Valentine’s Day in Southern California doesn’t have to mean prix-fixe dinners or crowded restaurants. In fact, it can look more like dancing, singing, and celebrating with the people you love.
From orchestral performances and candlelit concerts to late-night dance parties and immersive live experiences, venues across the region are leaning into Valentine’s plans that prioritize atmosphere over formality. Whether the night calls for a packed dance floor or a quieter seat in a concert hall, this lineup of shows offers options for couples, friends, and solo celebrators alike.
Here’s a list of shows slated for Valentine’s Day weekend.
Angel City Brewery in the Arts District is holding a free throwback New Year’s Eve party. (Photo by Dean Musgrove, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Goth Night- Valentine’s Day Edition
For emo millennials ready to break out the black eyeliner and Doc Martens — whether with friends or a significant other — this may be the spot. Hosted by Angel City Brewery, the event invites attendees to dress in black and settle in for an evening of dark wave and goth music spun by a live DJ. Instead of leaning into traditional Valentine’s romance, the night embraces mood, atmosphere, and subcultural style, making it a fitting option for those who want their plans to feel a little unconventional.
When: Thursday, Feb. 12, starting at 8 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.)
Where: Angel City Brewery, 216 S Alameda St, Los Angeles
Tickets: Free entry; reservations recommended via Eventbrite.com.
Dudamel Conducts Beethoven and Lorenz: Featuring Yunchan Lim & Cate Blanchett
For Valentine’s plans that lean reflective rather than flashy, this concert offers an evening rooted in music, storytelling, and shared emotion. Led by Gustavo Dudamel at Walt Disney Concert Hall, the program centers on themes of imagination, freedom, and human connection. Highlights include the world premiere of Humboldt’s Nature by composer Ricardo Lorenz, a performance of Schumann’s Piano Concerto by pianist Yunchan Lim, and a reimagined presentation of Goethe’s work featuring narration by Cate Blanchett alongside Beethoven’s music performed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
When: Saturday, Feb. 14, starting at 8 p.m.
Where: Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles
Tickets: laphil.com.
Brassroots District: LA ’74
Rather than a sit-back-and-watch performance, Brassroots District: LA ’74 invites audiences into the middle of the dance floor. Set inside the historic Catch One, the Valentine’s Day experience unfolds as a live, time-specific story, placing guests inside a 1970s Los Angeles club on the night a funk band’s future is on the line. Music drives the action, with a nine-piece band anchoring the evening as the narrative unfolds around them.
When: Saturday, Feb. 14, starting at 6 p.m.
Where: Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
Tickets: Available online; ages 21+; multiple ticket tiers offered at Feverup.com.
Reggaeton and Hip-Hop Party – Catch One
This late-night party brings high-energy reggaeton and hip-hop to one of Los Angeles’ most storied venues. Hosted by Sooper Vibes as part of the Quiere Perreo party series, the event takes over Catch One with nonstop music built for movement. DJs spin a mix of reggaeton, Latin hits, and hip-hop through the early morning hours, creating a packed, celebratory atmosphere that’s less about romance and more about letting loose. It’s an ideal option for singles, couples, or groups of friends looking to turn Valentine’s Day into a full-scale night out.
When: Friday, Feb. 14, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Where: Catch One, 4067 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles
Tickets: Free with RSVP before 10:30 p.m. (18+) or 11 p.m. (21+); available online at Eventbrite.com.
The popular Candlelight concert series will return to Los Angeles on Dec. 18 and Jan. 11 with a new program celebrating the music of The Beatles, performed by the Orchid Quartet at Zipper Concert Hall.
(Photo courtesy of Fever)
Candlelight Downtown LA
For a Valentine’s experience that feels intimate without being overdone, these candlelit concerts offer a quieter kind of spectacle. Presented by Candlelight Concerts, the performances take place in historic venues across Los Angeles and Long Beach, with musicians performing surrounded by hundreds of glowing candles. Rather than a single show, the series offers multiple programs throughout the weekend, allowing couples and friends to choose an evening that suits their tastes and schedules. One standout option includes a Downtown L.A. program celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, pairing classic songs with an atmosphere that feels timeless and transportive.
When: Friday, Feb. 13, and Sunday, Feb. 15,
Where: Various historic venues across Los Angeles and Long Beach, including The Biltmore Los Angeles
Tickets: Available online; seating varies by venue and performance at Feverup.com.
The Jazz Room: A Journey to the Heart of New Orleans
If your idea of a Valentine’s night includes live musicians reacting to one another in real time, this performance leans into that kind of spontaneity. The Jazz Room stages an hour-long set that mirrors the loose, collaborative spirit of New Orleans jazz, where no two moments sound quite the same. Hosted at the Historic Glendale Theater, the show favors improvisation and interplay over polish, allowing saxophone lines, trumpet flourishes, and rhythm changes to shape the evening as it unfolds. It’s a pick for listeners who want the night to feel alive rather than scripted.
When: Saturday, Feb. 14, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Historic Glendale Theater, 324 N. Orange St., Glendale
Tickets: Available online; ages 18+; seating within ticketed zones at Feverup.com.