Valentine's Day Dinner & Dancing at Lanier Islands

Make this Valentine’s Day something more than a standard dinner reservation. Lanier Islands transforms the evening into a lakeside escape with cocktail hour, a multi-course dinner, and live music that keeps you on the floor until the lights come up. The resort setting means you’re trading city traffic for water views and a pace that actually feels like a getaway.

This works best as an overnight trip. Book a lakeside rental on Lake.com near the islands, arrive early enough to walk the shoreline before you dress for dinner, then sleep in the next morning with coffee overlooking calm water. February nights at the lake can dip into the 30s and 40s, so bring a wrap or jacket for any outdoor moments between venues.

Tickets typically include dinner, drinks, and dancing, but check if gratuity or valet parking cost extra. Couples and groups of friends fill the event, so if you prefer a quieter vibe, this leans festive rather than intimate. If the dinner sells out, consider planning your own lakefront Valentine’s weekend with a reservation at one of Gainesville’s farm-to-table spots, then an evening stroll at one of the lake’s sunset parks.