Get ready to celebrate, because it's that time of year again. Thanks to NBC's hysterical workplace comedyParks and Recreation, we've been given the gift of Galentine's Day.
How to Watch
Watch every episode of Parks and Recreation on Peaco*ck.
Galentine's Day, invented by the endlessly charming Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), is an honorary holiday similar to Valentine's Day with one major exception: it's a day all about the gals. Defined by waffles with extra whipped cream and mimosas,Parks and Recfans far and wide ditch their dudes on Galentine's Day to gather with their gal pals. Leslie describes the holiday best: "What's Galentine's Day? Oh, it's only the best day of the year. Every February 13, my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home, and we just come and kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrate ladies. It's like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus frittatas."
Galentine's Day has all the same perks as its inspiring holiday without any romantic rejection, so it's no secret that it's still celebrated by fans years after the series finale.Galentine's Day is more than a holiday; it's a lifestyle. Leslie and her crew celebrated Galentine's a few times throughout the show's seven seasons. And the real-life Galentine's gals have reunited many times before, including in 2023.
Rewatch all your favorite episodes ofParks and Recreationon Peaco*ck now. Here are the Galentine's ones:
"Galentine's Day" (Season 2, Episode 16)
The birth of the tradition: the very first Galentine's celebration. Fans first learned about Galentine's Day when she gathered all her closest lady friends and her mother to have brunch and exchange hyper-personalized gifts. After Leslie's mom shares a romantic story about a long-lost love, Leslie dedicates her efforts to rekindling the former flames. Spoiler alert: It doesn't go smoothly! But would we love Leslie if it ever did? This is also when the romance between Andy (Chris Pratt) and April (Aubrey Plaza) begins, so it's a real Valentine's treat.
"Operation Ann" (Season 4, Episode 14)
After the massive success of Galentine's Day in the second season, Parks and Rec celebrated the holiday again in Season 4, and it's a hilarious episode. After the ladies (and Leslie's mom) share their romantic exploits over brunch, Leslie realizes Ann (Rashida Jones) doesn't have a Valentine after recently ending things with Chris (Rob Lowe). Have no fear: Matchmaker Leslie is here!With the help of April and Tom(Aziz Ansari), Leslie goes on the hunt for a man for Ann at the Parks and Recreation Valentine's dance. But surprise: Ann leaves the dance to go on a date... with Tom! The relationship doesn't stick, but he knows how to make Ann laugh, so it was a surprising and fun way for Ann to cure the Valentine's Day blues.
"Galentine's Day" (Season 6, Episode 17)
The final Galentine's celebration takes place in Season 6 after Leslie decides to throw a Galentine's Day brunch to help deal with her newfound loneliness after Ann moves away. In an innocent yet misguided attempt to make a new best friend, Leslie invites all the Parks and Rec girls, plus "Fake Ann," to a brunch and asks them all intimate questions while secreting ranking their answers based on friendship compatibility. The ladies of the cast shine in this episode while they share unexpected quips about their lives, but it all comes to a head after the group learns about Leslie's ranking system. Luckily, Leslie manages to make it up to her gal pals by the end.
