Perth Singles Embrace Valentine's Saturday: A Night of Love and Connection
For the first time in eleven years, Valentine's Day has landed on a Saturday, creating a unique calendar event that has Perth officially under Cupid's spell. This rare occurrence has couples planning elaborate celebrations while singles are daring to believe they might not be flying solo this time next year. Across the city, restaurants, bars, and pubs are rolling out special experiences designed to celebrate connection in all its diverse forms—from traditional romance to friendship and even family bonds.
Unprecedented Optimism Among Singles
In a surprising twist, it may be Perth's singles who are looking forward to this unofficial holiday the most. Single men have taken to social media with a realisation that has sparked unprecedented optimism among the unattached population. One viral TikTok post that racked up 1.7 million likes declared: "When you realise Valentine's Day is on a Saturday night so everyone out must be single." Thousands of comments followed from people admitting they were, for once, genuinely excited to be single on February 14th.
Another popular clip, liked more than 580,000 times, showed a young man dancing beneath the words "life after realising Valentine's Day is on a Saturday which means everyone out is single." The caption simply read: "Check mate." This social media phenomenon reflects a broader shift in how singles are approaching what has traditionally been considered a couples-only holiday.
Confidence Surge in the Dating Scene
Single women are equally hopeful about the dating prospects this Saturday night. Lucy Ford, a 24-year-old Perth resident, explained the new dynamic to The West Australian: "Straight away, when me and my friends found out it was on a Saturday, my girlfriend calls me up and she was like, 'we're going to the clubs'." Ms Ford and her friends are banking on a significant surge of confidence among eligible bachelors, given the usual "sorry, I've got a boyfriend" barrier is theoretically out of the equation for this special night.
"Hopefully there's a lot more confidence amongst the male population on Saturday night," Ms Ford continued. "On previous nights out, which aren't Valentine's Day, I don't really get approached much, unfortunately. So, hopefully Saturday night gives them a little bit more of an edge and a bit more of an inclination to come up and speak to us, knowing and assuming that we're all single."
Organised Events and Venue Preparations
Ms Ford and her friends plan to attend the Thursday Dating event at Cottesloe Beach Hotel alongside 800 other singles, all hoping to find meaningful connections. "I don't think I'm going to find the love of my life dancing in a nightclub at 2am, but maybe he will be at a singles event where everyone's got the intention to meet people and to make connections in person," she explained while keeping her options open for potential venue hopping later in the evening.
The Leederville precinct—including The Leederville Hotel, The Garden, Servo Restaurant and Daisy's Red Room—is bracing for an influx of Perth singles ready to mingle. A spokesperson for the area expressed excitement about the evening: "There's never been a better time for singles to get out of the house. We look forward to what promises to be a bumper evening in our late-night spaces. With any luck we'll be welcoming them back for a romantic anniversary celebration next year."
The Rise of Galentine's Celebrations
Not every single woman plans on scanning the room for that special someone. Many are opting instead to celebrate their female friendships through what has become known as "Galentine's Day"—a playful twist on Valentine's Day that may be dismissed by some as clever marketing but is embraced by devotees as a chance to honour friendships and soften the sting of a day that can amplify the realities of being unwillingly single.
A growing number of Perth venues are hosting Galentine's Day events, from bottomless brunches to indulgent five-course dinners. The Aviary is throwing a girls-only pyjama party, with venue manager Isaac Aparelis explaining: "I think appreciation between friends is a nicer way to show your love. Valentine's Day being on a Saturday definitely influenced the decision to steer towards Galentines... it seemed more fun."
Nicky Dhelbai, a 21-year-old participant, shared her enthusiasm: "Galentines this year was kind of just an unspoken thing with my friends. We were all like, this is the Galentines where the plans actually make it out of the group chat." The Beaufort, The Claremont Hotel and Lil's Rooftop Bar are also hosting Galentine's events, alongside countless other venues leaning into the friendship celebration theme.
Family Inclusion and New Traditions
Meanwhile, a new tradition is quietly gaining momentum across Perth, with parents choosing to include their children in date-night celebrations. Beach Street Co in Fremantle has coined "Family Times Day," hosting a movie night under the stars specifically designed for families. A spokesperson explained the concept: "This Year we are celebrating Family Times on Valentine's Day because love isn't just for couples, it's for families too. This is the first time we are bringing that family spirit to Valentine's Day... the fact that it falls on a Saturday helped us focus more on families."
The Manning family represents many Perth households choosing to spend February 14th with their children. Nikaya Manning expressed this perspective: "For us, Valentine's Day is about celebrating the people we love most and that's our Children." This inclusive approach reflects how the holiday's meaning is expanding beyond traditional romantic boundaries.
Traditional Celebrations Still Thriving
Of course, the traditional Valentine's fine dining experiences are also contributing to Perth's unprecedented lively atmosphere this year. A spokesperson from Northbridge's The Rechabite captured the sentiment shared by many couples: "This year feels like the perfect excuse to go all out, no need to rush home on a school night." The Saturday timing allows for more elaborate and extended celebrations than have been possible in recent years when the holiday fell on weekdays.
From singles events to friendship celebrations and family gatherings, Perth is experiencing a Valentine's Day transformation that reflects broader societal shifts in how people view relationships and connection. The Saturday timing has created a perfect storm of opportunity for everyone—whether coupled, single, or somewhere in between—to celebrate love in whatever form matters most to them.
