Lifestyle & Culture

Date ideas on a student budget

Mel shares creative options in advance of Valentine’s Day.

February 13, 2025 By Mel

YouAlberta is written by students for students.

Born and raised in Edmonton, Mel (she/her) is an adventurous first-year PhD student in political science. She is a dedicated yoga practitioner who starts her mornings with yin or vinyasa sessions. On weekends, you’ll often find her exploring the Farmers’ Market or specialty grocery stores in search of new ingredients and culinary inspiration. Mel is an avid fantasy and science fiction reader and supports Edmonton’s arts community. She frequently attends concerts, theatre performances and live shows, from the Citadel to the Edmonton Opera. Mel volunteers with organizations like the Edmonton Global Shapers Hub and the Canuks Autism Network and is currently the president of the Political Sciences Graduate Students’ Association. She strives to publish more articles and ultimately become a professor. Though new to North Campus, you can find her enjoying the natural light in the SUB atrium or unwinding at Dewey’s at the end of a long day.

Valentine’s Day is a fairly polarizing event for most of us. Either you love it or you hate it, which makes sense. It’s a very capitalistic and commodified holiday that often means the spirit of the day gets lost in expectations of flowers, chocolate, gifts and fancy dinners.

I’ve come to love Valentine’s Day, mostly because of my experience working and living in Santiago de Cuba (as part of the U of A study abroad program). The Cuban approach to Valentine’s Day is much more focused on the love between friends and family, which is pretty beautiful. I have fond memories of sitting down to dinner with a group of my Cuban friends and just enjoying each other’s company – fewer gifts involved.

Whether romantic or platonic or otherwise, it’s wonderful to celebrate all the types of love in your life. I think that spending time together and sharing an experience is one of the best ways to show someone you care.

I’ve got a few suggestions for activities in YEG that are low-cost or free so you can get out there and have some fun with any of the important people in your life!

Spend an evening at Crankpots: Ceramic Studios

Crankpots is a wonderful paint-your-own ceramics studio conveniently located close to North Campus. They have many great deals throughout the week, so you can go with what fits your budget and interests. For example, their date night special on Tuesdays and Thursdays gives you a reduced studio and firing fee as well as buy one get one free mugs. Or, if that’s not your thing, students with ID can get free studio fees on Wednesdays from 4 - 9 p.m.

DIY Craft Night

Head to the Edmonton Reuse Centre (6835-83 St.) and explore their huge selection of free arts and crafts supplies, home decor and school supplies. Get inspired by the items you find and head home to work on an art or other creative project together as a group or as a couple. It’s a fun way to be imaginative and also sustainable! Use Pinterest to explore some ideas.

Visit a local observatory to search for stars or planets

Is there anything more romantic (or platonic) than stargazing? You can visit the Telus of World of Science RASC Observatory in Coronation Park for free on Fridays or Saturdays from 7 - 10 p.m. Or, if you’d like to stay on North Campus, visit the Department of Physics Astronomical Observatory for free (see hours below). Bring some hot chocolate and enjoy – now is an especially good time for planet viewing.

Visit the Art Gallery of Alberta (AGA)

The AGA is one of my favourite places in Edmonton. The exhibits change on a frequent basis, so there’s usually something new to see. It's a great way to spark conversations with friends (or a date) and explore beautiful local and international art. The AGA offers free admission for Alberta students and free admission for everyone from 4 - 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of the month. For Valentine’s Day, they also have a buy one admission, get one free special.

Check out an Edmonton Opera show

I recently saw Bluebeard’s Castle at the Jubilee, and I was reminded how much I love opera. If you’ve never been to the opera, I highly encourage you to take a chance and try it out. Given that opera is declining in popularity and less attended by younger demographics, the Edmonton Opera offers free tickets to anyone under 21 as well as discounts for those aged 21 - 35. Take advantage of these deals and try something new!

Volunteer together

This is what I call a social social - that is, date night or group activities that are both socially fulfilling while also contributing to positive social change in the community. You can find some ideas by checking out my recent article Getting involved in Edmonton through off-campus opportunities. What a great way to spread some love this Valentine’s Day!

Whether you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, I hope you can take a break from university life and do something fun with your friends without breaking the bank. Edmonton truly has so much to offer and you don’t need to go far from your campus to find it.

You can find information about some honourable mentions, such as the Muttart Conservatory or Ociciwan Contemporary Art Collective, in my previous article about Rediscovering YEG in Winter.