There are numerous ways to celebrate Mother’s Day (and have fun yourself!) in and around Boston. Here are some tried and true ideas from my list.
Take her to the Theater
Boston Theater Marathon – this is where I am taking my Mom this Sunday May 8 (in the Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts). Boston Theater Marathon XVIII will feature 50 ten-minute plays, by 52 New England playwrights, produced by 50 New England theatres…in ten hours! Here is a complete schedule of plays, and a link for tickets ($25-$35 for an all-day come and go ticket). We saw 12 plays in 2 hours at last year’s event and loved the experience! You can stay for an entire day (12-10pm) or come for a couple of hours (which is our plan again this year). Update: the plays are best suited for teens and adults.
If your Mom is a ballet lover, Boston Ballet currently has 2 productions running in Boston Opera House: timeless Tchaikovsky’s classic “Swan Lake” (through May 26) and contemporary 4-piece The Mirrors (May 6-28).
Take a Class Together
There are endless possibilities to take an adult education class with Mom in and around Boston. Last year my Mom and I took a cooking class together (try Sur La Table Boston; Cambridge School for Culinary Arts – they even have a “cooking couples” series and some people bring Moms! or a Whole Foods Store in Dedham).
A year before last Mom and I went to a Reiki retreat at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Massachusetts Berkshires (they offer weekend/week-long program as well as day passes).
For a movement class, you can also take her to a ballet studio near you. Mom and I took a ballet class together at Boston Ballet School (several locations, no pre-registration required, drop-ins welcome) – sorry, no public pictures of that (very fun!) experience.
For a mom that loves art, Museum of Fine Arts Boston offers weekend workshops in painting and sculpture (among many other art forms).
Take her for a Walk
The Arnold Arboretum will celebrate its annual Lilac Sunday on Mother’s Day May 8 this year.
My favorite Boston walk is Rose Kennedy Greenway – a 1.5 mile park along the Atlantic avenue in Boston; check out their website for the current horticulture in bloom.
Take her on a Tour
I would love to take Mom on a tour with Boston’s Free Tours by Foot. Check out their schedule here – Little Italy Food Tour looks great!
Another fun tour Mom may like would be Boston TV & Movie Tours. There are both walking and bus tour options – with walking tour exploring Boston’s movie filming history in the Boston Common and Beacon Hill, and bus tour taking you into other Boston neighborhoods (including Charleston and South Boston) for a more complete experience. Both tours are offered daily; for schedule, check out tour calendar.
(I personally took the bus tour option last year in Boston and their walking Central Park TV and Movie Tour in New York City.)
Or – take her to tour one of The Trustees’ properties; here is the list of 113 natural, scenic and cultural sites across Massachusetts in their care, including the Crane Estate in Ipswich and Naumkeag Estate in Stockbridge.
On May 21 Trustees will hold their annual, free Home Sweet Home Historic Open House Day with nine of their most historically significant properties (including the Crane and Naumkeag Estates which are National Historical Landmarks) open for free with guided and self-guided tours, as well as activities and games for all ages.
Take her to a Market
If you have not yet, use your Mother’s day excuse and take your Mom to Boston Public Market – both of you will have fun on a shopping expedition to nation’s first permanent year round market featuring all local vendors. (100 Hanover Street above Haymarket MBTA; open Wednesday-Sunday 8am-8pm).
Another fun market – SOWA open air market in Boston’s South End will be open every Sunday in May (10-4); – and on Saturdays starting in June; it offers some of region’s best artisan and farming vendors (don’t forget to also explore nearby SOWA artist studios).
What are some of your Mother’s Day celebration Ideas? Please share in the comments!
PIN THIS for LATER!
One more idea – golf. Massachusetts has plenty of public and affordable golf courses. Take a class together or get a treat from your family.
Happy Mother’s day!
Thank you for stopping by, Irene! Mom’s favorite sport would be a great idea for Mother’s Day!
These are some excellent ideas, and thanks to your post, I remembered to call my Mom and wish her a happy mother’s day! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’ve never got to spend enough time in Boston. Every time I went there it was only for a day, but I’d love to stay longer.
Same here, have never been to Bostoon neither my mamma, but yeah all the activites mentioned is super cool.
My mum will really love this.
Thanks Victoria keep posting on such kinda off topics.
Cheers 🙂