You waited until the last minute to plan a Galentine’s Day party you promised to host, and now you’re panicking over where to start; whether decor, food or otherwise, we’ve got some easy party ideas. Whether you’re celebrating with a fun girls’ night out or hosting a Galentine’s bash at home, these easy, last-minute Galentine’s Day party ideas will have your girlfriends thinking you planned it all weeks ahead.
Wait, What’s Galentine’s Day? When is Galentine’s Day celebrated?
Galentine’s Day is usually credited to a 2010 episode of the show Parks and Rec, where Amy Poeherr’s character Lesie Knope, declares February 13th as a day to celebrate female friendships. The day can also be celebrated on February 14th, instead of Valentine’s Day. While the show popularized the term itself, Galentine’s Day has been unofficially celebrated by women before that (I have pictures of me and my girlfriends celebrating it years before the show came out) in one form or another.
There’s also Palentine’s Day – a day to celebrate platonic friendships no matter the gender – and Malentine’s Day to celebrate male friendships on February 13th or 14th.
No matter if you’re celebrating Galentine’s, Palentine’s or Malentine’s Day to mark your friendships or because you’re single, below are some simple and easy party planning ideas that don’t require lots of time, effort or money.
1. The Classic Brunch (Mimosas Fix Everything)
Since Galentine’s Day brunch originated with Leslie Knope and Parks and Rec, why not pay homage to the OG Galentine’s Day idea, with your own take? Making a brunch reservation would be the easiest way to get your hands on some delicious food and mimosas. No time to make reservations or there’s no reservations left?
Host a DIY Galentine’s Day brunch at home:
Make a DIY mimosa bar. All you need is chilled pulp-free orange juice and champagne (or any white, sparkling wine) for the original mimosa recipe. You can add cranberry, peach juice and raspberry fruit to the mix if you’re feelin’ fancy. You can just serve the chilled champagne and raspberries for extra minimalism – or lack of time!
Serve plain waffles or pancakes with fun toppings on the side that guests can add themselves. Nutella, fruit, jam, blueberry coulis, maple syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles. The flavor combos are endless.
Make a very simple but filling, brunch charcuterie board.
You can make one, two or all three of the brunch recipes. Really short on time? Store-bought pastries like plain or chocolate croissants and a pot of coffee or espressos work just as well.
2. A Cozy Movie Night (PJs Required)
Sometimes the best girls’ night out idea is staying in! Pick a few rom-com classics (think Legally Blonde, 13 Going on 30, Clueless, or Bridesmaids), throw on your coziest PJs, and make it an all-snacks, relaxed kind of night.
You can include:
A popcorn bar with different seasonings like dried dill and salt and vinegar.
Mimosas, champagne, red wine or mocktails for peak relaxation.
Bring out board games like Cards Against Humanity, We’re Not Really Strangers, or others for a little friendly competition.
Bonus points if you do a Parks and Rec “Treat Yo’ Self” binge watch marathon.
3. Last-Minute Galentine’s Day DIY Spa Night
Instead of making things complicated, minimize down and host a Galentine’s Day Spa night. Ask your girlfriends to bring their favorite self-care and skincare products for everyone to share.
A few easy Galentine’s Day DIY spa recipes for self-care:
DIY sugar body scrubs. Mix granulated sugar with coconut or olive oil plus essential oils of your choice. The most commonly added essential oils are lavender, rosemary and orange.
Cucumber eye masks. Cucumber slices can help with puffiness and dark circles around the eyes because they contain high levels of vitamin K.
Hand and foot soaks. Here’s a simple DIY hand and foot soak recipe: A basin full of warm water + 1/2 cup Epsom salt + a few drops of lavender oil. You can add milk for added softness.
Hydrating sheet face masks to relieve your skin from the dry winter air.
4. A DIY Wine & Paint Night
No art skills required for this DIY Galentine’s Wine and Paint night! Grab some cheap canvases (check out the closest dollar store), brushes and acrylic paints, and let creativity and fun begin.
What to paint? Try painting each other’s portraits in street caricature style, recreate an iconic Parks and Rec moment – think Katherine Hahn’s Poncho! moment, or Jean Ralphio’s She’s the wooorst – or pull up a simple art tutorial on YouTube as inspiration. Add some mimosas or wine to the mix, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a memorable night.
5. ‘Steal the Gift’ Galentine’s Edition
Think of Steal the Gift as a more fast moving, White Elephant’s chaotic cousin.
How Steal the Gift works:
- Everyone brings a small, cute gift. Think candles, fuzzy socks, mugs, face masks for the DIY spa night above; Nothing too expensive.
- Place all the gifts in the center of the room.
