Valentine’s Day in Chicagoland 2022

If February is about showing the love, let’s show the love to the Chicagoland small businesses that need our support the most!

Enjoy this list of local businesses to support as well as awesome events

going on this month!

Edible Treats

• West Town Bakery & Diner
  • Chicago
  • Delicious Valentine Day creations include:
    • Cookie decorating kit
    • Strawberry cheesecake cookies
    • Cakeballs
    • Mini heart cheesecakes
    • Cupcakes
    • Linzer heart cookies
    • Chocolate Smash Hearts
    • Love Bug cakes (premade or decorate yourself)
    • Mini cheesecake conversation hearts
  • MUST preorder by 2/9
• Dip & Sip Donuts
  • Preorder your Valentine themed 6 pack and the Valentine DIY donut decorating kit!

• Sugargoat by Stephanie Izard
  • Chicago (shipping available through Goldbelly)
  • “Whether you’re treating yourself, your gal-pal or your partner, we’re here to make the day as sweet as can be!”
  • Preorder ASAP
  • Valentine’s Day cookies, cake, cupcakes, and “be mine” cookie pie.
• Goddess and the Baker
  • Adorable cookies and macarons that you can even ship to a loved one!
  • Dine in for a gorgeous Raspberry Cardamom Mocha Latte
• Bombobar
  • Their seasonal Valentine’s items launch February 1st!!
  • Enjoy the Valentine’s Day Hotter Chocolate and Bombs!
• XO Marshmallow
  • Heart shaped marshmallows for your hot cocoa would be perfect!
  • Or how about the S’mores Kit For 2?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by XO Marshmallow®️ (@xo.marshmallow)

• JoJo’s Shake Bar
  • “In preparation for Valentine’s Day, JoJo’s ShakeBAR is debuting its lovable menu featuring our over-the-top Love Shake, extravagant Cupid’s Cocoa, and a variety of other sweet treats and decadent cocktails. Available in JoJo’s heated Candy Land tent until February 20, 2022.”
• Mollys Cupcakes’
  • Heart shaped chocolate chip cookie or brownie
  • Cupcake assortment of their most valentine filled flavors
  • Valentines cheesecake sampler
  • Chocolate strawberries and truffles
• Vanille Patisserie
  • All Valentines orders need to be placed by 11 am, Friday the 11th.
    • Macarons
    • French pastries
    • Cutie cakes
    • DIY cookie kits

• RJK Productions
  • Downers Grove
  • The “beary” cute breakable desserts were the PERFECT way to take this holiday to the next level for the kids. They are really going to get a kick out of this when they wake up to their surprises on the 14th.
  • On top of that, the menu consists of heart shaped chocolate covered oreos, heart hot cocoa bombs, coffee bombs, kid bomb valentines, and teacher gift sets!

• Rebecca’s Cakes By Design
  • Bartlett
  • It has become a new tradition to order “Paint & Eat” cookies for each holiday. It’s a dessert and craft in one!
  • On top of that she will be carrying:
    • Conversation heart cookies in mailbox
    • Cake pops
    • 6″ Valentines heart cake
    • Chocolate covered strawberries
    • Cupcake bouquets (6 cupcakes)
  • Baked goods prepared in a nut free kitchen.

• Olive + Emmental
  • Valentine’s Day charCUTErie box with 3 available sizes / flower combo packages.
  •  Don’t forget a vday kids cuterie board for the little ones!

• Hey Sugar
  • Geneva
  • Besides the over the top hot cocoa creations, you’ll love the Valentine’s Day selections of cupcakes and cookies!

• Portillo’s
  • “We’re giving our Famous, homemade Chocolate cake a new shape in this Valentine’s Day edition. Single-layer heart shaped chocolate cakes are now available for pre-order at all Portillo’s restaurants. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from every heart shaped cake purchased will benefit an organization close to our heart – The American Red Cross.”
  • Don’t sleep on the brand new, chocolate covered strawberry shake!
• Lou Malnati’s
  • “What’s better than a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day? A heart-shaped pizza from Lou Malnati’s, of course!”
  • “9″ heart-shaped pizzas are available at all locations starting February 7th through Valentine’s Day.”
• Sugar Milk Cafe
  • Naperville
  • This adorable cafe has over the top milkshakes like the new Sweetheart Milkshake for V-Day!

Fun Packages

• Staycation at The Kimpton Hotel Monaco Chicago
  • Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, the Monaco is “suite” for families like you. Why not do something for the whole family this Valentine’s Day? This February package includes:
    • Suite accommodations
    • A bottle of Prosecco
    • A bottle of non-alcoholic sparkling wine for the kids
    • Do-it-yourself Valentine’s Day cookie decorating kit (includes 4 cookies)
• Waterlemon
  • La Grange
  • The Valentines Day Balloon Box:
    • All 3 balloon boxes come with a custom-made, oversized candy heart message sticker affixed to the front. All boxes are filled with helium-filled balloons in colors that correspond to the sticker colors as well as air-filled balloons at the bottom of the box.
  • The Valentine’s Day Bash Box
    • 1 set of heart plates
    • 1 set of heart napkins
    • 1 set of matching cups
    • 1 cupcake kit for 2 dozen cupcakes with the sweetest toppers EVER or adorable cookie cutters
    • 1 hard copy of Love Is book by Diane Adams
    • 2 heart pinatas favors
    • 2 large scale + beautiful coloring posters
    • 1 dozen pink + red balloons (includes weight)
• Dazzling Divas
  • Downers Grove
  • Book your divas GAL-entine spa day or order a valentine bundle! TEXT 1-708-378-2702
    • manicures
    • facials
    • makeup
    • hair sparkles
    • cupid kisses face freckles
    • hot chocolate with whipped cream and sweet heart candies
    • take home heart rings and spa headband

