If you don't want to stay in for Valentine's Day but you're not flushed with cash, you're in luck: Below, we've rounded up all the great V-Day events that won't cost more than $15, starting the weekend before and continuing to the weekend after, since the holiday falls on a Thursday this year. Below, you'll find all your no-pressure options for things to do with your date (like Love in the Market), things to do if you're single (like Dancing On My Own), things to do with your friends (like Galentines: A Ladybar Pop Up), and everything in between. For even more options, see our complete Valentine's Day calendar.

FEBRUARY 8

SHOPPING

Back Bar Flea Market: Stupid Cupid
Looking for a Valentine's Day gift for your partner, yourself, or your best friend? Shop local art, handmade goods, and vintage offerings while you eat pizza, watch music videos, and sip drinks.
(Belltown, free)

FEBRUARY 9

ART

Crafternoon
Make cute crafts for all your valentines, or drink a beer and relax while your kids cut out heart shapes.
(Magnolia, free)

COMEDY

Mystery Seattle Theater: Valentine's Edition
Local comedians Amani Taylor, Greg Beachler, Laura Lyons, Alexander Needles, and Jesse Burt will live-mock a terrible rom-com.
(Greenwood, $10/$14)

FOOD & DRINK

Free Valentine Making
Grab something sweet from Cupcake Royale and make someone a valentine out of free provided materials (like construction paper, crayons, doilies, glue sticks, glitter glue, markers, and more).
(Various locations, free)

MUSIC

Band It Seattle Valentine's Love Show
Hear covers of songs about love by Neil Young, Pat Benatar, and Joy Division jams by three different tribute bands.
(Downtown, $8/$10)

Bootie Seattle: Pre-Valentine’s Party!
Wear red to this special V-Day edition of the mashup dance party Bootie Seattle, wherein resident DJs Freddy, King of Pants, and Skiddle blend two or more songs into new pop creations. 
(Downtown, $10)

The Pleasurrection Tour
Queer performer John Paul Sharp will perform songs about "love, relationships, and living your best life" from their new album, Pleasurrection.
(Ballard, $15)

READINGS & TALKS

Peg Edera
Portland poet Peg Edera will visit Seattle with a new book of poems, Love Is Deeper Than Distance: Poems of love, death, a little sex, ALS, dementia and the widow’s life thereafter.
(Capitol Hill, free)

FEBRUARY 10

WEED

WEED Be Sweet Together
The Colored Cannabis Collective and Queers of Cannabis invite you to mix and mingle with fellow stoners in a round of speed dating while a live DJ spins tunes and Justin Hale plays smooth songs off his new EP, Rain City. There will also be raffles, cocktails, and snacks.
(Chinatown-International District, $12/$15)

FEBRUARY 12

ANIMALS/PETS

Snugglefest
Your dog can be your valentine at this party for canine enthusiasts and their furry family members. This event promises treats, a photo booth, dog product giveaways, a dog-treat cooking demo with Chef Kiki of Kiki’s Canine Kitchen, and more.
(Downtown, free)

PERFORMANCE

Cabaret of Evil: Fundraiser for SWOP
Help raise money for the Sex Workers Outreach Project by joining Super Villainess Morgue Anne and her cabaret of "mischievous miscreants" for a special Valentine's Day show. 
(Ballard, pay what you can)

FEBRUARY 13

COMMUNITY

Valentines for Housing Affordability
Join the Capitol Hill Renter Initiative and Capitol Hill Community Council to learn about Mandatory Housing Affordability, an inclusionary zoning policy that aims to create more affordable and market-rate homes in Seattle's urban villages. Then, break into groups and write "Valentine's Day cards" (a public testimony with some hearts on it) to city councilmembers.
(Capitol Hill, free)

FOOD & DRINK

Galentines: A Ladybar Pop Up
Make it a breakfasty, boozy, Leslie Knope-approved Valentine's Day with your best gals at this Ladybar pop-up.
(Capitol Hill, free)

MUSIC

Broken Hearts' Ball 2019 with the E-Neptunes, Tigers in the Tank, the Hard Rocks, Guests
Feel all your Valentine's Day feelings at this Broken Hearts' Ball with rock music of all types from the E-Neptunes, Tigers in the Tank, the Hard Rocks, and additional guests.
(Fremont, $6/$8)

