MAIN EVENT: Sweet Valentine’s activities for all ages

There are a variety of Valentines events for the whole family in this MAIN EVENT.

Families looking for a fun way to celebrate can join the Hearts in the Park Scavenger Hunt, which began Thursday and continues through Sunday. Pick up a map at the Poplar Bluff Library or the Parks & Recreation Department and head to Hendrickson Park to find hidden hearts and win prizes.

Parents looking for a romantic evening have the Valentine’s Parents Night Out at Unity Academy, beginning at 5:30 p.m. and offers childcare, snacks and movies for kids on Valentine’s Day evening. What to do with that time? One option is the Valentine’s Dinner and Show at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, an evening of piano music, dancing and food. It begins at 6 p.m.

Other upcoming events include:

— Poplar Bluff Optimist Soccer League sign ups, open through Feb. 21. WHERE Whiteley Park. WHAT A soccer league for students enrolled in kindergarten through sixth grade. Practices will tentatively begin the first week of March, games on the last week of March. Register at pbparks.recdesk.com.

— Freedom & Misty acoustic music at Jake’s Loch Loma Lounge, 8-11 p.m. Feb. 14. WHERE 1815 Highway W. WHAT Live music, dinner and drinks, with chocolate strawberries and champagne while they last.

— Hearts in the Park, all day Feb. 13-16. WHERE Hendrickson Park. COST Free. WHAT The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library and the Parks & Recreation Department are teaming up for a Valentine scavenger hunt. Open to kids and teens of all ages. Pick up a map, take your kids on an adventure to find all the hidden hearts in the park, and win a prize! Prizes and maps are available at the library and Parks & Rec office during business hours.

— Black River Gun Show, Feb. 14-16 WHERE Black River Coliseum WHAT Feb. 14, 4-8 p.m.; Feb. 15, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.;and Feb. 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., buy, sell, trade and display guns, knives and related items.

— Valentine’s Parents’ Night Out, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 14 WHERE Unity Academy COST $20-$30 per child WHAT Games, snacks, a movie and more will provided for children while parents have a night out.

— Valentine’s dinner and show, 6 p.m. Feb. 14 WHERE Tinnin Fine Arts Center COST $60 WHAT An evening of dinner, music, and dancing featuring a special meal catered by Tasteful Creations, piano music by Michael Michelson, and after-dinner dancing with Murphy Music and Media.

— Drive-Thru Chili Luncheon, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 15. WHERE 1450 Garfield St. COST $8 per meal, drinks cost an extra $1. WHAT A chili fundraiser benefiting Brown Chapel AME Church School and Northside Community Center. Each meal includes a bowl of chili with crackers, a peanut butter or pimento cheese sandwich, and dessert.

— Wreath making class 1-4 p.m. Feb. 15. WHERE Mustardseed Artisan Market. COST $30. WHAT Make wreaths with a “Farmhouse” or “Home Sweet Home” theme. Class size is limited to 10, register through the Mustardseed Artisan Market Facebook page.

— Teen Writer’s Group with special guest author Elizabeth Enochs, 11:30 p.m.-1 p.m. Feb. 15. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library Main Branch. COST Free. WHAT A group for young writers to share support and feedback. Elizabeth Enochs is from Southeast Missouri and the author of “Leaving the House Unlocked.”

— Silver Screen Sundays,  “Cool Hand Luke,” 2-4 p.m. Feb. 16 WHERE Rodgers Theatre COST Free WHAT Regular movie event

— Wolf Creek Connector Trail Inaugural 5K Run/Walk, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 18 WHERE Wolf Creek Connector trail, 2535 Township Line Road COST $10 WHAT The event will explore the new trail connector. Proceeds benefit the Poplar Bluff Trails Coalition. Medals will be awarded. The connector links the community trail system to the Wolf Creek Trail.

— Days for Girls workshop, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Feb. 20. WHERE Hendrickson Annex, 1500 N. 13th St. WHAT Days for Girls assembles sustainable menstrual care kits for girls in need, helping to ensure dignity and access to education. Volunteers are can stay however long they prefer. All are welcome to join, regardless of sewing experience. Sewing tasks include sewing shields, liners, and bags. Non-sewing tasks include tracing patterns, cutting fabric, assembling kits, ironing, and packaging materials.

— Missouri Rice Council 2025 Annual Meeting, 5-8 p.m. Feb. 20. WHERE Holiday Inn. COST Free. WHAT The Missouri Rice Research & Merchandising Council’s yearly meeting. The event will kick off with a happy hour reception at 5 p.m., followed by dinner and the evening’s program beginning at 6 p.m. Program highlights include research and market presentations, as well as updates from the US Rice Producers Association. A steak dinner will be catered by Tasteful Creations. Visit missouririce.com/events for more information.

— Surplus Sale, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 21. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library Main Branch. WHAT A sale of surplus library equipment and furniture. Cash, check and card are accepted, sales are final. Items and pricing are online at poplarbluff.org/surplus.

— Kids Day at the Museum, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 22 WHERE Stars and Stripes Museum, Bloomfield COST Free WHAT The day will be spent celebrating the life and works of Shel Silverstein. There will be story-time, crafts and more.

— 19th Annual Chili Cook-Off, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 22 WHERE Black River Coliseum COST Free to public, donations appreciated WHAT Local teams will compete to spice things up with the best chili. All proceeds to benefit the United Gospel Rescue Mission.

— Outlaw Eagles concert, 7 p.m. Feb. 22 WHERE Rodgers Theatre COST $20 WHAT Doors open at 5:30 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Poplar Bluff Regional Giving Circle.

— Silver Screen Sundays,  “Adam’s Rib,” 2-4 p.m. Feb. 23 WHERE Rodgers Theatre COST Free WHAT Regular movie event

— Author Fair Planning Meeting, 1-2:10 p.m. Feb. 25. WHERE Poplar Bluff Municipal Library Main Branch. WHAT A public meeting to plan the next book festival. It will be held in the Wolpers Room and via Zoom.

— Trivia Night, 5 p.m. Feb. 27 WHERE Holiday Inn COST $150 per six person team WHAT All proceeds benefit Three Rivers College scholarships, includes dinner.

ALL MONTH

— Brian Alworth Exhibit, Jan. 21-Feb. 23 WHERE Tinnin Fine Arts Center COST Free WHAT Nature photography by KFVS’ Brian Alworth.

— Lenard Hinds Exhibit, Jan. 11-Feb. 23 WHERE Margaret Harwell Art Museum COST Free WHAT Painter Lenard Hinds is the featured artist for January and February.