by Lauressa Nelson and Sandra Carr

While some people dismiss Valentine’s Day as a commercial creation, the celebration of love has a deep history, featuring several versions of Saint Valentine as well as the ancient Roman pagan fertility festival, Lupercalia, in which men slapped willing women with the hides of sacrificed goats to enhance fertility. Pulp City did not find a local offering of this particular ritual, but here are a few other ideas for making someone feel special and celebrating what the world needs now—love, sweet love. 

Get Charmed by the Magic of the Florida Springs

Although Orlando may not have Italy’s romantic gondola rides, canoeing or kayaking along the Wekiva River can be just as sweet (unless you’re afraid of alligators). Pack a picnic with your darling’s favorites and spread out a blanket near the springhead. A dip in the 72-degree water will have you cuddling up. Wekiva Springs State Park requires advanced reservations. Open 8 a.m. to sunset daily. $6 per vehicle.  

Florida’s state parks are pure love, especially when manatees are involved. Friends of Blue Spring State Park will host a family-friendly “Park After Dark, Manatees in Love” on Valentine’s Day, allowing visitors to stay until 7 p.m. to experience the sounds of the manatees exhaling and owls and cicadas serenading the night. Presentations on manatees start at 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Pack a picnic dinner and enjoy the sunset. Park entry is $6 per vehicle with an additional $3 per person for the after-hours event.

Spot a Shooting Star

Orlando’s many lakes provide the perfect setting for a romantic nighttime stroll. Lake Underhill Park offers a wonderful view of the sunset over the downtown Orlando skyline. 

While it’s too brightly lit for stargazing, Lake Eola Park is an ideal location for a pre- or post-dinner walkabout, and true romantics can try a swan boat ride. Tickets cost $15 per person and are available on-site only on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations are not accepted.

For a quaint and quieter environment, meander around Lake Como and head to the Milkhouse, Otto’s High Dive or Sideward Brewery for a sip and bite. Lakes Davis and Cherokee are a walkable pair, set among Delaney Park’s tree-lined brick roads and just blocks from good eats at Delaney’s Tavern and The Wellborn. Check the restaurants’ websites for hours, menus and reservations.

Escape the city to discover SOUL Haven Ranch’s magical, 20-minute, private horse-drawn carriage tours in downtown Winter Garden, Saturday, Feb. 14, 5:30-9:30 p.m., $135 per carriage, for up to four adults or two adults and three minor children. To book, call 407-509-1981.

Catch Live Music in an Intimate Venue or the Great Outdoors

Bring a picnic basket, bottle of wine and blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy a relaxing afternoon outside while listening to heartfelt songs performed by Eugene Snowden, Beth McKee and Her Funky Time Band, Beemo, Claire Vandiver and Skinny McGee and The Handshakes in the Marilyn L. Mennello Sculpture Garden during the 11th Annual Indie-Folkfest at the Mennello Museum of American Art, Saturday, Feb. 14, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. 

Enjoy live music under the stars on Valentine’s Day from 7-10 p.m. at Harry P. Leu Gardens, with performances by Ricky & the Buzzcatz, the Alma Skye Trio and Nova Classica. Couples can enjoy their own picnic or purchase crafted bevvies and bites from local vendors. 

The Timucua Amplifies Black Voices Festival begins Friday, Feb. 13, with K.I.M. (Keeping It Moving), a Chicago soul band, blending jazz, funk and hip-hop genres. The festival continues Saturday, Feb. 14, with the Assel Jean-Pierre Trio, led by a piano virtuoso of Haitian origin, the trio intertwines classical and jazz elements with a Caribbean twist. Both events are from 7-9 p.m. Bookending the weekend are Thursday’s Timucua Jazz Jam and Sunday’s Authentic Selves Poetry Open Mic. All events take place at the Timucua “White House,” a place filled with love and passion for the arts and community. Obtain admission information online.

At the Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, the Golden Flower and the Mudita Orchestra join forces for one night, combining progressive jazz and orchestral sounds to explore new musical dimensions Friday, Feb. 13. The Greg Parnell Quintet performs classic love songs, featuring vocalist Michelle Mailhot, Jeremy Fratti on saxophone, Jon Oxford on guitar and Marco Bojorquez on bass on Valentine’s Day. Both shows begin at 8 p.m. And Sunday, Feb. 15, the Central Florida Jazz Society presents the Markus Gottschlich Trio, from 3 to 5 p.m. Visit the website for admission information.

Fall in Love with Love on Screen or Stage

The Enzian Theater is always a sure bet for date night, but how about date day? The independent theater is offering a buffet brunch, complimentary mimosas, live music and a special screening of “Amélie” on Valentine’s Day at 11 a.m. But beware: one or both of you may drift into romantic obsession with Audrey Tautou. Admission is $99 per couple or $145 for the VIP option.

Relive the greatest 1980s love triangle of all time by watching Andie, Duckie and Blane on the big screen in John Hughes’ classic film, “Pretty in Pink,” which celebrates its 40-year anniversary at five Regal Cinemas in Central Florida during Valentine’s Day weekend. Visit the website for locations and tickets.

Spice things up with Orlando Ballet’s “Carmen,” a visually stunning and dramatic expression of raw passion, power and physicality, featuring five performances at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts’ (DPCPA) Steinmetz Hall, from Thursday, Feb. 12 to Sunday, Feb. 15. Visit DPCPA for ticket options.