Celebrate Valentines Day with Kids - Boston-Area Crafts, Treats and Special Events

Sweethearts of all kinds are celebrated on February 14, and many venues offer plenty of ways for kids and families to get into the pink-and-red spirit as the day draws nearer. From libraries to bookstores, craft shops to bakeries, we’ve got some ideas for kids to exercise their creativity, expand their minds, and please their taste buds.

Arts & Crafts

Artbeat in Arlington hosts a Valentine Card Making Extravaganza on Saturday, 2/11.  The studio is set up with all the supplies you need to make extra special cards to give to friends and family. Choose from colorful cards, lace doilies, paper hearts, ribbon, confetti, and more to create the perfect card for someone special. One flat fee covers as many cards as you would like.

At Spirit of '76 in Marblehead, kids create a paper mosaic heart that starts out with pieces of a "broken heart" that are decorated and put back together (Sat, 2/11).

The Boston Public Library hosts crafts activities in preparation for Valentines day at several locations:

• Parker HIll and South Boston branches (Thu, 2/9);
• North End branch (Fri, 2/10);
• Grove Hall branch (Sat, 2/11),
• Fields Corner, Lower Mills and Uphams Corner branches (Mon, 2/13), and
• Mattapan and Faneuil branches (2/14).

Michaels (there are 9 in the area) offers a Valentine’s Day memory book craft project on Saturday, 2/11 and a gift workshop on Sunday, 2/12. Also on Saturday, at Lakeshore Learning in Newton, kids can make a Valentine’s Day flower bouquet and crown, plus crafts and cards for loved ones. 

Storytime & Crafts

The Harvard Coop in Cambridge offers a Valentine’s-day themed story and crafts hour on Saturday.  In Concord, on Saturday and Sunday, children listen to tales of friendship and love at the Storyteller’s Throne then have the chance to make gifts for their loved ones at Barefoot Books Studio’s Valentine’s Day Celebration. Pottery Barns in the area (3 locations) have a Valentine’s Day storytime for young children on Valentine’s Day.  

Sweet Treats

Upstairs on the Square holds its annual Sweetheart Tea, complete with an assortment of chocolatey delights on Saturday 2/11 and Sunday 2/12. Call for reservations.  And and check out some of our favorite cupcake bakeries, who make special treats for Valentine’s Day, including Sweet Cupcakes (Downtown, Back Bay and Harvard Square).

Options at Treat Cupcake Bar (Needham) include Sprinkle Me Silly, Death by Chocolate, Conversation Hearts, Teddy Grams, and even a Cake Pop Bouquet - vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cake dipped in chocolate with sprinkles or chocolate drizzle, arranged in a terra cotta flower pot.

Monumental Cupcakes (Jamaica Plain) is usually closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but will be open on Valentine's Day from 2pm to 6pm, serving red velvet, belgium chocolate, and mocha cupcakes.

KickAss Bakery (Somerville) has a special 4-pack collection for Valentine's Day at a special price: chocolate and vanilla cupcakes decorated with Valentine's day candy for $10 (regular retail $12). Or, choose cupcakes with chocolate dipped strawberries on them ($4 each), and Red Velvet cupcakes, available every day in February (usually only offered Saturdays as Cupcake of the Day). And a treat for Mom, too: Bubbly Cupcakes, vanilla cupcakes with champagne soaked strawberries in the center and pink champagne icing. Yum!