Do you need some ideas for Valentine’s Day in Columbia, SC this year? How will you celebrate with the kids? What about a date night, or a friend’s night out? Whether you’re celebrating love for your family, your friendships, or romantic love for your spouse or significant other, there are so many ways to celebrate the holiday. And of course, at Kidding Around, we have some great ideas!
So, without further comment, here is our guide to celebrating Valentine’s Day in Columbia, SC for everyone!
Watch! Our Family Celebration Valentine’s Ideas
We joined Fox Carolina, Access Carolina to talk about Valentine’s ideas for celebrating with the whole family.
Valentine’s Day: The Date Night
It’s the classic Valentine’s Day thing, right? Plan that romantic date, or epic couple’s adventure. Go out for dinner, or have a picnic. So many options.
Let’s kick things off with some of Columbia’s most unique date ideas.
No ‘Cliche’ Dates Here.
If you’re looking for fresh ideas and something different for a Valentine’s date this year, or even if you just want to go out for Galentine’s, the ideas in our list of Unique Dates in Columbia should get that creativity flowing. We have everything from axe throwing to a secret dessert spot!
It doesn’t have to be fancy.
Pizza for a date night? I mean, why not? Keep it simple. No planning required. It’s a great idea . . . unless your spouse wants to get anchovies and garlic on top. We can’t help you there.
Valentine’s Date Ideas from our readers: Reader Katie W. suggests grabbing something to eat and then going for a walk at Sesquicentennial State Park. She suggested Village of India, across from Sesqui, or Le Bambou Restaurant Africain on Two Notch Road.
Thinking of something more romantic?
Try one of these romantic date night restaurants in Columbia, SC.
It’s the classic date night, and that seems to be especially so for Valentine’s Day date nights. Find the perfect romantic date night restaurant and enjoy a meal together.
Valentine’s Day: On a Budget
The budget is stretched a little thin right now. So, how do we celebrate Valentine’s Day when those fun date night ideas are just too expensive?
Free Date Ideas
- Head out for a hike: There are plenty of hiking trails in Columbia and many have totally free admission.
- Visit Soda City Market and window shop the handmade items at Columbia’s most popular Farmer’s Market.
- A date at the zoo? Why not? And, zoo admission to the Riverbanks Zoo is free for residents of Lexington and Richland Counties on Fridays in January and February 2026.
- Try some “window shopping” at the Meeting Street Artisan Market every Saturday in West Columbia.
- Bonus: The first Sunday of each month, from 12 – 5 pm, the SC State Museum has $1 admission. It’s not free, but for $1, it’s pretty close.
If you want to go out with the kids, you’ll find more than 25 totally free ideas in our list of Free Things to Do in Columbia. These are really, actually, fun things to do, too.
Budget-Friendly, Low-Cost Date Ideas
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Who doesn’t love coffee?
Sure it’s not an elaborate romantic dinner, but a quiet hour at a coffee shop with a great cup of coffee and a pastry on the side is Valentine’s date gold. Why? It’s budget-friendly, and you can have some time to reconnect with your significant other. Talk. Maybe get a refill on that coffee and then play a game, bring a deck of cards, or if you forget try a phone app game.
My husband and I enjoy playing Shobu, a simple strategy game that’s easy to learn but really hard to master. If we forget to bring the board game, we just pull it up on the phone and play that way.
Another idea: take your coffee for a walk. Pick up your caffeinated beverage to-go and head to Columbia’s Riverwalks for a date-day stroll.
Valentine’s Childcare
Check out our list of Parent’s Night Out (also called Kids Night Out) programs that you can use for childcare when you celebrate Valentine’s Day. Our list has old favorites and several events special for Valentine’s Day!
Valentine’s Day for the Family
Twin Farms Mobile Petting Zoo Show your love for your loved ones with a Valentine’s Day Animal Gram. They will have a baby goat and/or cow deliver a box of chocolates to your special one.
Valentine’s Day Animal Grams
Chick-Fil-A: West Columbia This Valentine’s Day is sure to be one to remember with a special delivery from the Chick-fil-A cow himself. Deliveries can be made within the West Columbia catering radius. Spots are first come, first service and available for February 11th, 12th, and 13th. Two different packages are available. Fill out the form here to claim your spot.
Chick-fil-A Cow Gram
2026 Valentine’s Day Family Events in Columbia, SC
Celebrate with your kids and your family at these Valentine’s Day events. You can get a little crafty for Valentine’s Day, learn something new, or get dressed up and head out for a fun evening together. There are some really fun things to do happening for Valentine’s Day!
Just click on each event for more information!
We’ll be adding to this over the next month. Check back soon for more!
Join AR Workshop in Lexington for a family-friendly Valentine’s Day DIY! Their craft instructors will guide you through creating projects that you can display for years to come.
