Looking for a Valentine’s Day gift but want to avoid the mad dash to the drugstore, or the overpriced flowers? Here are some ideas for Valentine gifts with a local twist. Celebrate your Valentine, while also celebrating the Queen City.
Local Chocolate
If you’re going to buy chocolates as a gift, don’t buy the waxy mass-produced stuff. There are some wonderful chocolatiers in the Charlotte area. Learn about Charlotte chocolate makers!
Shop at a Market
Visit one of these artisan or vintage markets for truly local gifts.
Local Cats
Book a visit to a cat café. You can just enjoy a coffee and socializing with the cats. Or maybe you’ll have a love connection and adopt one. Learn about 5 cat cafes in Charlotte.
Sports
Charlotte FC’s third season starts soon. Single match tickets are on sale now, starting at just $15!
Individual game ticket are also available for the Charlotte Checkers.
And check for Charlotte Hornets tickets.
Another idea for sports fans is merchandise from our local teams. Shop from these team stores:
Entertainment
Maybe the best gift is looking forward to more time to spend together. And what better way than going to a show together. Check out the websites of these local venues and buy tickets for an upcoming show!
- The Evening Muse
- Neighborhood Theatre
- Visulite Theatre
- Petra’s
- Blumenthal Performing Arts
- The BOplex
- PNC Music Pavilion
- AvidXchange Music Factory
If you’re looking into a concert at one of the North Carolina Music Factory venues, or PNC Music Pavilion, make sure to check Groupon first for discounts!
Local Art
Share your love of the Queen City with the person you love, through art. You can find the work of Charlotte artists at Pura Vida Worldly Art, Charlotte Art League (tour the working studios and get in touch with the artists to purchase work), Brooklyn Collective, VAPA Center and more. In fact, here’s a big list of Charlotte art galleries, museums and events.
Shop at Museums
Museum stores are the best! They often stock items you can’t find anywhere else. Some museum stores in Charlotte (not all of them offer online shopping):
Local Drinks
Charlotte is home to several distilleries. Share some local spirits! Tours are sometimes available at some of the distilleries as well.
- Seven Jars Distillery, 6148 Brookshire Blvd, Charlotte (rum, vodka, and whiskey)
- Great Wagon Road Distilling Company, 610 Anderson Street, Charlotte(whiskey)
- Muddy River Distillery, 1500 River Street, Belmont (rum)
If your Valentine’s tastes run more along the lines of beer, don’t worry. There are too many breweries to list, and many gift opportunities!
Charlotte Swag
Keep it really local with CLT Find, who curates products from Charlotte’s best makers. Often the products have a Charlotte theme. You can shop online, or find them at Market at 7th Street, 224 E. 7th Street, or Cotswold Marketplace, 200 N. Sharon Amity Road.
More places to shop for Charlotte-themed items are Glory Days Apparel and the 704 Shop.
Local Hot Sauce
If your loved one likes it hot, the perfect gift is Sabancaya hot sauce, from Delgados Fuego. It’s a secret recipe from Peru, made right here in Charlotte. Normally you can find Delgados Fuego at farmers’ markets, but you can order online too. They will deliver to your doorstep.