Clothing

• State of Play Kids
  • Nothing says Valentine’s Day more than showing your love for the city you adore! Super simple, but super cute and a size for every member of the family!

• Makoshey
  • We adore this company for their girl positive clothing. The super soft, comfy, and inspirational clothing is a fan favorite in our household and the perfect tee for February is the Maya Angelou, “Love recognizes no barriers” tee. Order yours today!
  • Use code HELEN20 for a discount!

Crafts & Gifts

• Fizzy Magic
  • These aren’t just your every day bath bombs people!
  • “Educational Bath Fizzies – Fun, Fizz & Learn!. Pure & Safe Ingredients with essential oils to calm kids before bedtime but best of all – each fizzy contains a surprise, clue to guess and fun fact to learn along with bedtime story relates to the surprise.”
  • The Valentine Limited Edition Box has surprises inside the fizzies to match the included valentines for your kids to color and hand out.
  • The perfect, non-candy, valentine! Use in the tub or use in a sensory table!
• Mama & OG
  • Her handmade resin items are to die for and I am so excited that we scored these adorable chocolates to add to the play kitchen!
  • Also, “Eye Heart You” dough stampers and Valentine hair clips!
  • If you missed this drop, keep an eye out for her St. Patricks Day collection!

• Colorful Creations
  • Do you surprise your little ones with Valentine gifts? Check out the princess shaker necklaces from Colorful Creations!
• Confetti FunBy Russell
  • We ordered two of the pink heart confetti to decorate the table with on Valentine’s morning for our annual breakfast!
  • This 6 year old kidpreneur was brought to our attention by the fabulous We Events Chicago!

• Brainy Day Boxes
  • Valentine themed Brainy Boxes available in three sizes!

• Hopscotch City
  • Hopscotch City can always be counted on for adorable printables and craft ideas and Valentine’s Day is no exception!
  • Check out her etsy shop for a cute Valentines Day Mailbox printable!
• Pop of Paper Co.
  • “Looking for a simple and fun Vday craft? Pick up one of our Valentine Mailboxes to decorate and collect love notes all month long!”
  • Love is in the air with our Valentine POP Box! Boxes include:· Valentine inspired felt garland· Make your own Valentine bracelet· Paper honeycomb hearts to hang· Meri Meri Valentines Card with glasses· Heart paper chain craft· Meri Meri Stickers

    · Heart wreath craft

    · Valentine treats

    · Hanging heart box craft

    · Valentine monster craft

• Kido Chicago
  • If you are making Valentine gift bags for your littles, I highly recommend purchasing books and toys from Kido!

• Stacey M. Design
  • • Valentine’s Day is about loving others and also, loving yourself!
    • Her inclusive, guided journals, notebooks, and most importantly, the social emotional learning curriculum, are fantastic tools to help children love each other despite our differences, and also love themselves!

Activities

• Ice Castles
  • Lake Geneva
  • Although this event always sells out quick, I have checked for tickets and still found availability intermittently. Possibly as additional dates and times are added.
• Lake Geneva Winterfest
  • Feb 2nd – 6th
  • “As the only national snow sculpting championship in the United States, Winterfest welcomes the most talented and award-winning sculpting teams from across the country. Be here to witness 15 state-champion teams at work during an epic 3-day competition where their artistry is put to the test in creating remarkable, larger-than-life snow sculptures. The snow sculpting competition runs 11am Wednesday through 1pm Saturday at Riviera Plaza and Flat Iron Park along the beautiful shore of Geneva Lake. It’s FREE to attend and view, and sculptures will remain on display through Sunday (and until they melt).”
• Long Grove Cocoa Crawl
  • February 5th 11 am – 3 pm
  • Free event!
  • Free carriage rides from 11 – 4
  • There will be 3 Tents serving complimentary hot cocoa sponsored by Long Grove Village Tavern and Long Grove Confectionery. Many retailers will have cocoa inspired treats for their customers while they shop and restaurants will have chocolate specials for their diners! (see website)
• Ice Art Walk
  • Downtown Wheaton
  • Saturday, February 5th from 12 PM – 3 PM
  • Brave the cold for a fun day in Downtown Wheaton with the family to tour the custom-carved Ice Art Walk ice sculptures sponsored by and displayed outside sponsoring businesses.
• Downers Grove Ice Festival
  • February 4th – 6th
  • “Enjoy a fun winter weekend downtown Downers Grove. Nearly 60 unique ice sculptures will line the streets for you to enjoy as you walk downtown Downers Grove! Watch large blocks of ice become art during the live Ice Carving demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday from 11am-3pm at the Main Street Train Station.”

