Got Valentine’s Day plans? Here are 14 unique ways to celebrate around Kansas City
Valentine’s Day can mean more than flowers, a box of chocolates and a romantic dinner at an expensive restaurant.
By now, most adults in the Kansas City area are familiar with the Valentine’s tradition of lovers showing their commitment to each other by attaching a padlock to the Old Red Bridge in Minor Park.
The bridge is always open, but the area will be lighted 5-10 p.m. on Valentine’s Day weekend (Feb. 14-15) for an extra romantic experience.
Couples also will have plenty of Valentine’s Day concerts to choose among, ranging from Jimmy Webb at Knuckleheads and Dustin Lynch at the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland to King Princess at The Truman and Iration at the Granada.
Laughter is another favorite of some lovers, and two big names in comedy will perform in town over Valentine’s weekend: Damon Wayans at the Kansas City Improv and Rodney Carrington at the Ameristar.
But if you’re looking for something unique to do for Valentine’s Day, we’ve selected 14 (some in advance, others on the big day itself or that weekend), ranging from free to fairly extravagant.
Galen-tines Weekend Chocolate Fountain
4-8 p.m. Feb. 7 and noon-6 p.m. Feb. 8 at KC Wine Co.
Drink purchases will come with a complimentary chocolate fountain. kcwineco.com. Free.
Valentine’s Lovestravaganza Comedy Show
7 p.m. Feb. 8 at Buffalo Room
Some of Kansas City’s best improvisers and sketch comedians will celebrate the holiday, headlined by the cast of That’s No Movie performing “That’s No Notebook: An Improvised Nicholas Sparks Movie.” eventbrite.com/event/89683292141. $12.
“Love Story”
1 p.m. Feb. 9 and 7 p.m. Feb. 12, multiple theaters
The TCM Big Screen Classics series will celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the sappiest but most romantic movies of all time. fathomevents.com. $12.50-$13.68.
Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, “Enchanted Strings”
7:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at Folly Theater
The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra Valentine’s concert will feature a program of heartwarming works for string orchestra. An optional Champagne Chocolate Celebration event will follow. kcchamberorchestra.org. $17-$35; Champagne Chocolate Celebration $25-$45.
Love and War: Date Night at the Museum
6:30 p.m. Feb. 13 at National WWI Museum and Memorial
Museum staff members will share stories of love and war in a 60-minute program. theworldwar.org. $5.
True Lions
7 p.m. Feb. 14 at Lenexa City Hall, Community Forum
True Lions, a local multi-instrumentalist femme band, will perform songs that are full of hooks, harmonies and other sonic surprises. lenexa.com. Free.
Brian Torosian
7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Country Club Christian Church
Why not spend Valentine’s Day evening in a church? The Kansas City Guitar Society will present Brian Torosian, who is a soloist and chamber musician best known for his work relating to 19th-century guitarist and composer J. K. Mertz. kansascityguitarsociety.org. $15-$20
Kansas City Ballet, “Swan Lake”
Opens 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 at Muriel Kauffman Theatre
Ballet on Valentine’s Day? What could be more romantic? Runs through Feb. 23. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. kcballet.org. $34-$134.
Casi Joy Concert
8 p.m. Feb. 14 at Paradise Playhouse Banquet Hall
Your Excelsior Springs experience will include drinks and music by country/pop singer Casi Joy, who garnered national attention on NBC’s “The Voice” in 2017. paradiseplayhousebanquethall.com. $29.50-$38.50.
Fool’s Gold Country Revue
8 p.m. Feb. 14-15 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at MTH Theater at Crown Center
This new show will feature some of the best honky-tonk musicians in town, including guitarist Beau Bledsoe, as well as hillbilly comic songs. musicaltheaterheritage.com/fools-gold. $25-$30.
Quixotic, “Sensatia, Cirque Cabaret”
8:30 p.m. Feb. 14-15 at Quixotic Theater
These will be the last two chances to see the cirque-style cabaret show by Quixotic, the Kansas City-based performance art collective. It opened Oct. 4 and was scheduled to run through November but has been so popular the run was extended. Crown Center. sensatiakc.com. $35-$80.
Cupid’s Undie Run
Noon-4 p.m. Feb. 15 at McFadden’s Sports Saloon
Participants will run briefly (about a mile) and party in their undies for a good cause — finding a cure for neurofibromatosis, a genetic tumor disorder. Kansas City Live! my.cupids.org/cur/city/kansascity. $40.
Tyrese
8 p.m. Feb. 15 at Sprint Center
Joe, Ginuwine, Avant and Brownstone will join Tyrese for a Valentine’s Love Jam. sprintcenter.com. $58-$98.
Valentine’s Weekend with Leslie Odom Jr.
8 p.m. Feb. 15 and 7 p.m. Feb. 16 at Helzberg Hall.
The Kansas City Symphony will join Leslie Odom Jr., who won a Tony Award for his role in “Hamilton,” for jazz standards and Broadway favorites. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. kcsymphony.org. $45-$125.
