# Valentine's Cook-Along Events Whole Foods' Valentine's Day Series Explores Love-Themed Occasions By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2021-02-08 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cook-along-event References: [specialtyfood](https://www.specialtyfood.com/news/article/whole-foods-hosts-cook-along-events-valentines-day/) This Valentine's Day, people are looking for fun ways to break out of tradition, especially as they won't be celebrating in the same way as in previous years, and [Whole Foods](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whole-malk) is introducing a series of cook-along events for the holiday. The virtual event series hosted by comedians Heather McMahan and Matt Bellassai, and actress Tabitha Brown, covers three different love-focused occasions. There's one event for Galentine's Day, another for Valentine's Day itself and a third event for [Singles Awareness Day](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/daves-single-cheeseburger). The virtual events will run for up to 45 minutes and they give those who tune in the chance to have their questions answered in real-time. Tickets for the Gourmet Date for Good events help to support local restaurants and bars affected by [COVID](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myhealthteams)-19. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 17% | Activity: 38% | Freshness: 9% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Food](https://www.trendhunter.com/food) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Virtual Cook-along Events:** The rise of virtual events presents an opportunity for companies to create engaging experiences that support local businesses and provide an interactive way of celebrating special occasions. - **Alternative Valentine's Day Celebrations:** As people look for creative ways to celebrate Valentine's Day, companies can create unique experiences that cater to different love-focused occasions, including Galentine's Day and Singles Awareness Day. - **Comedians and Influencers as Hosts:** Collaborating with comedians or influencers can bring an element of entertainment to virtual events and attract a wider audience. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Food Retail:** More food retailers can offer virtual cook-along events to engage customers in a new experience of cooking and dining, while supporting local restaurants and bars. - **Hospitality and Event Planning:** Companies in the hospitality and event planning industry can innovate and offer new channels for consumers to celebrate events through virtual experiences. - **Entertainment and Media:** Major media outlets and entertainment companies can utilize comedians and influencers to host virtual events and create unique experiences that are both entertaining and interactive. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Charitable Valentine’s Day Activities](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aw-shucks.md) - [Multi-Course Valentine's Meal Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentines-meal-kit.md) - [Anti-Valentine's Dinner Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sour-hearts-social-club.md) - [Four-Course Fondue Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentines-day-at-melting-pot.md) - [Specialty Meal LTO](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/date-night-box-and-the-big-game-bites-box.md) - [Romantic Plant-Based Meal Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-valentines-day-meal.md) - [Valentine's Day Dining Research](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentines-day-dining-research.md) - [Valentine’s Day Dinner Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/love-shack.md) - [Cow-Themed Romantic Movies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stonyfield-organic-1.md)