Monster Planet 9.WDE ~ Worst Date Ever
Join SYNPROV CORP, a Seattle-based collective of producers, musicians, sound designers, visual artists, and "B-movie enthusiasts," as they perform an improvised ambient/experimental/drone soundtrack to a mix of B movies provided by Scarecrow Video. In honor of Valentine's Day, the theme this time is "Worst Date Ever."
(Downtown)

Opera on Tap
If you're single, or just bitter, take in some live opera drawn from dark love stories.
(Queen Anne, $5–$15)

PERFORMANCE

Emmaline's Swamp Magic Valentine's Day Eve Extravaganza and Ensorcellment
"Swamp circus star" Emmaline will lead a "lighthearted discussion on love" and help you find it by casting ensorcellments.
(Belltown, $10)

FEBRUARY 14

ANIMALS/PETS

Puppy Love
Treat your pup to a night out, with a free Valentine bandanna for your canine friend and a special chocolate cherry coconut ale (on tap for one night only) for you.
(University District, free)

COMEDY

First Date w/ Graham Downing
Jet City Emeritus improviser Graham Downing will go on a genuine Valentine's Day date with a brave (and lucky) soul, and a team of improvisers will respond.
(Greenwood, $10/$14)

Laugh Your Heart Out
Claire Webber is the co-host of the kinky comedy show Safeword and has brought her wit to many comedy venues around town. In her own words: "Her comedy is what happens if you pour the vocal fry and cadence of an NPR podcaster into the personality of a chihuahua raised by sensual wolves." She'll appear along with Bo Johnson, Robert Moore, and Emmett Montgomery. Grab some snacks from Oaky's Tex Mex and enjoy a snarky Valentine's.
(Queen Anne, $10/$15)

Passionate Laughmaking
Take your sweetie out for some free laughs thanks to Chelsea Tolle, Cass Redstone, Mike Parker, Duante Barnett, Bernice Ye, Kyle Stevens, Kimi Rutledge, Catherine Ceresa, Joe Kerley, and Sushil Ganesh. Hosted by David York.
(Columbia City, free)

Your Funny Valentine
Take some of the pressure off the holiday by hearing funny sets from stand-up comics. Cycle Dogs will be on site selling their vegan noshes.
(Ballard, $10)

COMMUNITY

Feed The Hungry! *V-Day Edition*
Spend Valentine's Day handing out organic sack lunches to homeless people in downtown Seattle. You can show up empty handed and pass out what's already there, or you can make your own lunches to hand out (so long as you label them "vegan" or "regular") and/or gently used cold-weather gear like gloves, hats, scarves, and socks.
(Downtown, free)

FILM

Dick and Jane Drop Acid and Die
What's more romantic than taking your honey to this self-explanatorily titled 1991 movie about psychedelia and early mortality? Absolutely nothing. Also enjoy a "secret short" from VHS Über Alles.
(University District, $2)

FOOD & DRINK

Valentine's Day For All
Spend Valentine's Day enjoying food and drink specials with whomever you choose (even it's just yourself). This event promises a beer flight, a four-piece dessert, champagne, a selection of "fancy" chocolate bars for sale, and complimentary rosé "for all single women." They'll also be pouring a special Brut IPA.
(Lake City, free)

GEEK & GAMING

Cards Against Cupid: An Anti-Valentine's Day Game Night
This party is anti-traditional Valentine's Day (e.g. displays of love via heart-shaped chocolates and red roses) but not anti-romance. Play a themed round of Cards Against Humanity (the "party game for horrible people") with fellow cynics, or play the Mailbox Game, where you can write notes to other guests you find cute.
(Capitol Hill, free)

Valentine's Day Cards Against Humanity
Here's another chance to get to the real heart of Valentine's Day by playing a round of Cards Against Humanity. Bring your own set.
(Ballard, free)

MUSIC

Art of Jazz: Kendra Shank with John Stowell
New York-based vocalist Kendra Shank and guitarist John Stowell will woo you with their jazzy serenades at this Valentine's Day concert in partnership with KNKX.
(Downtown, free)

