Things to do in Orange County to Celebrate Valentine’s Day: Family Movie Night

Valentine’s day isn’t only a holiday for couples- it’s for the whole family! It’s the perfect opportunity to show your children just how much they mean to you and vice versa. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Orange County to celebrate the holiday with your little ones, consider a themed movie night!

Here’s a list of the best kid-friendly movies that put extra emphasis on relationships and love: 

1) The Parent Trap (1998) 

A tale of reunited love and sisterhood, this 90s classic is sure to be a fun watch for the whole family. It follows the story of two long lost twin sisters as they meet unexpectedly and decide to switch places without telling anyone. Madness ensues as they both try to figure out how to avoid getting caught acting as the opposite twin, reunite their family, and stop their father from marrying a wickedly selfish woman. Ultimately, what makes this film special for Valentine’s watch party is the twins’ mischievous but sweet plan to try to get their parents’ to rediscover their love for one another. 

2) The Princess Diaries (2001) 

Join Mia Thermopolis as she grapples with navigating the royal way of life after learning she’s an actual princess. If you’re looking for a movie that doesn’t focus too much on romantic love, this may be exactly what you’re looking for. Instead, this story turns its attention to the love between family members, the struggle to find yourself, and learning to balance between the needs of your family, friends, and yourself. Overall, this coming-of-age comedy is light-hearted and endearing, making it the perfect film for everyone to enjoy.

3) Beauty And The Beast (2017) 

Beauty And The Beast is a film all about not judging a book by its cover. Everybody knows the  1991 version is a classic, but the live-action remake beautifully reimagines the story using impressive CGI technology, musical numbers, and an incredibly talented cast. Just in case you need a refresher, it follows the adventures of quiet Belle as she finds herself imprisoned at a desolate castle. There, she meets new friends, as well as the reclusive Beast who must learn to love and undo his selfish ways. It’s a story about making sacrifices for the ones you love, and what better way to spend Valentine’s than watching a movie with a theme as heartwarming as that?

4) Enchanted (2007) 

Enchanted is a special movie because it geniously pays homage to the classic fairytale movie while still poking fun at it. The main character, Giselle, perfectly sums up the average princess- she’s kind, beautiful, infectiously happy, loves to sing, and is waiting for her prince to rescue her. However, her princess story goes off-script when she suddenly finds herself lost in present day New York City. In the end, Enchanted revolves around true love, with the main lesson being that your happily ever after might not look how you’d always imagined it to. 

5) Shrek (2001) 

Got some childish little ones who cringe at all things lovey-dovey and girlish? Try ditching the traditional love story and opt for something like Shrek! In this movie, loner ogre Shrek must rescue Princess Fiona in order to regain the deed to his swamp. Thanks to his talkative donkey sidekick and the empathetic princess, Shrek eventually learns the importance of friendships and teaches the audience to love people for who they are on the inside, including themselves. Shrek is also well known for its kid-friendly yet adult-oriented humor, so parents can enjoy this film just as much as kids. Equal parts love story and burp jokes, Shrek really does have something for everyone. 

Things to do in Orange County for Valentine’s day are a bit in short supply right now because of social distancing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything at all! A family movie night featuring your favorite flicks is a great way to spread joy on this lovely holiday. Just use this list to inspire your viewing, cook up some tasty movie snacks, and you’ll be sure to have a fantastic night! 

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