Valentine’s Day is almost upon us again – lovely news for some but a tedious and pointless Hallmark day for others. In 2026, is it time to forget about February 14th altogether and focus instead on its hipper, less pressurised and more women-focused sister, Galentine’s?
The name of the event, held on February 13th, was coined by Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler), the main character of sitcom Parks and Recreation in a 2010 episode of the show, as a way to celebrate the platonic love she had for the important women in her life.
“Every February 13th, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it, breakfast-style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair [a music festival], minus the angst. Plus frittatas,” said Knope of her fictional holiday at the time.
The thing is, Galentine’s Day didn’t stay fictional – soon after the episode aired, brands and shops jumped on the trend, while fans started to celebrate the day in earnest by spending the day with friends. Now, Galentine’s Day is almost separate from its humorous origins and widely marked by women around the world. It has expanded from its initial iteration too – while it’s still seen as a celebration of the main gals in your life, it’s now seen a little more as a way to mark how much you value all your platonic relationships.
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Just as it began with a brunch, many Galentine’s fetes now centre around food and community. For Laura Colhoun, founder of cake company Colhoun Creations, hosting events with sweet treats at their core has been a natural way to help foster community for women and friends.
“My main business is making wedding cakes, but so many people asked me over the years if I would teach too, so I started with a class for just three guests about three years ago. I took a risk then hosting bigger classes and everything grew from there,” Colhoun says. “Last year for Galentine’s Day, I held a gorgeous event at the Fumbally Stables [in Dublin 8]. So many women came together, whether with friends or alone to meet new people, and it was just a brilliant way to help people celebrate friendship. It’s important to feel good about yourself and those relationships in your life.”
While this year’s Galentine’s Day event from Colhoun sold out very quickly – she has a more in-depth vintage heart cake decorating class still available to book on colhouncreations.com – she is particularly proud of the celebration she has put together, which will include a dessert table, bento cake decorating, icebreakers, socialising and goodie bags.
“There’s a lot more demand these days for creative hobbies and to make friends as adults – not everyone wants to join a run club. Because I work alone, I know baking as a job, but also as an activity, can be lonely so this was a way to create a wholesome environment for everyone to enjoy,” says Colhoun. “Last year, so many customers told me they have intense or high-risk jobs, so the event was a relaxing, therapeutic activity for them. I love to create that kind of environment, where everyone is giggling, then leaves with smiles on their faces.”
The notion of helping women to connect is something that Ace Enterprise Park in Clondalkin, a facility that offers affordable workspace solutions to entrepreneurs, is keen to promote in its upcoming Galentine’s Day showcase. With more than 70 businesses using its facilities to grow and develop, marketing and community manager Kaitlin Brozeck says food is a very common sector within its members. She hopes the upcoming event, which will take place on February 11th at 7pm, with tickets available via eventbrite.ie, will connect women from across various sectors and celebrate their hard work.
“We’re a female-led team at the centre, so we’re always looking to spotlight the women in our network. A lot of them are solo entrepreneurs with families, so our event is a way to give them an evening of escape, while also creating community connections and networking opportunities,” says Brozeck. “Ten vendors will be on-site, plus there will be a live poetry reading. Tickets cost €10 per person, and include a €20 voucher to spend on the night, as well as cheese and wine.”
Two female-led food business will be part of the event with French-inspired Croissantly Bakery from pastry chef Noemie Falzon and Sylvia Kennedy’s award-winning Treats by Sylvia on site to showcase their goods. With the showcase open to the public, Brozeck hopes it will be an opportunity to use Galentine’s Day to highlight the female-led businesses powering Ireland, particularly around the food sector.
“Being an entrepreneur can be so lonely, so putting women together on Galentine’s Day while highlighting their businesses is so important to us,” says Brozeck. “It’s a day that’s all about connection and we can’t wait to celebrate the ladies of our community.”
Galentine’s events for food lovers
Galentine’s in The Wine Cellar, Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2
February 13th from 12pm, €65 for two people via OpenTable
Fallon & Byrne in Dublin city centre is hosting a cheese and wine night at a very good price. Each duo – although bigger groups can be accommodated at an adjusted price – will enjoy a selection of cheese, charcuterie and bread alongside a bottle of wine from one of two brilliant female producers: either Ariana Occhipinti’s SP68 Rosso from Sicily or Judith Beck’s Blaufränkisch Hunny Bunny from Austria.
Galentine’s Pilates and Cake Decorating
February 14th at 6.30pm, €80.99 via Eventbrite
Join BakedSweets.ie and Pilates & Cream at Catalyst Coffee in Bray, Co Wicklow, for an evening of Pilates, refreshments and cake decorating with a goodie bag to take home afterwards. Pink, red and white clothes are encouraged to help bring the love.
Galentine’s Day Afternoon Tea and Bestie Bouquet
February 13th and 14 at 12pm, from £42.50 (approx €49) via montaltoestate.com
Grab your bestie and head to this workshop with head gardener Lesley Heron at Montalto Estate in Ballynahinch, Co Down. You’ll learn to arrange a hand-tied bouquet – which you’ll then take home – as you enjoy a full afternoon tea with dishes such as cucumber sandwiches and chocolate strawberries.