Bleeding Heart Militia: Love is Respect Benefit Show
Seattle sad synth-punks Dark Smith will headline this show in support of Love is Respect, an organization that provides education, advocacy, and resources to people suffering from abuse and trauma. Local pop-punks Happy Heartbreak and acoustic rocker Lonnie Baldwin will also share the bill. 
(Ballard, $10+)

Dancing on My Own
At this rambunctious dance party in honor of this love-filled (or stiletto- and broken-bottles-filled) holiday, dance on your own or with your friends and lovers as resident Barboza DJs play the best tracks from Swedish pop star Robyn's 2018 album Honey, as well as her classic hits like "Call Your Girlfriend," "With Every Heart Beat," "Hang with Me," and the titular smash "Dancing on My Own."
(Capitol Hill, $5)

Emo Night LA: Emo Nite Seattle
Bring back the early-mid 2000's with your deep passion for gauged ears, flat-ironed hair, and Pete Wentz's smirk. Emo Nite, presented by Emo Night LA, is the new sensation of reliving your MySpace glory in the form of a high-energy, passionately emo DJ night.
(Capitol Hill, $15)

Galentine's Day
Pop/R&B singer-songwriter Susan G will soundtrack a night on the town with your galentines, along with Beth Whitney, Amanda Winterhalter, and Caitlin Sherman.
(Belltown, $12)

Kyle Summers
Local classical guitarist Kyle Summers will serenade you with pieces by baroque, classical, and contemporary Latin and jazz composers. 
(Downtown, free)

Sige Records: "Experimental Love"
Artists with SIGE Records will experiment and improvise with drone sounds, abstracted songs, and "electroacoustic composition."
(Wallingford, $5-$15)

Sundae Crush Pop Up Shop
Local dream-pop sweethearts Sundae Crush will be selling cards, gift bags, shirts, stickers, paper flowers, and more merch on Valentine's Day. You can also get your portrait drawn by one of the members.
(Seattle Center, free)

Take A Little Pizza My Heart Valentine's Day Jubilee Dance Party!
Raise money for the Jubilee Women's Center by drinking special cocktails by Ladybar, dancing to beats by DJ Meaty Okra and Kate Wallich, and eating pizza.
(Capitol Hill, $5-$10)

That Irish Guy
Whether or not you have a mop of red hair atop your head, this show with That Irish Guy should provide some fiery Valentine's Day fun.
(Georgetown, free)

Valentine's Day at the Blue Moon
Enjoy an evening of "low-schmaltz good vibes" and romantic music with "the Michael Bublé of Seattle," the Velveteen Lotharios, country duo Spank Williams, Nomi, and Mike Votava.
(University District, $5-$10)

Valentine's Day Habitat with Worthy [KW 5 YR]
At this twofer bash, celebrate Valentine's Day and Kremwerk's fifth anniversary on the same night with bass-driven tech and house cuts from original members of the Dirtybird Crew and the head of Anabatic Records. 
(Downtown, $10)

Valentine's Day with Lemolo, OK Sweetheart, Sophia Duccini
Sweetly meditative Lemolo—chosen as one of the "Top Bands Rocking Seattle" by Seattle magazine, voted “Best Seattle Band” by City Arts, and named one of Google Play’s “Best Unsigned Artists of the Year”—will return to play their dreamy lullabies that are perfect for setting a softly romantic scene for your Valentine's Day celebration. They'll be joined by the equally sugary and smoky tunes of indie pop quartet OK Sweetheart and local alt-folk-pop chanteuse Sophia Duccini.
(Capitol Hill, $13)

Valentine's Evening
Bring your friends and lovers to an evening of Latin music with Seattle's Correo Aereo. There will be special mezcals and tequilas and food specials for the occasion.
(West Seattle, free)

PARTIES

Come As You Are
Going out on Valentine's Day doesn't necessarily mean being accosted by heart-shaped confetti or by couples throwing roses at each other. This anti-V-Day party invites you to celebrate "everyday love" by dancing the night away to a set from DJ Top Spin and enjoying a special menu and drinks from Chef Jason Stratton.
(South Lake Union, free)

Gucci Goth Night Valentine's Day
Channel your goth glam side at Linda's dance party with jams from Coffin Birth and Rat Trap.
(Capitol Hill, free)

