Skip to main content
Arts & Entertainment

A goat fashion show and 9 thrifty ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day in the Bay

Katiusca Mascaro poses for a photo in front of a floral Valentine's Day themed backdrop at the Ferry Building in San Francisco on Feb. 4, 2021. | Gabrielle Lurie/The SF Chronicle via Getty Images

Valentine’s Day is finally around the corner—even though the pink and red decor has been encroaching on retailers’ shelves since Christmas—and San Francisco is ready to feel the love.

We've compiled a list of events across the city to celebrate and, as a bonus, none of these options will set you back more than $35.

For Valentines and Palentines

Check out these activities if you’re ready to lean into cheesiness, cherubs and chocolate for the holiday—whether it’s with a romantic or platonic soulmate. 

1. Love Bites! Valentine’s Food & Wine Event

🗓️ Thursday, Feb. 9
🕔 5-7:30 p.m.
📍 Ferry Building
🔗 ferrybuildingmarketplace.com

$30-$100 admission

2. Exploratorium After Dark: Sexplorations

🗓️ Thursday, Feb. 9
🕔 6-10 p.m.
📍 Exploratorium
🔗 exploratorium.edu

$19.95 admission

3. Valentine’s Day Weekend Comedy Spectacular

🗓️ Friday, Feb. 10-Saturday, Feb. 11
🕔 7 p.m., 9 p.m. 
📍 Savoy Tivoli
🔗 eventbrite.com

$10-$35 admission

4. Valentine’s Gay

🗓️ Friday, Feb. 10
🕔 7-11 p.m.
📍 924 Gilman St., Berkeley
🔗 gilman.ticketleap.com

$10 admission, $12 at the door

5. Goat My Valentine Fashion Show

🗓️ Tuesday, Feb. 14
🕔 4-6 p.m.
📍 Union Square
🔗 eventbrite.com

Free!

For a More Anti-Valentine’s Day

No rose-colored glasses here—these events are for anyone looking to have a good time even if the mood is more thorny this year. 

1. Mortified’s Doomed Valentine’s Show

🗓️ Friday, Feb. 10
🕔 7:30 p.m.
📍 DNA Lounge
🔗 getmortified.com

$25 admission in advance, $35 at the door

2. F*ck Valentine’s Day Comedy Show

🗓️ Saturday, Feb. 11
🕔 7-8:30 p.m., 9-10:30 p.m.
📍 Neck of the Woods
🔗 eventbrite.com

$10 admission

3. So This Sucks: A Night of Heartbreak & Disappointment 

🗓️ Tuesday, Feb. 14
🕔 7:30-10:30 p.m.
📍 PianoFight
🔗 eventbrite.com

$15-$25 admission 

4. Bad Blood: A Taylor-Themed Breakup Bar

🗓️ Wednesday, Feb. 1-Sunday, Feb. 26
🕔 Various scheduled times
📍 Westwood Annex
🔗 bucketlisters.com

$22 admission

Morgan Ellis can be reached at morgan@sfstandard.com