Three entities are collaborating to plan a Valentine’s Day-themed night filled with entertainment, art, food and historical awareness.

Called “Love is in the Air,” the event will start at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Freeborn National Bank building and The Interchange Wine & Coffee Bistro downtown.

Marty Shepard, artistic director with the Albert Lea Art Center, said the event came about after representatives from the Art Center, The Interchange and the city of Albert Lea’s Historic Preservation Commission found out they were all planning events for the Valentine’s Day holiday.

“So we all got together to plan one event,” Shepard said.

“Love is in the Air” will feature the Art Center’s new “Art with Heart” exhibit in the bank building, which features art with red, hearts or anything that evokes passion, Shepard said.

A complimentary appetizers and Chankaska Creek wine tasting will be from 5 to 6 p.m., and swing dancing demonstrations will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Musician Chloe Hope will perform live from 5 to 5:30 p.m., and Todd Utpadel will perform from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

There is no cover charge to attend, and there will be many door prizes.

A special sweethearts menu will be available at The Interchange, and co-owner Lisa Hanson said reservations are encouraged.

“Everybody goes out on Valentine’s Day,” Shepard said. “I can’t think of any other place that will be as much fun.”

In addition to the food, entertainment and art, the Historic Preservation Commission will have a booth set up where people can make valentines for the bank building and write down why they think the space is important, said Jennifer Nelson, office assistant for the Historic Preservation Commission.

The effort is part of a campaign through the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota termed heart bombing.

Heart bombing started in Buffalo, New York, by a group of young preservationists as a grassroots campaign to raise awareness of endangered historic buildings across their city. The Preservation Alliance of Minnesota has adopted and expanded the campaign in Minnesota to highlight valued historic buildings across the state and to encourage preservation of them.

The campaign is taking place across the state throughout the month of February and particularly the week of Valentine’s Day.

Nelson said she plans on gathering some memories of the building from some of the residents of Bancroft Creek Estates to include in the demonstration.

The valentines will be put up both on the exterior and interior of the building.

If people want to make valentines but are unable to attend the Feb. 13 event, they should contact Nelson at 377-4340.

After “Love is in the Air,” the Art Center exhibit will be moved back to the Art Center, 226 W. Clark St. to be shown for about a month.