Valentine's Weekend in CT: Romantic Train Dinners To Gothic Flings

CONNECTICUT — Fire, ice, dead people, goats… how you do Valentine's Day is totally up to you and yours —we don't judge. But whatever your passion, Connecticut has got you covered this weekend.

If you're looking for a truly unique Valentine's experience for that special someone, or if you're just a closet train freak like so many we know, your engine has entered the station.

The Valley Railroad Company, which operates the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat, is offering a "Valentine Dinner Train" on Feb. 10, 11, 14, 17 and 18.

The rolling restaurants coupled to the elegant Essex Clipper are restored 1920s Pullman diners pulled by a vintage diesel locomotive. For its Valentine's Week excursions, chefs will be serving up a 4-course dinner, champagne and special desserts during the 2 to 2 1/2-hour scenic journey through the Connecticut River Valley.

A little strapped for cash? Consider skipping dinner and diving right into the dessert. You'll find that in spades at the 18th Annual Romantic Willimantic Chocolate Fest on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This is not just some big fondue in a church parking lot, pretty much all of Main Street in Willimantic will be succumbing to chocophilia (the only way to go…). There'll be live music, a performance by the Willimantic Theatre Guild, a cake contest at Trigo Wood Fired Pizza, treats from local businesses, and even a 2-mile race, presumably to work off the weight-gain. More events are being added regularly, follow the fest's Facebook page for the latest.

Less lively— dead, in fact — but no less intriguing will be the "My Bloody Valentine Downtown Mystic Ghost Tour," creeping through the shadows until Feb. 25.

During the 2-hour walking tour through the seaport town (bundle up!) hosted by Seaside Shadows, you'll hear tales of massacres, star crossed and forlorn lovers, the execution of St. Valentine, and the debaucheries of Lupercalia, the ancient Roman festival many believe inspired our modern holiday. During the trip through Mystic's most haunted places, your docent will regale you with stories of romance, as well as Valentine's Day escapades gone very, very wrong over the centuries. Tours step off from Liberty Pole Square at 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in February. Book tickets online here.

If your special valentine is less into gothic than goat, no worries. The Got Your Goat farm in Washington Depot is inviting lovers of every stripe to snuggle a baby goat this Valentine's Day weekend on Sunday, Feb. 11 at noon. Once you've snuggled, memorialize the love by making an air dry clay heart and pressing a tiny goat hoof print in it. Then it's on to more romping and playing with the herd. Organizers advise to wear appropriate clothing — you're out on a Connecticut farm in February, after all. Parking is available in the farm's field or along the road — look for the goat weather vane on the mailbox. Tickets are available online here.

There'll be fewer caprine snuggles at The Town of Putnam's 13th Annual Fire & Ice Valentine Festival, but your shoes will come away a lot cleaner. Each year, the Putnam Business Association hosts the largest single ice block competition in New England. This year's event promises more than five dozen ice carvings, interactive ice photo opportunities, a 30-foot inflatable igloo, character meet and greets, stilt-walking roaming entertainment, a giant heart shaped bonfire, glowing fire torches, fire dancing performances, a cake decorating contest, and more hot-and-cold craziness. Best of all, it's free: just show up in Downtown Putnam between noon and 9 p.m. on Saturday.