Whether you have a sweetie or not who’s coordinating the romance for Feb. 14, you can take charge of gathering the girls for a Galentine’s bash, even if you celebrate long after the actual Gday (2/13) or V’Day. It’s easy to enjoy a break from routine with your BFFs with our monthly guide to the best girl’s nights out in February. Ideas sorted in chrono order, and we will update as we find new ideas all month long.

Send these ideas to the group text and get to planning:

Kendra Scott Giveback Benefiting Prevent Child Abuse NC
Monday, February 5 | Kendra Scott at South Park Mall | 4:30-7:30 p.m.

It’s all about sips, sweets, jewels and giving back at this shopping event at Kendra Scott. You and your girlfriends can gift each other (or yourselves!) with your favorites from the collection. 20% of all sales will benefit Prevent Child Abuse NC. Grab your free tickets here. Round out the evening with dinner at SouthPark Grill or Oak Steakhouse.

Wine Down at Draught
Wednesday, February 7 | Draught Charlotte | 6-8 p.m.

Toast to making it through humpday with the help of Draught Charlotte. Meet your girlfriends for hors d’oeuvres from our new menu and tastings of reds, whites and sangria. Tickets are $20 online and at the event.

Galentine’s Craft Night: DIY Watercolor Style Painted Mug & Dish
Wednesday, February 7 | Red Clay Ciderworks | 7 p.m.

Tap into your creative side as you and your gals paint your own mug or dish with the help of artist Amber with Little King Art. Snack on some sweets, grab a cider and get to painting! $28 per person. Reserve your seat here.

Scoop Girls Sweets for the Sweets Meet Up at Reids
Thursday, February 8 | Reid’s SouthPark | 6-7:30 p.m.

Grab your girls for the first Scoop meet-up of 2018. We’ll be doing a wine and sweets tasting featuring Reid’s favorites for Valentines and Galentines. Stick around for dinner and cocktails (they’re half-price!) at Reid’s. Get your free ticket here.

The Valentine’s Day Alternative Wine Experience
Thursday, February 8 | Bonterra Dining & Wine Room | 6:30 p.m.

Raise your glass to a great cause at one of Charlotte’s favorite fine dining destination. The Valentine’s Day “Alternative” Wine Experience includes tastings of wine from around the world and heavy hors d’ oeuvres. Proceeds benefit A Child’s Place. $150 per person. Purchase your ticket here.

Charlotte Ballet: Innovative Works
Friday, February 9 | Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance | 7:30 p.m.

Why even argue with him about the merits of attending the ballet? Instead, grab your girlfriends and a seat in the intimate Patricia McBride & Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux Center for Dance theater for Charlotte Ballet’s Innovative Works. One of the company’s most popular performances, Innovative Works showcases new and veteran choreography in a showcase of contemporary ballet. Tickets include a dessert reception with artistic staff and dancers after the show.

Before the performance, check off of your V-day shopping list at 7th Street Public Market’s Sip & Shop. Beginning at 4:30 p.m., enjoy complimentary sparkling wine for the first 100 guests, live music, chocolate tasting and locally-crafted gifts.

Meet the Artist with Curt Butler
Friday, February 9 | Shain Gallery | 6-8 p.m.

Help welcome North Carolina artist Curt Butler to Shain Gallery for a solo show. Enjoy all new work and meet the artist at a reception from 6-8 p.m. Afterwards head to the brand new Flourshop in Park Road Shopping Center, where you’ll have a hard time choosing from pastas and small plates while watching the open kitchen with awe.

Celebrate Mardi Gras Charlotte Style

7th Annual Charlotte Mardi Gras Parade of Beads Celebration 02-10-18
Admission to multiple bars at the Epicenter
Rooftop 210 | Uptown Charlotte

Mardi Gras Glow Up Silent Party 02-13-18
Silent dance party with three different DJ’s
The Press Box Bar & Grill | Charlotte

Mardi Crawl 02-10-18
Drink specials and entry to 6 different bars uptown
Flight Beer Garden & Music Hall | Uptown Charlotte

Let the Good Times Roll Seafood Bash 02-10-18
Multiple plate options with beer, wine or cider pairings
Three Spirits Brewery | Charlotte

A Taste of New Orleans Mardi Gras Celebration 02-09 through 02-13
6 course dinner & cocktail pairing
Wu’s Cajun Seafood | SouthEnd

Raid the Cellar with Laura Maniec: Piedmont vs. Tuscany
Monday, February 12 | Corkbuzz Restaurant | 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Owner and founder of Corkbuzz joins the SouthPark team for a wine battle featuring two of Italy’s most revered regions: Piedmont and Tuscany. Taste eight feature wines, with paired snacks, and decide which region your group would declare the winner. $90 per person.

