Galentine’s Day, celebrated on February 13, the day before Valentine’s Day, started in 2010 when fictional gal pal guru Leslie Knope gathered her squad for a 2/13 brunch on an episode of Parks and Recreation.
What started as a fictional holiday has really taken off. The term “Galentine’s Day” was added to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary in fall 2022. You can even buy Galentine’s gifts for your BFFs at Hallmark.
If you’re celebrating Galentine’s Day with a girls’ trip to Orlando, you’re in luck. You’ll find countless ways to live out your #squadgoals in the City Beautiful.
Here are eight wonderful ways to celebrate Galentine’s Day in Central Florida.
1. Go Wine Tasting in Orlando
If you and your squad have made “rosé all day” your motto, this Galentine’s Day tip is for you.
Florida probably isn’t the first place you think of when it comes to wine.
But the first winery in the Americas was located just a few hours away in St. Augustine. Today, there are great wineries all around the state, including in Central Florida. Some make their wine from the muscadine grapes that thrive in the American southeast. Others serve fruit wine made from everything from locally grown strawberries to pumpkins.
And while traditional wine grapes don’t grow in Florida, many local wineries have made fantastic vino using imported grapes.
To help you find an Orlando winery that you and your friends will love, we’ve compiled a guide to the best local wineries.
2. Get Artsy at Painting with a Twist
Make your Orlando vacation a masterpiece with a Galentine’s Day trip to Painting with a Twist.
The paint-and-sip chain has art studios in Orlando and Kissimmee.
At both locations, skilled art instructors lead fun, interactive painting classes that are open to guests of all skill levels. These parties typically result in everyone making the same painting. If you make a reservation for one of their scheduled painting sessions, the instructor will pick the picture for you. These sessions start at $37 per painter.
If you’re traveling with a group of 10 or more, consider booking a private party.
That way, everyone can pick what to paint from Painting with a Twist’s vast library. Private parties start at $30 per painter.
That about covers the “painting,” but what about that twist? As you and your paintbrush make magic, you can sip your favorite drink. Painting with a Twist’s Kissimmee location is BYOB, giving you the perfect excuse to stop at one of those Orlando wineries. They’ll provide the corkscrew and wine glasses.
The Orlando location, which is just north of Universal Orlando Resort, is not BYOB. But they have a bar stocked with beer, wine, champagne, and soft drinks.
3. Cook Up Fun Memories at Melting Pot
Do you and your friends want some fondue? Melting Pot has you covered.
While Melting Pot has locations all over the U.S. today, it started as a mom-and-pop spot in the Orlando suburb of Maitland. The business quickly spread across the country, helping to popularize the Swiss treat. The O.G. Melting Pot closed in 2008 after three decades in business.
But there are still Melting Pot locations in nearby Longwood and on Sand Lake Road, minutes from International Drive.
You and your friends can choose from a variety of bubbling-hot cheese dips, which are all served with bread, fruit, and veggies. Premium meat options are available for an additional fee. And save room for dessert — Melting Pot also serves chocolate fondue with a variety of sweet treats.
If you or your friends have dietary restrictions, vegan and gluten-free options are available.
Before your Galentine’s gathering, brush up on fondue etiquette. For fun, you can do like the Swiss do and come up with penalties for breaking the rules. In Switzerland, popular penalties include singing a song or buying your friends a round of drinks.
4. Float into Fun at Kelly Park
Florida has more freshwater springs than any other place on Earth, and many of them are right here in the Orlando area.
So, if you’re planning a Galentine’s getaway in Orlando, why not spend it in a crystal-blue paradise?
Kelly Park is a scenic 355-acre park in Apopka, northwest of Orlando. It features Rock Springs, a natural spring that is a comfortable 68 degrees all year. The free-flowing waterway is perfect for a lazy river ride, and there are many tube rental stands close to the park entrance. As you float down Rock Springs, you’ll be treated to gorgeous views of soft Spanish moss, tropical palm trees, and cool Florida wildlife.
Admission to Kelly Park costs $3-5 per car, depending on how big your squad is, plus the cost of renting your tubes off-site.
In the winter, Kelly Park is open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. The gates close if the park reaches capacity, which it can easily do on weekends and in nice weather. So try to arrive early.
If you get a late start, call (407) 254-1906 to see if the gates are still open before you leave your hotel.
5. Take Center Stage at KTV Karaoke
You’ve come a long way from singing into a hairbrush for your BFFs at sleepovers.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t relive those days with a Galentine’s karaoke night.
KTV is an Orlando karaoke bar near The Mall at Millenia. Its private karaoke rooms are the perfect place to unwind after a shopping spree. Belt out your favorite songs without the stress of singing for strangers. If you have a global girl gang, the karaoke machines have a selection of songs in Spanish, Korean, Japanese, and other languages.
Karaoke room rentals start at $25 per hour.
When you’re done belting your favorite tunes, enjoy KTV’s pool table, dart board, and boxing simulator.
6. Have a Berry Good Galentine’s Day at Southern Hill Farms
Galentine’s Day is all about enjoying the sweeter things in life with your besties.
At Southern Hill Farms in the western suburb of Clermont, you and your friends can pick your own delicious fruit while taking in stunning views of rolling hills and stately oak trees.
Southern Hill Farms started as an ornamental tree farm and has expanded over time. Since 2010, the farm has been open to the public for fun U-Pick events. February in Florida is strawberry and sunflower season, so you and the squad can enjoy sample some of the sweetest berries you’ve ever tasted or take picture-perfect ussies in the flower fields.
After your time in the fields, explore everything else that Southern Hill Farms has to offer.
You can enjoy yard games, sip local brews from a beer shed, or pick up souvenirs at an on-site market. On select days, the farm also hosts food trucks and live music. Operating hours vary, so be sure to check the website or call beforehand.
7. Get On Board for Adventure at the Cloak & Blaster
Gather with your gamer girls at the Cloak & Blaster for a fun day of tabletop gaming, refreshing drinks, and tasty treats.
For $5 per person, you can rent a title from this East Orlando bar’s massive board game library. As you explore fantasy worlds with your friends this Galentine’s Day, enjoy cocktails, unique beers, and fun mocktails and craft sodas from the on-site bar. Cloak & Blaster also serves food options with great geeky names like the “Baggins’ Feast” (a pretzel and charcuterie platter) and “Roll a d8” (an oven-fresh flatbread).
If you find a game you love, check out Cloak & Blaster’s gift shop before you leave — you might be able to pick up a copy of your own.
8. Live the Life of Luxury at the Spa at Rosen Centre
A holiday inspired by Parks and Rec is the perfect time to treat yo self.
This Galentine’s Day, get your pals together for a day of pampering at the Spa at Rosen Centre. Indulge in spa services like mani-pedis and facials in a relaxing and centrally located setting. End your spa day by enjoying our steam room and hot tub.
You’ll find our luxurious spa at Rosen Centre, a centrally located hotel on International Drive.
Our Orlando hotel is the place to be while traveling with friends. When you and your friends aren’t out exploring Orlando, enjoy our on-site restaurants, lounge by the pool, or watch a movie in one of your spacious guestrooms.
