All around Nelson Mandela Bay shops and restaurants are putting their reddest foot forward; hearts fill windows, flowers are being displayed and chocolate, champagne and cards are on special.

It can only mean one thing: Valentine’s Day is coming to town! How will you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year?

While we all know that love should be celebrated 365 days a year, a day like Valentine’s Day is just another day to make that special someone in your life feel extra special; whether you are celebrating the day of St. Valentine with big flowers, gifts and chocolate or celebrating it by staying in with your loved one or family to watch a DVD with some popcorn.  

Here are a few ideas of things to do in and around Port Elizabeth that will make Cupid grab his bow and arrow…

7 Ideas for Valentine’s Day in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Go on a Picnic

We have a variety of picnic spots to choose from in Nelson Mandela Bay; from the beach, to the heights or Lady Slipper, to the wild bushveld of the Greater Addo region to the green lush indigenous forests right on our doorstep.  You can pack your own picnic basket and head to a special spot or you can even have someone pack it for you and just sit down, relax and walk away from the dishes.

Read about the perfect picnic spots in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Watch the Sunset

As you wrap your hands around your special person, stand in awe of Mother Nature and watch how she wraps her sunlit hands around the horizon during golden hour along the coast of the Bay.

Get Pampered

Get rid of the tension in your muscles or just go get pampered from head to toe with your special person by your side. There are numerous spa and wellness facilities in Port Elizabeth, Despatch, Uitenhage and Addo. And to find a spa special around Valentine’s Day is a given... keep your eyes open for the not-to-miss specials.

Celebrate a Little Bit Earlier

Celebrate Valentine’s Day a little bit earlier and enjoy the food truck culture of Baakens Food Truck Friday (10 February) by bringing your own picnic blanket and camp chairs. You can enjoy free entry, meals for R45 and under, live music, a design market as well as activities for kids.  

Head to the Opera House until the 12th of February for another brilliant stage production; Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoat. Enjoy this family favourite that still features all of the fun, light-hearted, magical songs like Any Dream Will Do, Close Every Door To me and One More Angel In Heaven.

For the music lovers, there is the Liefling Concert on the 10th of February at La Colline. The world class song writer and singer, Rudi Claasse, and the incredibly talented Charne Hugo will have a performance for one night only. Their music is old and new, and in both English and Afrikaans.

Another event not to miss before Valentine’s Day is the Valentine’s Festival on the 11th of February at the Londt Park Sports Club where you can enjoy food, arts and crafts and exhibits.

Painting with Grapes

Try something new, creative and romantic with your partner this Valentine’s Day by joining a beginners step-by-step painting and wine class at the soArt Studio in Kragga Kamma. Each person will receive a canvas to keep, a welcome drink, snacks, 2 additional drinks of their choice and a step-by-step class.

Watch a Show

Spend a romantic evening at the Boardwalk with Judy Boucher who will headline the show. Judy has had international success with many of her songs including her No 1 hit - Can`t be with you Tonight, Dreaming of a Little Island and Tears on my Pillow. Judy holds the record for being the first female artist from the Caribbean to have the longest stay in the national charts and was voted as one of the top 25 most influential Vincentian songs in Jamaica.

Judy will be supported by two of South Africa`s top performing and award winning artists: Alistair Izobell and Garth Taylor.

Make a weekend of it

Extend Valentine’s Day for a few days and make a weekend of it by going on a short getaway to one of the Bay’s numerous bush or sea getaways; whether you want to go all out and have five star treatment or settle for something a little more budget-friendly, we really have endless options of places to go and things to experience.

To make the experiences even more affordable you can always pick up a Nelson Mandela Bay Pass to get great value for money with discounts and free entries.

Whatever you decide to do this Valentine’s Day, be safe and be responsible!