Heartbreak Hotel
The organizers say, "Whether you're heartbroken or breaking hearts, there's always vacancy for lovers at the Heartbreak Hotel." Enjoy live music from local soul artist Caety Sagoian, sip drink specials, and flirt with people. 
(Downtown, free)

Love on the Rocks
Whether you're single or with a date, hear songs about "love, life, and heartbreak" with "Cupid" and sip drink specials.
(Belltown, free)

Make the First Move Valentine's Day Party!
Join Bumble in real life for a night of flirting, games, and drinks. 
(Bellevue, free)

The Offline Movement Launch Party
The Offline Movement invites you, a date-seeker, to trade in your various apps for a black-and-white wristband that indicates your availability. The project, whose goal is to encourage people to connect "in real life, organically," will celebrate its launch on Valentine's Day with an evening of mingling and cocktails.
(Bellevue, free)

SINGLES Valentine's Day Paint Dance Party!
Spark romance with fellow singles by painting all over each others' bodies.
(Wallingford, $10-$15)

PERFORMANCE

Gold Dust Women: Drag Does Fleetwood Mac
For the past five years, Kremwerk has been welcoming the weirdest and most original drag artists in the city, and the nightclub's fifth anniversary happily coincides with the most romantic day of the year. This evening will be devoted to the theatrical, harmonic pop of Fleetwood Mac, which will provide the score to dance/performance art/general bizarrerie by Americano, Betty Wetter, Monday Mourning, and One. The notorious Cookie Couture will host.
(Downtown, $9/$13)

Sistas Rock the Arts presents Black Love Matters More
Check out a spoken-word performance by Janelle Jolly, songs by Phyllis Talley and Michael Avery, poems by Verbal Oasis, and more at this Sistas Rock the Arts event. If you have your own piece to share, get on stage during the open mic portion.
(Columbia City, $10)

READINGS & TALKS

For the Love of Swedish Cinema! with Professor Amanda Doxtater
Grab a drink and join UW Scandinavian Studies faculty for a retrospective of Swedish cinema's love stories from the silent era to the present.
(Ballard, donation)

Oh, For the Love Of—
Storytellers will entertain you with tales of what makes them "stupid happy." Produced by Maddy Noonan.
(Ballard, $15)

VISUAL ART

Love Is a Four-Letter Word
Witty local artists Brittany Kusa, Brandon Vosika, Genevieve St. Charles, and Ralph Houser will make the Capitol Hill Art Walk and Valentine's Day weird and sweet with depictions of "love, heartbreak, bananas, ponies..." No matter your feelings about the holiday, this should be a boisterous good time.
(Capitol Hill, free)

Priscilla Yu with Cat Claw
Admire new art by Priscilla Yu and dance to music by DJ Cat Claw. This party promises champagne and cupcakes, so if you're feeling lonely and hungry on V-Day, here's a great place to go.
(Belltown, free)

Valentines Passport to Love Art Walk
Stroll through West Seattle taking in art, food, and wine with your loved one(s). Be sure to grab a "passport to love" to collect enough heart stamps at participating businesses to win a prize.
(West Seattle, free)

FEBRUARY 14-17

FILM

Audition
Takashi Miike's charming romance is about a lonely middle-aged man who meets a beautiful aspiring actress through a fake audition and reaps all of the rewards of his little ruse. (Note: at least one Stranger staffer admits to having to skip the last third of this movie for fear of passing out and/or vomiting.) You can watch it on Valentine's Day!
(Capitol Hill, $12)

FEBRUARY 15

MUSIC

Lavender Country Valentine's Concert
Stranger contributor Matt Baume has written, "The world wasn’t ready for Lavender Country back in 1973 when their very queer country album first came out. At the time, musician Patrick Haggerty played some gigs up and down the coast, sold 1,000 copies of the album, and then went about his life. But in 2014, his groundbreaking music was rediscovered and rereleased, and now you can hear songs like 'Cryin These Cocksucking Tears' live and in person. Haggerty is a phenomenal entertainer and storyteller, and his decades of adventures as an activist have further enriched his performances with meaning." Spend Valentine's Day with these legends. 
(Greenwood, $10 donation)