• Wauconda Winterfest 2022
  • Wauconda WinterFest is back for 2022 on February 12th & 13th. Held both on Bangs Lake and on land at Lindy’s Landing, with special events through the Wauconda Park District. Fun for all ages!
  • Events include Hockey Skills Competition, Scavenger Hunt and Hike, Burling Tournament, Free Skate on Lake, Kid activities, Soup Smackdown, Tent Takeout, and more!
• Spring Valley Winterfest
  • Schaumburg
  • February 12th & 13th
  • “Experience and embrace the beauty of winter! This family event features snowshoeing, outdoor games, s’mores and cocoa around the fire, dogsled demonstrations by Adopt A Huskey, Inc., and more!”
  • Admission fee is $3/person or $12/family, purchased at the event.
• Oak Lawn Children’s Museum Sensory Friendly Valentine’s Play Session
  • February 16th
  • “Join us for a Happy Hearts, Healthy Hearts Sensory Friendly Play Session for children with special needs and their families. Enjoy time at the museum with lowered lights and sounds. Therapist from a.c.e. therapies will be here to help families address everyday obstacles. Event will include themed sensory and motor skills activities and heart health and kindness interactive games and crafts. Come dressed in your favorite Valentine’s Day gear.”
  • Pre-register
• Bartlett Winterfest
  • February 19th from 12-4
  • “Experience winter on the prairie. Adopt-A-Husky will be at the Bartlett Nature Center with teams of Siberian Huskies and sleds. Watch as they run a mile trail and learn about the history of dog sledding and the equipment they use. Other outdoor activities will be taking place weather permitting, including snow shoeing and snow painting. There will also be an Iditarod slideshow presentation and other indoor activities. To ensure a safe and fun environment, please leave your own dogs at home. This event is and requires no advanced registration.”

• The Kids Table
  • • “We have a full line-up of virtual cooking classes for kids, teens and families. With interactive instruction from our skilled instructors, young chefs get to chop, mix and roll their way to a different delicious dish in each class – with enough to share with the fam! Kids learn valuable culinary skills and new recipes, enjoy a fun hands-on activity, and are inspired to expand their taste buds to discover that “real food” can be really good.”
    • Keep an eye on their February sessions for some fun Valentine themed recipes!
• Chitown Movies
  • • Enjoy a romantic movie the old fashioned way!
    • This Pilsen drive in is showing rom com classics for a date night and family friendly films as well!
• Bubbles at 900 N Michigan
  • Visit us anytime from 12 – 6 PM daily for drop-in art!
  • Week of 2/7: Valentine plant hangers
  • Week of 2/14: Marble painting trays
  • Week of 2/21: Mason jar aquariums
• A Fairy Tale Ballet Valentine’s Day Camp
  • Rapunzel’s Wedding Day is the theme
  • 2/14 for 2-3 yr olds
  • 2/11 and 2/13 for 3-6 yr olds

• National Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day is February 6th!
  • Check out your favorite creameries for special offerings that day or just to support their business and purchase a sweet treat!
  • Kimmer’s
    • Wheaton, St.Charles, Batavia
    • “It’s back! Our breakfast flavors will be in house for National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast day on Saturday, February 5th! Our doors will open early, at 9am.
  • The Milk House Ice Cream
    • Pingree Grove
    • “Join us for a fun weekend of breakfast inspired ice creams…. Maple Blueberry Waffles, Cereal Milk, Magically Delicious, Peach Bellini Sorbet, Coffee & Donuts & a couple more surprises!”
• Paint The Ice at Gallagher Way
  • February 20th from 3-5 PM (Public skate from 11-3)
  • “We will provide the paint, you bring the creativity!”

For The Parents (Date Night Ideas)

• Scentcerely Yours
  • Geneva
  • Keep an eye out for their Valentine’s Day Special
  • This is also a fantastic place to visit with the kiddos! The kids and I loved creating our own scents for our candles!

• Girl & The Goat Meal Kits
  • “Experience a meal kit adventure straight from the Goat restaurants to your home kitchen! With James Beard Award-winning chef Stephanie Izard as your sous chef, you’ll be guided through a flavorful, restaurant-quality meal featuring fresh, seasonal ingredients.”
  • Preorder and pick up in Chicago or select suburb locations.
• Alinea Valentine’s Day Dinner To Go
  • Celebrate Valentine’s Day at home from the cities top, fine dining, restaurant.
  • Pick up your prepaid order in Chicago or various suburban pick up locations.
• Puttshack
  • Oakbrook Mall
  • Upscale, tech infused, mini golf

• Pinstripes
  • Oakbrook, Chicago
  • Upscale bowling and bocce
• Immersive Van Gogh
  • A romantic date night idea if you haven’t made it to this exhibit yet!
• The Forge Lemont
  • Valentine’s Weekend Globe Dining spots are running out!
  • Make your Valentine’s Day adventurous by exploring the ropes course towers, play laser tag, and / or a romantic jaunt around the ice rink!