Find it all a little too overhyped and mushy? If you are looking for something different to the dozen red roses and dinner out this Valentine’s week, there are events happening in the Harrogate district that may be an option for you and your loved one.

Whether you’re into the supernatural, a night at the Opera or just an evening of laughter, here are four ideas for an interesting, if less romantic, night out.

My Bloody Valentine – Ouija Event

If you really are anti-Valentine’s and seeking something sinister this year, Paul Forster and Dead Northern’s séance may be an option.

The event will take place on the rooftop of the Yorkshire Hotel in Harrogate on Saturday 11 February, from 7pm – 10pm.

Organisers say guests can expect “a cross between an interactive séance and a psychological spook show”. There will be a Ouija board present at the event – some may even attempt to connect with spirits passed.

Tickets include entry to the event and a hot meal in the intermission.

Guests are invited to bring a personal item with them to add value to their experience.

Ticket prices start at £33.30.

For more information, click here.

Four Weddings and a Murder

Keeping in line with the darker side of love, an immersive murder mystery event, Four Weddings and a Murder, will take place at Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate.

The event will run from 7.30pm – 10.30pm on Friday 24 February.

Guests join a group of friends celebrating a wedding, during which a murder takes place. The audience are invited to help solve the murder before it’s too late.

The night includes a three-course meal. Guests can also upgrade their tickets to include an overnight stay in the hotel with breakfast the following morning.

Tickets for the event start from £51.

Find more information here.

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Royal Opera House Live: The Barber of Seville

On a slightly more romantic note, if culture is what you are looking for this Valentine’s, Everyman Cinema is hosting a live stream of the Royal Opera House’s adaptation of “The Barber of Seville”.

The Everyman Cinema is located in the centre of Harrogate.

The Italian comic opera tells the story of a young girl, Rosina. After falling in love with a mysterious suitor, Rosina must use her cunning wit and disguises to outsmart her calculated guardian.

The live stream will take place on Wednesday 15 February at 6.45pm.

Click here for more information.

Harrogate Theatre: Bouncers

Budding thespians might fancy a trip to the local theatre this Valentine’s. John Godber Company presents “Bouncers” at Harrogate Theatre.

The play will run from 13-15 February, with both evening and matinee performances.

The play follows four friends reliving a night in a Yorkshire disco in the 1980’s. Guests can expect all aspects of the night out on stage, including the DJ and even a fish & chip van.

Tickets for the play start at £18.

Find more information here.

This week’s photograph was taken by Thomas Russell, who captured an eye-catching green comet as it flew through the night sky for the first time in 50,000 years. Thomas was able to capture this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime image from his front garden in Harrogate.

Comet C/2022 E3(ZTF) by Thomas Russell

Photo of the Week celebrates the Harrogate district. It could be anything from family life to capturing the district’s beauty. We are interested in amateur and professional photographs, in a landscape format.

Send your photographs to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to be featured next week, we reserve the right to adjust and crop images to fit into our format.

The Stray Ferret has launched our new Photo of the Week feature to highlight the beauty of the Harrogate district captured by talented local photographers.

Send your photos to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk for a chance to feature here. We are interested in amateur and professional pictures.

This week we feature a beautiful image taken by Bill Shaw who has perfectly captured a fiery sunset over Harrogate.

The Yorkshire Dales has been forced to move its first dark skies festival online since joining the international dark sky list.

With the third national lockdown, it means that people will be unable to travel to Yorkshire for the annual event between February 12 and 28.

Organisers had already been planning some virtual events but will now need to expand that offering because of coronavirus.

It will include a mixture of free and paid for events through webinars and over platforms like zoom.

When the organisers held the first virtual fringe dark skies festival in October they had a “considerable audience.” They are hoping for a repeat or even better this time.

Read more:

• Yorkshire Dales joins international dark sky list
• Gallery: Full day of heavy snow hits Harrogate district hard

Scientists will be among the “stellar” line-up of speakers. They will share the latest cosmic discoveries and space developments, including NASA landing on Mars.

Astronomers will give people a tour of the night sky before encouraging them to look out on their front doors.

The full moon will appear in the second week of the festival, so experts are planning a live “moonwatch” with an informal questions and answers session.

On other evenings people will be able to watch wildlife and conservation experts as they explain the importance of conserving our night skies.

Photographers will also be on hand to share their top tips for taking great images of the night sky like the picture above.

Helen Dalton, tourism officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park said:

“We first introduced a small virtual programme of events during last October’s fringe festival and had a considerable audience so we’re confident that a similar format on a larger scale this February will be even more popular particularly as it will help fire people’s imaginations to go outside and view the skies above where they live.”

Emily Watson, visitor development and marketing assistant at the North York Moors National Park added:

“There is something very special about spending time under our night skies which are so pristine more than 2,000 stars can be seen in one go and where a walk or run becomes a thrilling adventure when you venture out into a beautiful landscape after twilight.

“This is why we’re keen to use the virtual festival to help open people’s eyes to the possibilities of experiencing something so awe-inspiring both on their own doorstep and once lockdown restrictions are eased and we can welcome visitors again.”