READINGS & TALKS

Bedroom Botany: What Plants Can Teach Us About Sex, Gender, Parenting and Love
When it comes to sex, gender, and parenting, plants are way more evolved than humans and most other animals. Learn about double fertilization, parasite offspring, hermaphroditic flowers, and cleistogamy (the process of self-fertilization in flowers) with University of Washington Plant Molecular Biologist Orlando de Lange.
(Capitol Hill, $10)

FEBRUARY 16

FOOD & DRINK

Valentine's Vegan Bake Sale
Pig out on plant-based goodies at this vegan bake sale to support Pigs Peace Sanctuary.
(University District, free)

MUSIC

A Love Supreme with The John Hanrahan Quartet
John Hanrahan will electrify John Coltrane's 1965 A Love Supreme—an album that already has its fair share of experimental elements, and is widely considered to be the most genre-defining jazz recording of all time.
(Columbia City, $15)

Prom Date Mixtape Valentine's Ball
Let '80s new wave and synth-pop tribute group Prom Date Mixtape take you back a few decades for their very special Valentine's Day edition show.
(Fremont, $10/$15)

PARTIES

The Social Queer’s Womxn’s Galantine Dance Party!
If you don't know what to wear to this womxn-centric Galentine's Day dance party, the organizers have some ideas: Wear red if you're in a relationship and are looking to meet additional lovers; wear white if you're monogamous and looking to make out with your partner in public; wear black if you're single and ready to mingle; or wear pink if you're an ally who's tagging along with your womxn friends. All proceeds will benefit Planned Parenthood. 
(Capitol Hill, $10)

READINGS & TALKS

LOVEFEST
Stranger alum, playwright, and author David Schmader will perform alongside Seattle civic poet Anastacia-Reneé One Million Tampons' annual Valentine's Day-adjacent event. Bring an unopened box of tampons or pads to donate to those in need.
(South Park, $7)

FEBRUARY 20

ANIMALS/PETS

Puppy Love Mutt Mixer
Show some love for the pups of Seattle by taking home dog-themed swag, sipping cocktails, and hanging out with canines. 
(Downtown, free)

FEBRUARY 21

PARTIES

Stupid Cupid: Singles Unite!
Drink cocktails, get started on a new dating app for animal lovers, get an energy reading, and flirt with singles at this new amorous pop-up.
(Ballard, free)

READINGS & TALKS

Bad Date Storytelling: Valentine Schmalentine
For every gooey Valentine's Day story, there are twice as many tales of courtships gone awry. Escape the commercialized romance of the season to hear people tell stories of their bad V-Day dates, or get on stage to tell your own.
(Downtown, $10)

FEBRUARY 21-MARCH 19

VISUAL ART

Made with Love & Anxiety
The Push/Pull Gallery in Ballard is hard to define—it serves as an art gallery, event space, and underground comics shop that supports the work of emerging artists, illustrators, and cartoonists. But what’s in a name? Or a categorization? Push/Pull will be showing Love & Anxiety, a collective of Costa Rican artists from various disciplines who come together under The Joy manifesto, which was formed, in part, to “create work that expresses, from our point of view, the current state of our human condition.” The group will be showing work from Joy, a black-and-white zine full of cartoons, portraits, and much more. JASMYNE KEIMIG
(Ballard, free)

FEBRUARY 22

FOOD & DRINK

Valentines Wine Tasting
Toast to Valentine's Day with six samples of amorous wines paired with Alexandra's Macarons. 
(West Seattle, $5)

FEBRUARY 23

SHOPPING

Love in the Market
Take your valentine to Pike Place for "sweetheart bingo," cookie decorating, and photo ops with V-day-themed pop-up installations. You can also fill up on local tamales, shop for handmade cards, watch tie-dye demonstrations, and shop for gifts.
(Downtown, free)

FEBRUARY 24

MUSIC

Mama's Thirsty: A Queer Valentine's Day Afterparty
For this installment of a series highlighting womxn- and queer-fronted music acts in Seattle, enjoy live sets by duo Creature Hole and dynamic dancer TAQUEET$, with burlesque by "2018 Queen of Oregon" Nox Falls, lap dances by "the gorgeous Kiki and friends," plus DJ sets by Big Ugly and hosted by Caela Bailey as always.
(Eastlake, $10)