It is February, and that means Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Many think of Valentine’s Day as time to spend with a special someone, but that is not always the case. Plenty of single people enjoy spending quality time on Valentine’s Day with those who are not a significant other. They can spend time alone, or do things with friends or family to still have a good time on a day typically thought of for romance.

DePaul senior Doug Oberman suggested exploring all that Chicago has to offer with loved ones.

“There are so many things to do in Chicago,” Oberman said. “We have countless museums, tons of parks and so many places to see shows and movies. You can also hit up a friend who’s single and make a fun day out of it.”

Oberman said single people can still spend Valentine’s Day with others they love.

“Valentine’s Day doesn’t just have to be about your significant other,” Oberman said. “It can be a day to show your friends and family how much you care about them by going and doing something you’ve always wanted to do together.”

In downtown Chicago, the Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium are all free for Illinois residents this Valentine’s Day. Additionally, all DePaul students get in free to the Art Institute of Chicago, located right by DePaul’s Loop campus and the Chicago History Museum, also near campus in Lincoln Park. 

Exploring some of these historical landmarks in Chicago is an option. The weather is expected to be an unseasonably nice 50 degrees on Valentine’s Day as well, so walking around and sightseeing outside in downtown Chicago is another possibility. The Bean and Millennium Park both have a lot of spots to snap pictures with friends or family. 

For DePaul students interested in sports, consider heading to Wintrust Arena. The men’s basketball team hosts St. John’s on Valentine’s Day night at 8 p.m., and tickets can be reserved for free. Bus transportation is also free if desired, departing outside the Sullivan Athletic Center entrance. 

Former Blue Demon forward David Jones makes his anticipated return to Wintrust Arena after transferring to St. John’s last season.

Even though Chicago is a city with so many things to do, not everyone chooses to take advantage of them. For students like senior Jule Cuasay, Valentine’s Day is just another day on the calendar.

“I usually just chill or watch whatever’s on TV, sports stuff or just listen to Valentine’s Day style songs,” Cuasay said. “It’s mostly a chill day for me, sometimes I just hang out with friends. 

Cuasay enjoys having time to himself on Valentine’s Day, but does hope to eventually do more activities.

“Because I’m single, I really don’t do anything major on Valentine’s Day,” he said. “In the past, I’ve greeted all of my friends with a ‘happy Valentine’s Day’ in school and just went home afterwards. In the future, I would like to go to a nice dinner on Valentine’s Day.”

Valentine’s Day can also be a time to love yourself by spending time alone and relaxing after a long day of class and activities on campus, said UIC senior Travis Morales.

“The possibilities of things to do are endless,” Morales said. “You can wind down and enjoy a peaceful meditation session, journal your thoughts and write down your goals for the next day. You can also get a quick workout in, look for a new book to read or simply just think about how lucky you are to have this much time for yourself.”

Despite being a day usually reserved for love and romance, the city of Chicago offers everyone a chance to have an enjoyable Valentine’s Day, whether you are in a relationship or single. It is possible to celebrate a day correlated with love by instead loving those close to us and ourselves, instead of a significant other.