Washington library hosting anti-Valentine party

On the afternoon of Valentine’s Day, Washington Youth Services Librarian Jenisa Harris said the building planned to hold a party that’s counterintuitive for the date. The theme: “anti-Valentine’s Day.”

“I know Valentine’s Day can be hard for some teens if they aren’t in a relationship or are a little lonely, so I thought it’d be a fun thing to celebrate non-Valentine’s Day,” Harris said. “We’re going to have some games, treats, activities that are kind of anti-Valentine’s Day. It gives them a place to hang out, people to hang out with and celebrate everything not love.”

That list of activities includes a Scattergories game with all relationship-adjacent topics removed, broken heart-shaped cookies, and writing a platonic anti-Valentine.

“(The anti-Valentine) is something that isn’t mushy or gushy, just something silly they can give a friend,” Harris said.

While the free event, aimed at grades 6-12, debuted for the first time last year, Harris said this was its first in-person version.

“I used to do it when I had a group of single friends in school,” she said. “Kind of like Galentine’s Day, you’d go out with some of your friends, dress up, eat out, and just celebrate being friends together. So I kind of thought it would be fun to make that into a teen program.”

The anti-Valentine’s Day party is scheduled from 4-5 p.m. at the library on Monday, Feb. 14.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com