — above and below your child’s hand in the photo — to stick a lollipop through.
** This article was originally published by 510families.com. CLICK HERE to view the full article.