Valentine’s Day is just a few short weeks away! Instead of buying gifts for your significant other this year, why not plan to experience the day together on a North Carolina farm? From cute animals to workshops and local food pairings, our state is offering many events to give you and your date a fun and memorable experience this holiday. Check out some of our suggestions below and also look for events at farms in your area. Most events require registration or booking in advance, so don’t wait. Reserve your Valentine’s date experience today!
Love You to Death Haunted Experience – Hendersonville
See if your Valentine’s date scares easily at The Haunted Farm in Hendersonville! If you and your partner are thrill seekers or looking for an extra kick of adrenaline, take a romantic stroll through The Woods of Bleeding Hearts before working through the haunted maze. Be sure to travel through The Tunnel of Tormented Love on the way!
The event will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14th. Tickets can be purchased in advance through their website or on-site .General admission tickets are $35 per person, plus $5 for parking, and fast pass admission tickets are $60 per person. Enjoy a memorable date on the farm and see if your love can survive the night!
Cocktail Making Class – Durham
Local distilleries are a great place to learn new drink options to try at home and experiment with local liquors. Mystic Farms and Distillery is offering you and your sweetheart a chance to enjoy tastings, tour the distillery and receive hands on instruction on how to make some popular Valentine’s Day themed cocktails! On Sunday, February 12th, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., get your sip on and see who is the best cocktail maker between you and your partner.
Tickets are available online and should be purchased in advance. The class costs $40 per person and includes the tour, tastings and workshop.
Baby Goat Grams – Several N.C. Counties
Do you and your partner have a soft spot for animals? Then Ruben is ready to spend the holiday with you! The Painted Farmer is offering ten minute visits with their baby goat, Ruben, between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. 13th through the 14th. Enjoy petting, cuddling and loving on Ruben and get some Insta-worthy photos with him for your Valentine’s Day post!
The Painted Farmer is servicing Wilson, Wayne, Lenoir, Wake, Johnston, Harnett, Nash, Edgecombe, Greene, Pitt and Franklin County with their baby goat grams. Interested individuals must register online or on their Facebook page. Tickets are $45 per reservation.
In addition to the baby goat grams, The Painted Farmer is also offering a Galentines Goat Pajama Party on Saturday, February 11th at 7:30 p.m. Snuggle with goats, win fun holiday themed door prizes and enjoy charcuterie by the bonfire. Tickets can be reserved on their Facebook page, but order fast because they are selling out quick!
Lastly, on Sunday, Feb. 12th, at 2:30 p.m., enjoy goat yoga on the farm! The class is beginner level and will allow you and your partner to relax together and play with the goats. Register online through their Facebook page and start booking your Valentine’s experience at The Painted Farmer today!
Valentine’s Wine Dinner Experience – Summerfield
If you’re looking for a romantic vibe this Valentine’s Day, The Barn at Summerfield Farms has the perfect event for you. The Food & Wine Valentine’s Day Dinner features beef from the farm, wine pairings and chocolate for dessert. The meal will feature four-courses that pair a wine with each dish. Beer and liquor drinks are available for guests as well via the cash/credit bar. Purchase your tickets online either for a table for two, which will be separate from other attending individuals, or group tickets.
Ticket sales will end on February 6th at 12 p.m. or when seats sell out. Ticket prices range based on number of people attending and preference on table size. The dinner will take place in the barn on Valentine’s Day from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Valentine’s Day Orchid Festival & Ganache in the Gardens – Charlotte
The Orchid Festival, taking place on Feb. 11th and 12th at the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens, has been very popular in previous years! From 12 to 5 p.m., enjoy various presentations about plant care, tours of the greenhouse, crafting opportunities, a silent auction, local vendors and the well-known orchid sale. Classes and guided tours can be purchased for an extra charge during your visit, if you wish to dig deeper into the world of plants, specifically orchids, in North Carolina.
Tickets can either be purchased at the door or in advance through Feb. 10th! Advance sale tickets are $5 each and include a parking pass, raffle ticket and admission to the festival. If you choose to purchase tickets at the gate, everything will still be included but admission price will be $7 per ticket. Enjoy a romantic day on the farm with your partner and experience all that North Carolina has to offer, including beautiful flowers, chocolate and more!
Sweetheart Market and Festival – Bryson City
Although the farm market is not yet open, Darnell Farms is hosting the Sweetheart Festival on Saturday, Feb. 11th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! Enjoy a day on the farm with live entertainment, activities and local vendors offering the best and most unique gifts for your sweetheart. Known for it’s beautiful scenery, Darnell Farms will provide a romantic and fun atmosphere to make memories with your special someone this Valentine’s Day.
Admission to the festival is free. Be sure to keep Darnell Farms on your radar all year long for other family-friendly events, like pick-your-own strawberries, farm market hours and fall activities with pumpkins.
Will You Bah-ah My Valentine? – Chapel Hill
Spring Haven Farm has plenty of snuggles to go around this Valentine’s Day and not just from your significant other! Valentine’s Day with the goats is taking place every Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting on Feb. 1st and running through Feb. 12th. Tour the farm and visit the cutest animals in town. Take lots of Insta-worthy picks, including in the love shack, and don’t forget to spend an hour in the Zen Pen before you leave to cuddle with the adorable baby goats! Treat bags can be purchased to feed the animals for $1 and you can also grind your own corn for $2.
Tickets can be purchased online for $13.50 each. When you purchase tickets, it will ask you to schedule an arrival time on the farm. Once you arrive, however, you are free to stay until the farm closes at 5 p.m. In addition to local crafts and other items, the farm has Valentine’s Day gift baskets available for purchase now. Learn more on their Facebook page, including how to purchase yours today!
No matter what you choose to do this Valentine’s Day, we challenge you to spend time embracing new adventures with your significant other. Show some love to the community and those involved with our state’s number one industry by making one of their events your bucket list item. We promise it will spark feelings of love, joy, peace and happiness for you and your loved ones!