This is a 2-hour DIY experience starting a $40/project. For this specialty workshop, two people can work on one combined project, but groups of three or more will need to plan to purchase and complete more than one project.
Time:
10am-12pm
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Location:
AR Workshop Lexington
602 East Main Street, Suite F
Lexington, SC 29072
For more information and to register, visit the AR Workshop event page.
Bring your girls for a Galentine’s celebration with two surprise princess guests, makeovers, friendship bracelets, and more fun.
- $27 + tax per child (ages 6 months – 17 years)
- Accompanying siblings under 6 months old get in FREE
- Accompanying adults get in FREE
- Siblings who just want to play & not participate cost $13
Find more details and register on the Facebook event page.
Thursday & Friday, February 5–6, 2026 | 6–9 PM
A Wizard of Oz–themed Daddy-Daughter Dance invites families to enjoy a magical evening “Over the Rainbow” with music, dancing, and memory-making. Registration is now open.
Registration now open!
February 5–6, 2026 | 6–9 PM
A Wizard of Oz–themed Daddy-Daughter Dance invites families for music, dancing, and magical memories. Registration opens December 15.
Registration is now open!
Come celebrate Valentine’s Day surrounded by farm animals! Ages 12 and under. This event includes hands-on time with our animals, a Valentine craft, story time and a kissing booth photo op!
We will host this event on February 7th from 10:00-11:00 am. Registration is $20 per child and is reserved up front in advance through a Square invoice. The Square invoice is due upon receipt. Invoices that are unpaid a week after 48 hours will be cancelled to allow other clients to register for the event. Payment for this event is non-refundable. If we have bad weather on the scheduled event date, we will offer a make-up date for that event. If clients cannot attend the make-up date offered, we will refund that event. Refunds are not offered for any other reason. If a child is unable to attend an event that they have registered for, there is no refund or make-up option.
Our farm includes horses, a mini horse, a mini mule, a pony a mini cow, goats, sheep, a pig, chickens, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, guineafowl, an emu, a rhea, bunnies, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, an alpaca, a llama, cats, and a dog!
Address: 210 Railroad Ave Lexington, SC 29072
Please call/text Brittany Matthews, Farm Owner, with any questions!
Join Mrs. Amy Reeder at Artistic Aspirations for a special Valentine Art Class designed for ages 5 and up. Pay $25 and enjoy an afternoon of art, snacks, and fun.
Time:
1-2:30pm
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Location:
Artistic Aspirations
7336 Woodrow Street
Irmo, SC 29063
Visit the Artistic Aspirations website for details and to register.
Saturday, February 7, 2026
2:00–4:00 PM (may extend to 4:30)
$70 per person
Learn royal icing techniques including flooding, piping, flowers, stenciling, and wet-on-wet designs. No experience required. All tools and supplies included.
Ages 12+ (teens and adults)
Private message to register.
Limited seating available.
Join in on the fun of a Valentine themed bingo game at the Chick-fil-A Ballentine on February 9th from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm.
Celebrate Valentine’s Week with a little creativity! Join us for a fun, hands on craft session where you’ll design your own heartfelt Valentine or create unique gifts to share with loved ones. No crafting experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. School age children (6-12 years) View Event
Create Valentines for your loved ones while learning to fold a geometric, origami heart. View Event
Latch hooking is a simple technique using yarn and knots to create beautiful patterns. Learn to latch hook as you create your very own heart patterns – a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day! View Event
Celebrate Valentine’s Week with a little creativity! Join us for a fun, hands on craft session where you’ll design your own heartfelt Valentine or create unique gifts to share with loved ones. No crafting experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. School age children (6-12 years) View Event
Celebrate Valentine’s Week with a little creativity! Join us for a fun, hands on craft session where you’ll design your own heartfelt Valentine or create unique gifts to share with loved ones. No crafting experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. School age children (6-12 years) View Event
Celebrate Valentine’s Week with a little creativity! Join us for a fun, hands on craft session where you’ll design your own heartfelt Valentine or create unique gifts to share with loved ones. No crafting experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. School age children (6-12 years) View Event
Celebrate Valentine’s Week with a little creativity! Join us for a fun, hands on craft session where you’ll design your own heartfelt Valentine or create unique gifts to share with loved ones. No crafting experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. School age children (6-12 years) View Event
Enjoy a story with Gram Cindy at Chick-fil-A, a very special Valentine’s edition!
Spend Valentine’s Day morning celebrating the final weekend of Keith Haring: Radiant Vision! Enjoy free art-making, a gallery scavenger hunt, a special 11 a.m. tour, partner sketching, and DIY Valentine cards — perfect for fun-loving families.
Free art activities; galleries free with admission or membership.
On Boyd Plaza during Soda City Market (indoors if it rains).
Accessibility assistance available.
Enjoy a night out, just mom and son, at Chick-fil-A. Reservations required!
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