Valentine’s Day makes us think of warmth and springtime and going out again. Mid-February is the time when snow may still be on the ground but the end seems in sight. St. Valentine himself, who died in the year 273, was affiliated with love and romance through his position as a clergyman who purportedly conducted secret marriage ceremonies for those truly in love.

In Connecticut, Valentine’s Day weekend marks a time when cultural events really get going again after the holiday lull. A lot of theaters and dance companies are rolling out the first shows of the year. A lot of bands start touring again. In the stand-up comedy world, Valentine’s gigs have become a solid opportunity for comedians. People in love, it seems, love to laugh.

Here are a slew of other lovey-dovey events happening between Feb. 13 and 15, with a focus on live stage shows and shows that made Valentine’s Day or love in general a theme of the event.

CT ballet company’s ‘Be My Valentine’ part of a dance-filled cultural love fest

There are many smoothly crooned love songs associated with members of the Rat Pack. Impersonators of three of that legendary pack —Jesse Posa as Frank Sinatra, Joe Perce as Dean Martin and Lloyd Diamond as Sammy Davis Jr. — offer “A Rat Pack Valentine’s Day” on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at Mohegan Sun’s Cabaret Theatre, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. in Uncasville for $25-$50.

Pianist Jason Castonguay is playing love songs in a concert at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Hebron on Feb. 15 at 3 p.m. The concert is called “A Valentine of Love” and the suggested donation is $10-$20.

The Goza Latin Band provides the live music for “Love in the City,” a candlelit concert on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. in the Bond Ballroom at 338 Asylum St. in Hartford. Tickets are $39.19-$49.87.

The “Prince” in the “Prince of Love Valentine Show” Feb. 14 at 6 p.m. at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards, 56 Pole Bridge Road in Newtown, refers to the Prince tribute band Purple Luscious Love playing in an intimate space. There’s a wine tasting room, with wines as well as non-alcoholic drinks for sale. Tickets are $40.

In comedy, Sea Tea Improv offers three different Valentine’s improv events in its Sea Tea Comedy Theater at 15 Asylum St. On Feb. 13 at 9 p.m., it’s “Love Shack: A Valentine’s Variety Show” with music and sketch comedy as well as improv. On Feb. 14, there are two separate shows: “Sing Your Heart Out: A 100% Made-Up Valentine’s Day Musical” at 7 p.m. and a “Romantic Baby & Friends Valentine’s Day Special” at 9 p.m. Romantic Baby is one of the enduring improv troupes at the theater. Given its name, it’s only natural they get a Valentine slot. It’s just $10 admission to see any of the Sea Tea shows.

Nothing says love more than Motown this week in CT arts

New Haven has its own improv troupe, The Regicides, created by the Broken Umbrella Theatre company. The Regicides have named their Feb. 14 appearance “Ready to Love You More” because there are two separate performances at 7 and 8:30 p.m. in the Lotta Studio, 903-911 Whalley Ave. in New Haven’s Westville neighborhood. The suggested donation is $20, with beer and wine for sale plus complimentary refreshments.

“My (Unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical,” on Feb. 14 at 3 and 8 p.m. for $35 in the Garde Arts Center at 325 State St. in New London, may sound a bit like Sea Tea Improv’s made-up Valentine’s Day musical” but is rather different. Eloise Coopersmith created this fondly parodic self-empowering show which features one actor live onstage and numerous others appearing through projections and other media.

Stand-up comedy shows are a fun way to spend Valentine’s Day. Seven Angels Theatre’s four-comic event is titled “No Love Lost” and features Frank Vignola, John Iavarone, Amy Barrett and headliner Richie Byrne on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. for $50. The “Valentine’s Lovers and Friends Dinner & Comedy Show” event Feb. 15 at Creative Venue & Rentals, 40 Logan St. in Bridgeport, is a long one, lasting from 4:30 to 10 p.m. and including dinner and three comedians: Angel Rentas, Mizzconduct and Joe Cook. Tickets range from $60.54-$119.22. “Xtreme Comedy: A Valentines Show” on Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. at Cabaret on Main, 597 Main St. in East Haven is packed with five laugh-getters, Sharon Simon, Davey Lozano, Jasmine Mills, Cara Amore and host Jonny Benson, for $48.10.

One Valentine’s event that takes the dating concept to new levels is “Pre-Heated Rivalry’ Queer Men’s Comedy Dating Show” presented by Sky Casper Entertainment on Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. at New Park Brewing, 485 New Park Ave. in West Hartford. It’s described as “a live queer men’s comedy dating show where blind dates, bold questions, and unhinged banter collide in one Valentine’s night of chaos and connection.” As if that wasn’t intriguing enough, the event is hosted by Loosey LaDuca, the Connecticut drag queen who competed on the 15th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Admission is $20.

https://www.courant.com/2026/02/10/concerts-comedy-and-more-to-love-on-valentines-day-weekend-in-ct/