- Taking turns, each person rolls a single die and chooses a gift or steals a gift from someone if they roll a 6.
- If your gift gets stolen, you roll the die again; if you get a 6, you can steal it right back or take someone else’s.
- The game keeps going until everyone has a gift.
Why it’s fun:
The roll of the dice keeps things unpredictable and fast moving.
It’s low effort; no fussy decor, food, or pricy gifts, just grab something if the die turns 6.
Tip: Sweeten the pot by adding a “Golden Ticket” rule: One gift should contain a raffle ticket or a small note inside it. The person who opens this gift can use the Golden Ticket to steal any gift at the very end of the game even if it’s been stolen before. To avoid sour grapes and potentially someone going home empty handed you can alter the Golden Ticket rule and make it a gift exchange if both parties agree to gift swap 
6. Host a Galentine’s Day Bingo Night
Create an easy Galentine’s Day Bingo game to bring out some fun competition to the party. Printable bingo cards: you can print off the Galentine’s Day Bingo card below, or you can search for more free templates online. Or, create your own with the Bingo card generator here and personalize them with friendship-themed phrases like:
The first person to get bingo wins a small prize, like a cute mug or a scented candle. It’s low-effort, interactive, and requires minimal skill to set up.
What’s the Significance of Galentine’s Day? Friendship Over Everything
The meaning of Galentine’s Day is about celebrating the women in your life; your sisters, girlfriends, mothers and even your MILs. Whether that means sipping mimosas, watching rom-coms, or getting together for brunch, it’s about cherishing the friendships and relationships you have with them.
So, whether you’re going all out or keeping it simple, make sure you’re surrounded by the best company. That’s what Galentine’s Day is all about. 
Bonus Galentine’s Day food and décor ideas:
Easy, Last Minute, Galentine’s Day Snack Recipes
No Galentine’s Day party is complete without some food. Here are some easy Galentine’s Day snack recipes that require minimal effort:
Charcuterie Board: Grab some hard cheeses, crackers, dry fruit or dry food spread (love me some fig jam with cheese and crackers), cured meats like prosciutto and salami – you can substitute meat and cheese with their vegetarian or vegan versions too. Serve everything on a wooden board or large plate(s) and you’re good to go.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries: Melt semi-sweet chocolate, dip strawberries in the mixture and place them on a baking pan lined with stick-free parchment paper. Place the chocolate covered strawberries inside the fridge to let them set. You can drizzle them with melted white chocolate, sprinkle pink sea salt on them, or anything else you desire.
Heart-Shaped Pizzas: Use store-bought pizza dough or ready made pitas, cut them into hearts, add toppings like tomato paste, basil, cheese, pepperoni, set the creations in the oven and bake for the allotted time.
Themed Cocktails or Mocktails: Think pink or red drinks: mimosas made with orange and cranberry juice, strawberry daiquiris, rosé spritzers, or spiked berry lemonades.
DIY Cupcake Decorating: Buy plain cupcakes and let everyone decorate their own with frosting, sprinkles, mini candy and edible glitter.
Easy, Last Minute, Galentine’s Day Decor Ideas
You don’t need to break the bank or spend hours decorating to create a festive Galentine’s Day vibe. Here are some easy and fun ideas to set the scene:
Balloon Bouquets: Pick up some heart-shaped pink and red balloons from a party or dollar store. Arrange them in a corner, or tie them to chairs around your party space for a pop of color. Bonus points for adding a couple of gold and silver ones for an extra dazzle.
DIY Flower Centerpieces: Grab some inexpensive mason jars or vases, fill them with fresh flowers like roses, carnations, or tulips (or faux flowers if you’ve got some), and place them around the party area.
Flame Free Candles or Mini Lanterns: Set the mood with flameless LED candles or LED lanterns. Whether it’s a stream of tea lights or decorative centerpiece mini lanterns, their soft, yellow-orange glow will bring a cozy vibe to your Galentine’s Day party.
DIY Paper Hearts: Buy construction paper in pink, red, and white colors. Cut out simple heart shapes and tape them to the walls and windows with non-stick material. You can also take the hearts and glue them onto a ribbon or string for a heart shaped streamer. It’s an easy way to bring a Galentine’s Day vibe without spending a lot on decor.
String Lights: If you have string lights for the holidays, you can repurpose them for Galentine’s Day too. Drape them around the room, across a table, or even around your doorway to add a soft, cozy glow.
Cupcake Liners as Decor: Take red, pink and white cupcake liners and flatten them out. Tape them to the wall or around the party area to create little decorative “flowers.” You can also create DIY garlands out of the cupcake liners by stringing them together with twine and a glue gun. It’s a simple idea that adds a fun element to your decor.
