As Feb. 14 arises on our calendars, many people are scrambling to put plans together for this romantic holiday. However, coming up with creative ways to celebrate can be a struggle for some. There are many fun ideas that you can do with your friends, boyfriend, or girlfriend to create the picture-perfect night along with memorable moments.

The first idea is the basic “dinner and roses” evening. You can choose your favorite restaurant or a new one you have been wanting to try and have a pleasant conversation over dinner. A lot of people in Sioux Falls go to CRAVE or Mackenzie River, which are both downtown and fancy restaurants for your romantic night. If you have high enough standards, hopefully, you are greeted with roses and a box of chocolates by your significant other.

Another creative way to spend your evening is a create-your-own pizza night. Go to Walmart or Hy-Vee and purchase the ingredients and the toppings of your choice, then set a timer and see who has the best-tasting pizza. You can have a sibling, friend or parent judge on presentation and taste. The loser has to pay for the next date night.

A hot yoga class is a great way to have fun with your partner or your friends this Valentine’s Day. Not only will you feel refreshed after, but the loud beat of the music and the flashing lights gets you pumped up for the day. These classes are offered at Amy Miller Training, Ignite and Revolution at an average of 45 minutes per class. Make sure to book ahead of time and bring your water, a yoga mat and a towel as you will be dripping with sweat afterward.

Bowling is an activity that I feel is underrated and often overlooked. This idea is a more affordable option for those who are on a budget but will still make it a fun night. There are many bowling alleys around Sioux Falls that you can go to with your friends or on a double date. Make sure nobody is a poor sport, as it might get competitive.

Roller skating is also another fun, but an affordable idea for this Valentine’s Day. Skate City is a roller skating rink in Sioux Falls that costs $8 for a two-hour skating session. This might not be your classic fancy dinner, but the old-fashioned music and disco ball will make your night one to remember.

Although we live in South Dakota and the weather in February is not the most pleasant, a picnic is a perfect idea. If Feb. 14 is a sunny day, you can gather some pillows, blankets and a picnic basket with your favorite foods to enjoy in the park. If it happens to be snowing, which would not be a big surprise, you can still make it a fun time and set up the picnic indoors.  

Color Me Mine is a paint-your-own ceramics chain in Sioux Falls that makes an adorable date. This idea is on the expensive side, however, Color Me Mine provides a variety of ceramics to paint along with stencils and colors to create your own mug or kitchen plate. The only downside of this activity is that you have to wait about a week for your ceramic to be available for pickup, but I personally believe it is worthwhile.

Escape rooms are one of my favorite activities to experience. This idea would be great for a double date with your best friend, as it might be difficult to escape with just two people. Escapades, Escape 605 and Conquer are just a few places that you can book, and they average around $25-30 per person. No matter if you escape or not, you will have an amazing time trying to solve the mysteries and challenges.

If you and your significant other are looking to not spend any money this Valentine’s Day, take a drive around Falls Park. The beauty and sound of the waterfalls in Falls Park are an attraction for many tourists and will make a simple date night. You can take a drive and have nice conversations while listening to your favorite playlist, while the only expense is gas.

If you are looking to spend your evening devouring a sweet treat, Parlour Ice Cream House and CH Patisserie are two downtown locations you need to try. Parlour has 18 available flavors of sorbet and ice cream in their case each day. CH Patisserie also has a variety of luxury desserts and flavors of macarons for their customers to try. Either way, you cannot go wrong with these delicious shops.

As we live in Sioux Falls, it is most likely that Valentine’s Day will be a cold one. At Great Bear Ski Valley you can ski, snowboard or go tubing. This option can get pretty expensive, as lift tickets cost $30-35 and rental equipment is $30. However, you can never go wrong with a fun skiing or snowboarding session with a cup of hot chocolate afterward.

For couples who enjoy spending their time at home on the couch, a board game night is for you. Heads up, Cards Against Humanity and Apples to Apples are some of the most popular games for teens. This night could get competitive, so make sure nobody leaves in tears.

An at-home spa day or at the salon is a relaxing way to spend Feb. 14 with your significant other. Treat yourself to a facial, manicure or massage to reduce your stress and feel your best. Pair this with a bouquet of roses and romance is in the air.

Finally, the last idea is one that can be seen on TikTok, called the “Date Roulette challenge.” Either you or your partner will write two to three choices on separate note cards and the other person will draw the card to decide your night. Some things people write down are restaurants, dessert and drink places, activities and more. This way you don’t have to argue about who decides what to do, and you get to experience some of your favorite things all in one night.