Finding romance on Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to empty your pocket book. Showing how you care about someone else can be done inexpensively and creatively. The Twin Cities has numerous venues and events that can help get create a romantic adventure without couples having to dish out top dollar. Below is your guide to 10 free and cheap things to do this Valentine’s Day weekend in the Twin Cities area.
- If you are ready to share that perfect poem with your loved one, the Victorian Poetry Slam at the James J. Hill House would be the perfect venue, $12 person $10 MNHS members, Listening to romantic poems while experiencing the beautiful and elegant James J. Hill mansion on Summit Avenue. Audience members are encouraged to share their own poems. February 14, 7-8 p.m., register online.
- Looking for something unusual, join Minnesota iron artists for the Valentine’s Day Hot Metal Pour on February 17, noon – 5 p.m., FREE, at the Franconia Sculpture Garden. The event is an invigorating mix of fire and ice. Guests can watch the festivities or take part by creating your own molten iron sculpture. Mold prices are extra, see the web site for complete details and FREE workshop offerings in January and February.
- Enjoy the outdoor winter wonderland with a Valentine’s Day Snowshoe Event at Theodore Wirth Regional Park in Minneapolis, $15/person, snowshoes provided. Travel by sunset or moonlight through the park to areas seldom visited in winter. End by warming at the fire with homemade hot chocolate. February 14, 6 – 7:30 p.m. or 8 – 9:30 p.m. Register online by clicking here. Or head to Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington for its Candlelight and Chocolate Snowshoe event, $16/person, snowshoes provided. Snowshoe through luminary-lit woods, savor a variety of chocolates while enjoying live acoustic music. Warm drinks included. February 10, 6 – 9 p.m. Reservations required online.
- Take in some beautiful scenery to set the mood by watching the sun set from the Guthrie Theater observation deck or hiking to see the frozen Minnehaha Falls both FREE.
- For something erotic, don’t miss Poetry SlamMN!’s Erotica Tournament, February 14, 15 & 16th, at Kieran’s Irish Pub (14th and 16th) and Strike Theater (15th) in Minneapolis, General admission tickets only $10/person ($11.34 with service fee), it is recommended guests purchase tickets online in advance. The Poetry SlamMN was born over 20 years ago and has grown into a very popular 3 day event. Poets will compete in preliminary bouts on Wednesday and Thursday evenings and the top poets from each bout will advance to the finals for the last night on Friday.
- Looking to share that perfect slider, White Castle restaurants are accepting reservations for its annual Valentine’s Day dinner on February 14 from 4-9 p.m. White Castle will provide table service with a noteworthy menu that includes iconic sliders, shrimp nibbles and strawberry and cream waffles. Reservations are required and seating is limited. For the first time reservations will be taken online in connection with Open Table. Click here to make your reservation.
- Tour the Institute of Hearts at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts on February 14th, FREE and open to the public. All museum visitors will be offered a paper heart valentine to place in front of their favorite masterpiece. Open at 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Enjoy a classic winter activity and go ice skating at one of the many Twin Cities rink locations, including The Depot in Minneapolis, Augsburg College Ice Arena, the Bloomington Ice Garden, the Burnsville Ice Center and some of the other city and county rink locations. The City of St. Paul is home to 14 rinks. The city of Minneapolis has 47 outdoor rinks. Look up your city online to see what rinks are closest to you.
- Take in some laughs by attending Couple Fight: Best Of, at the Bryant Lake Bowl in Minneapolis on February 12 or 14. General Admission tickets online ate $19.62 online, $18 at the door and $15 with a Fringe button.
