Experiential Valentine's Day Events
By Jahleah Santiago
Cupid is firing arrows across the world this month as we prepare for a love-filled and creative Valentine's Day. Both new and old couples, close friends, family, and business partners are preparing to gift chocolates, cards, and more to their A-team. Although it may seem like a sultry or romantic holiday, this day of love and appreciation for the people who matter doesn't have to be reserved for lovebirds. Small businesses, nonprofits, creative groups, and beyond can benefit from attending festive friendship-building events this month or buying tickets to some of the scheduled programs happening this month.
A Valentine's Day viewing of art, concert, or trivia could be an excellent way to get a bunch of important people together under one roof and uplift their energy with a sea of pink or red decor and sweet care packages. Have fun rebranding this holiday by watering meaningful relationships between your team members or friends. The following are a mix of fun, unique and modern events providing both in-person and virtual fun for attendees by using the latest in technology.
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Habitat Workshops’ Time Square Art Installation ‘Bloom’
A new sculpture will become the epicenter of all of Times Square`s Valentine`s Day programming this year. The installation will be unveiled next week thanks to Habitat Workshop. “Bloom '' is this 2022’s winner of Times Square Arts’ annual Love in Times Square Design Competition, presented in collaboration with The Museum of Arts and Design and sculpted by IDEKO. The exhibit will launch on Valentine’s Day between 46th and 47th Streets and will remain on display through March 9. The competition has applauded the work of architecture and design firms for 14 years. This year, the lights of Times Square will greet visitors as they enter the building, amplifying signs and surrounding buildings to contrast with the flowers. The bundled tubes work together to reorient the pattern throughout the day and bloom in a stunning array of pixelated heart formations through a light spectrum of colors.
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Empire State and Tiffany & Co. ‘Diamonds in the Sky’ Light Show
On Feb. 14, the Empire State Building will shine its world-famous tower lights in Tiffany Blue® heartbeat for the Diamonds in the Sky Light Show. The color choice of Tiffany Blue® heartbeat is significant for its well-known association with Tiffany & Co. jewelry, the American luxury jewelry and specialty retailer headquartered in New York City since 1837. New York's Empire State Building will beam blue– for the first time – in substitution for the building`s annual red Valentine`s Day color. In honor of Tiffany's most recent campaign – Blue is the Color of Love, a special celebrity guest will visit the building for a lighting ceremony and flip the famous switch. According to Jean Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory, they are excited to partner with the iconic brand, Tiffany & Co., and continue to be part of countless couples' love stories this month. The Empire State Building Observatory experience has recently been rethought from top to bottom, with a new dedicated guest entrance, and a digital tactile museum.
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Van Gogh Digital Art Exhibit Hosts Concert
Dip into the immersive multisensory world of Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience - NYC. Guests can revel in the works of Van Gogh as mapping technology scatters pieces like Starry Night across the interior of the venue at 300 Vesey St. Viewers will ascend through audiovisual heaven as live renditions of songs like “Moon River'' by Henry Mancini radiate from an in-person band! Through next-era technology, the Van Gogh exhibition and Valentine`s Day performance will submerge attendees into the art installation. Purchasing the standard ticket will allow visitors to experience an awe-inspiring adventure into the colorful universe of one of the most notable artists of the nineteenth century through modern-day 360º virtual projection technology, and one-of-a-kind VR simulations. Interested visitors can purchase the Couple’s Special ticket package, and enjoy complimentary chocolates and wine during the performance.
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Virtual Beer & Chocolate Tasting
Ever heard of a virtual taste-testing experience? Thanks to computers, cameras, and microphones you can attend the Virtual Valentine's Tasting: Chocolate and Beer Edition from the comfort of your home, wherever it may be! Guests will receive a curated tasting that includes four different beers from independent, craft breweries. Each beer selection has been hand-picked by the founder and Certified Cicerone® Hal Mooney for guaranteed taste, quality, and kick. Alongside these beers are 4 gourmet chocolates to enhance and elevate the brews to the next level. Leading your virtual tasting, a Certified Cicerone® will guide everyone through the proper tasting etiquette and answer beer-related questions attendees may have. Each Virtual Beer Tasting lasts about 1 hour. and is Q&A style, so lots of interaction and discussion surrounding flavor notes, beer styles, food pairings, glasses, and more are welcome.
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Trivia: Celebrate Valentine’s Day With Bar None
Join a live host and your team for a Trivia contest this Valentine’s Day! Bar None has crafted a thematic quiz game designed to celebrate love and friendship with healthy competition! The scheduled programming also includes music sessions, photo sessions, and Valentine's Day-inspired questions with positive quotes and insightful anecdotes. Participants will collaborate to win and celebrate competitively. Each game is hosted by a professional performer who engages with the attendees and leads the activities for the duration of the digital event. Valentine's Trivia is perfect for virtual, hybrid, and face-to-face teams which allows everyone to participate. It is great for team building, placing peers alongside new and old faces to answer as many questions as possible with a shared objective. Tickets for this event are fixed at $25 per person.
3Ten Events Can Ensure Your Event Takes Place
To make your team stronger this 2022, try something different and prioritize fun. Team building events can transform the work ethic and dedication of all your counterparts throughout each facet of your company. Get over Valentine's Day cliches and get your game on with friends or enjoy spiraling art mapping. There are digital competitions to win, virtual beers to cheers, free art shows to view, and live concerts to attend this month! If you have time, take your loved ones or professional team to one of the events happening this month and make new memories.
If you are wondering how you can plan something similar to these hybrid and digital events we've suggested in this guide, let us help. Our familiarity with audiovisual technology will make planning a Valentine's Day event manageable and possible. Once we hear your ideas and more about your targeted attendees we can craft run-of-show guidelines, scripts, and ideas. Our team can also manage the behind-the-scenes activities, allowing you to focus on the fun and energy it takes to make a lovely Valentine's Day event pop. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with planning, counseling, presentation management, lighting, video projection, and more. Make your appointment for a site visit, phone consultation, conference call, or vendor meeting.
About the Author
Jahleah is a proactive Marketing Coordinator and Managing editor with published editorial experience for digital magazines and small businesses of cultural significance. A decorated graduate of Hunter College with departmental honors who is constantly looking to bring real stories to life through multimedia projects and written content.
Jahleah K. Santiago
Marketing Coordinator and Managing Editor at Spoiled NYC