Once Upon A Valentine™

Each February in Saint Charles, love takes center stage on Historic Main Street as our Valentine's Celebration, Once Upon a Valentine™: Stories for the Loved & Loveless, unfolds. This micro festival blends history, fun, and spirited entertainment for locals and visitors alike. Join us for an array of activities embracing both the adoration and the playful disdain for Valentine's Day traditions.

This festival caters to a diverse audience, ensuring an inclusive experience for families, friends, and those seeking unconventional V-Day activities. With a combination of pro and anti-Valentine's Day programming, Once Upon a Valentine™ promises something for everyone, whether you're a hopeless romantic or you roll your eyes when the heart-shaped candy boxes hit store shelves.

A highlight of the event is the STC Valentine's Cards initiative, allowing guests to collect charming postcard-sized valentines from various activity locations. These cards feature quaint images of St. Charles and offer intriguing snippets of Valentine's Day history, connecting visitors to the holiday's lesser-known backstories and fun facts.

"Pro"-Valentine's Day Activities:

• Card Making with Casanova Craft your own old-fashioned Valentine's cards with the infamous king of romance, Casanova.
• Romeo & Juliet - Shakespearean Love Sonnets Spin the “Wheel-O-Sonnets” to hear the star-crossed lovers recite some of the Bard’s most iconic words of affection.
• Cupid's Archery Practice Test your bow & arrow skills as you take aim at heart-shaped targets during Cupid's archery challenge.
• Love is Universal Celebrate international love traditions as two French tango dancers inspire you to bust a move.

​"Anti"-Valentine's Day Activities:

• Don't Go Breaking my Art Release frustrations through art therapy under the guidance of famed jilted bride Miss Havisham, channeling a Great Expectations vibe.
• St. Valentine's Day Massacre Gangsters Get your mugshot taken with some quirky 1920s gangsters, as they remind you that February 14^th has been a historical day of infamy.
• Six Wives of Henry VIII Commiserate with the Tudor Queens as they share their ill-fated experiences with ex-husband, Henry VIII, culminating in a candy-filled heart-shaped piñata smashing.

Musical Entertainment:

Two a cappella singing groups, The Conversation Hearts and The Lonely Hearts Club, will provide the event’s soundtrack with a variety of love ballads and breakup anthems.

Head to the Gazebo in Kister Park on Saturday afternoon to join the "Heartbreak Hymnal" sing-a-long. 

Sunday concludes with a large-scale vow renewal ceremony, inviting lovebirds to join dozens of other couples at the iconic Main Street gazebo for a symbolic reaffirmation of love. If you are looking for an opportunity to celebrate with your significant other, join us and say "I Do"... again!