February is here, which means red hearts and pink roses have begun popping up in every window display from Upper Montclair to Bloomfield, and we are excited. Because those little heart doilies mean all your girls can coordinate their busy schedules for one epic get-together on Galentine’s Day. We aren’t going to lie, sometimes all we want to do on Galentine’s Day is invite our closest girlfriends over for a late night and/or sleepover (the 14th is on a Friday this year, so it’s absolutely doable), have some face and eye masks at the ready, a few bottles of wine, order pizza (because who wants to cook?), and a Gilmore Girls marathon cued up — or the new season of Severance, whatever floats your boat. But sometimes, we actually do want to get out and enjoy the town a bit. Businesses throughout Montclair and Essex County are providing a range of special events geared towards celebrating the Ride-or-Die girls in your life, so we rounded up a list of Galentine’s specials we wouldn’t mind trying out with our own friends. Read on for 15 unique Galentine’s Day activities to do with your friends this February.

For the Crafty Gals

Alchemy Scent Bar | 30 Church Street, Montclair

Woman-owned Alchemy Scent Bar provides guests with an evening of celebrating Galentine’s Day by creating custom fragrances for a candle, hand soap, sanitizer, or room spray. The steps are simple: choose a fragrance from over 100 different scents, select the candle jar or home/body product vessel, take it to the bar for guidance from one of the alchemists, and begin to mix and blend your favorite scents into one bespoke creation.

Read More: Valentine’s Day Date Ideas in Montclair That Aren’t Dinner

Crystals + Candles' Friendship Candle Class | 195 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair

One of Upper Montclair’s cutest new additions, Crystals + Candles, is hosting a Friendship Candle-making class this February. Bring along a bottle (or two) of wine and create a unique candle infused with gemstones meant to enhance the bond of friendship. Under a bit of professional guidance, besties can combine favorite fragrances together for a bespoke aroma that is sure to recall that feeling of fun and friendship within the first few whiffs whenever the candle is lit.

Doin’ Dishes | 50 Church Street, Montclair

Unlike its name suggests, Doin’ Dishes is a paint-your-own ceramics studio (don’t worry, no dish soap in sight) that is both satisfying and relaxing. Gal pals can reserve a time in the studio — Tuesdays are adults only from 6PM-9PM — and just show up. Everything needed is provided from paints to brushes, stamps, stencils, etc, and of course, an assortment of stoneware ready and waiting for an artistic touch. Each painted piece will be glazed, fired, and ready for pickup in one week. For a fun Galentine’s game, round robin it so that everyone paints a piece for someone else and everyone goes home with something special.

The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair

The Eclectic Chic Boutique is a collective of over 30 New Jersey and New York vendors, artisans, designers, and craftsmen providing unique wares plus creative classes for all the different crafty friends. This Galentine’s, choose from an eclectic lineup of different workshops sure to make even the hard-to-please friend in the group get excited. Visitors can make a wire-wrapped, crystal heart necklace, decorate some delicious Galentine’s Day cookies for that party later, create a fairy terrarium for the garden, fashion a heart necklace out of felt, or make a stained glass suncatcher for the window.

Mud Clay Studio's Ladies Night | 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair

Photo Credit: Mudd Clay

For the girls into pottery, and even for those who’ve never touched clay in their life, Mud Clay Studio has a Ladies Night pottery class, which all but says Galentine’s with your crew. The class lasts about 2.5-3 hours and includes a quick hand-building intro where they teach patrons how to pinch, coil, texture, score, and slip lumps of clay into a masterpiece. It also includes a demo of the potter’s wheel, culminating in two chances per person to use the wheel (with lots of assistance) to create something worthy of display.

Pinot’s Palette's Paint + Sip | 351 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair

Photo Credit: Pinot's Palette

Pinot’s Palette is hosting a special Galentine’s “dazzling dress” theme on February 11th where friends can bedazzle a gown fit for the Oscars. Alternatively, Pinot’s Palette has different daily workshops all surrounding the theme of love (of course), which isn’t wrong for friendship either.

Wine + Design's Workshops | 1 Greenwood Avenue Suite 101, Montclair

All month, Wine + Design is hosting a variety of workshops for guests to show up, drink wine, and make something in honor of this year’s Galentine’s Day. Themes like wooden Valentine’s Day cutouts of your pet, a Splatter Room, charcuterie boards made with resin, love-themed paintings, or a special Galentine’s Day paint + sip with a free Prosecco Toast for 21+ on February 13th are among some of the offerings. Check out the calendar, reserve a spot for the tribe, pack the “good bottle”, and go to town.

For the Classy Gals

Art is Bond the Experience | 8 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair

While it may be the month of love, it is also Black History Month. Art is Bond, an online shop that celebrates the “beauty, excellence, and authenticity of Black culture,” is bringing both themes of the month together in a special Galentine’s event at Lackawanna Plaza on February 9th from 12PM to 6PM. Featuring 23 installations of interactive art all created to celebrate Black culture with a live DJ on site, this is an event not to be missed.

The Highlawn | 1 Crest Drive, West Orange

Friendship is a special occasion worth celebrating, and gal pals certainly deserve the best, which is why a night at The Highlawn is on this list. One of the most breathtaking and magical views of the New York City skyline can be seen from this elegant, New Jersey establishment. Book a window table with the besties and treat the girls to a night of elegance, delicious food, and a treasured memory.

For the Fitness Gals

The MC Hotel's Mats + Mimosas | 690 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair

The MC Hotel in Montclair is hosting a unique Galentine’s Mats + Mimosas evening at 7PM on February 13th. Friends can don the reds and pinks, and join for an unwinding yoga flow and sound bath followed by a Galentine’s mixer just for women. It’s a night for making new friends and mingling with other women who are fearlessly loving themselves in 2025.

For the Fun Gals

Just Jake's Comedy Night | 30 Park Street, Montclair

If comedy is on the menu, then sign us up. Just Jake’s has a special Comedy Night this February 13th with a lineup of comics from Saturday Night Live, Sirius/XM, Uncle Vinny’s Comedy Club, Caroline’s, Stress Factory, and Comic Strip Live. If this happens to be a hard Valentine’s, laughter is truly the best medicine.

Montclair Brewery's Sip + Sing Karaoke | 101 Walnut Street, Montclair

On February 13th, local brewers, Montclair Brewery, is on with its notorious karaoke night hosted by Chef Steph with everything on tap to keep the whistle wet. Call up the ladies and rock out to all the best break-up songs like All American Rejects ‘Gives You Hell’, Pistol Annie’s ‘Got My Name Changed Back’, or Sara Bareilles’ ‘Sweet as Whole’ (please Google it. Oh please, please Google it). Switch to girl power mode singing along to tracks from Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Lizzo, and Ava Max. Only one rule: no ballads.

See More: How to Celebrate Galentine’s Day in Hoboken + Jersey City, Based on Your Interests

Pineapple Express's Taylor Swift Tribute Show | 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair

For those who like Taylor Swift, but couldn’t quite make it to the Eras Tour, head over to local favorite Pineapple Express for the next best thing. Taylor Swift cover band, Taylor Made, will play live from 5:30PM-8PM on February 14th. With bracelets, free-flowing strawberry lemonade, food + drink specials, and an open dance floor, it feels like the perfect night to dress up like hipsters, make fun of our exes, and feel 22 again.