Beer & Sweets Pairings

Leading up to Valentine’s Day, grab your girls for a fun beer and sweets tasting at two of Charlotte’s breweries. On February 12, head to Catawba Brewing Company for a Beer & Chocolate Pairing, where you’ll pair a flight of four beers with four different chocolates. Learn why the flavors compliment each other and how each were made. $26 per person.

On February 13, you’ll have another chance to discover how beer and sweets go together. Birdsong will host a Beer and Dessert Pairing featuring their best cold weather brews and sweets from local bakeries. On the menu is four beers, ice cream from Golden Cow Creamery, Central Coffee baklava, a French toast cupcake and an Amelie’s chocolate eclair. $30 per person.

Ladies Night Out: Galentine’s Day
Tuesday, February 13 | Covet Atelier | 5-8 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of shopping and relaxation as Covet Atelier and FROCK Shop join forces to offer cheese and wine, a DIY terrarium making station, essential oil perfume bar, sweets, champagne and chair massages for the ultimate Galentine’s Day. Each shop will also donate 10% of every purchase to Safe Alliance.

Complete the evening with a visit to two Plaza Midwood favorites. Start with cocktails at SOUL Gastrolounge, then head to Bistro La Bon for dinner.

Wellness & Age Management Open House
Thursday, February 15 | H/K/B Plastic Surgery & MedSpa SouthPark | 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Join up with your girlfriends to discover how you can become the most confident, healthy version of yourself this year. See Hunstad Kortesis Bharti’s new center for Wellness and Age Management and learn about their approach to health and aging at their open house. Receive $400 off the health analysis program when you book the day of the event. Plus, cross your fingers to win raffle prizes including 100 units of Botox, a SkinMedica facial peel and more. Register here.

WFAE’s CHOCOLATE Tasting Event
Thursday, February 15 | Charlotte Museum of History | 6-8 p.m.

Indulge in all things cocoa at WFAE’s 2nd annual CHOCOLATE event. The tasting will feature hand-crafted chocolates, desserts and chocolate-inspired items from local bakeries, wine shops, breweries and chocolatiers. Vote with your taste buds to crown “best of” awards. Proceeds benefit WFAE’s local news and Charlotte Talks. $25 – $35.

Opera Carolina Presents: Rigoletto
Thursday, February 15 | Belk Theater | 7:30 p.m.

The weekend after Valentine’s Day, you and your girlfriends can enjoy all of the drama, romance and tragedy of the opera. Opera Carolina’s Rigoletto tells the tale of a court jester who challenges the court facade of pomp and pageantry with deceit, love and even murder. Make a night of it with dinner reservations at Stoke before the performance.

Uptown Crawl
Thursday, February 22 | Uptown Charlotte Galleries | 6-9 p.m.

There’s no better time to discover Uptown’s art galleries. Grab your girlfriend and hob aboard the free trolley to hop from gallery to gallery during this free monthly crawl.

Red Clay Cider & Chocolate Pairing
Saturday, February 24 | Red Clay Ciderworks | 3-5 p.m.

Reserve your spots now for this joint venture between Red Clay Ciderworks and Evolution Through Chocolate. Chocolatier Joseph Vernon will prepare tastings of four small batch handmade chocolates, each paired with craft ciders. Drop by any time between 3-5 p.m. to participate. $18 per person.

Afterwards, check out the dinner crowd at South End’s Zeppelin. The small plates menu, which includes options like butternut squash hummus and fried green tomato caprese, is perfect for sharing!

Winter Warmer Festival
Saturday, February 24 | Lenny Boy Brewing Co. | All day

Grab some brews with your crew at Lenny Boy’s Winter Warmer Festival. They’ll be tapping their last keg of Burn Down For What, a Vanilla Ground Up coffee stout, the last reserved keg of Doppelbock and more. Warm up with s’mores by the fire pit, enjoy live music from Them Crumpton and fill up with the help of multiple food vendors on site.

Fahrenheit/Feed the Children Benefit Dinner 2018
Tuesday, February 27 | Fahrenheit | 6 p.m.

Charlotte’s Feed the Children Benefit Dinner is another opportunity to turn your GNO into a way to give back. This multi-course dinner features Fahrenheit executive chefs Rocco Whalen and David J. Feimster, and guest chefs from Kindred, Bonterra Dining & Wine Room, Heritage Food & Drink and mixologist Bob Peters from The Punch Room. Proceeds benefit Feed the Children’s mission to end childhood hunger in Charlotte. Individual tickets are $150. Table hosting opportunities are available at $2,500 and $5,000.

SAVE THE DATE LADIES

Perfect GNO on March 1st ~ Cocktails and Conversations with the doctors at Graper Cosmetic Surgery. This is your chance to chat with the doctors about current advancements in facial rejuvenation and breast & body procedures to get ready for the summer ahead.  No fee to attend. Reservations are required. Call 704 375 7111 o
Bring a Friend, it’s more Fun!

Cover photo via Corkbuzz Charlotte Facebook page