Ten Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day in Boston

Two twins dressed like ducks at last year’s Duckling Day Parade. (Photo via Friends of the Public Garden/Facebook)

Duckling Day Parade 

For mothers with younger kids, Boston Common is the perfect place to spend Mother’s Day. In celebration of the Make Way for Ducklings book, join the parade and march after the Harvard Band leading the procession from the Common to the Public Garden. Children running through the park dressed up like ducklings, face painting, puppet shows, and more will make this Mother’s Day a memorable one. Registration and activities begin at 10:30 a.m. with the parade gearing up at noon.

$35 per family pre-registration, $40 on the day of, 10:30 a.m., Boston Common, Charles St., 617-723-8144, friendsofthepublicgarden.org

MFA Mother’s Day Concert

Remember all those class field trips to the museum that your mom chaperoned when you were younger? Pay her back this year by spending the day with her at the MFA. Start with a Mother’s Day buffet at Bravo, then take a look at the visiting Cezanne masterpiece, The Large Bathers, with a gallery talk at 3 p.m. for the last day of its stay. Finish your trip with a performance by the North Country Chamber Players, who will present “A New England Afternoon,” a concert inspired by the Art of the White Mountains exhibit coming in July. An elegant homage to the natural beauty of New England, this performance will be a lovely cap to an enriching Mother’s Day.

$20 members, $25 nonmembers, 2-3:30 p.m., Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., 617-267-9300, mfa.org

Brunch at the ICA

With art on the mind, head to the Institute of Contemporary Art to spend the day on the waterfront. With their special brunch package, you can enjoy brunch overlooking the water, then explore the museum’s current feature exhibit: Barry McGee’s melding of graffiti and technical artistic skill. You can also take a look at local artists with the newly opened James and Audrey Foster Prize exhibit, or contemplate the meaningful Love Song from Jeffrey Gibson. They’ll even throw in an ICA tote bag for mom and a 20 percent coupon for the ICA store.

$40 members, $50 nonmembers, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave., 617-478-3100, icaboston.org

M.O.M.’s Run

With the Mary O’Brien Memorial 5K and Walk for Cancer, you can make your celebration about more than just your immediate family. A memorial walk held annually to honor mothers and grandmothers, among others, who died of cancer, this year’s M.O.M.’s Run will be dedicated to Sean Collier, who was a former volunteer for the event. The Kid’s 0.1 mile starts at 9:30 a.m., with the walkers and runners of the 5K following at 9:45 a.m. and 10 a.m., respectively. Join other Boston families this Mother’s Day to raise awareness for the cause, while also spending time with your family.

Davis Square, George Dilboy VFW Post 259, 371 Summer St., 617-863-0583, momsrun.org

Mother’s Day Workshop at Down Under Yoga

Center yourself this Mother’s Day with a special workshop in honor of our most important women. Center your mind, body, and soul with this course taught by Chanel Luck comprised of slow flow, gentle yoga, and partner stretching. Bring your mom whether she’s got her headstand down to a science, or she’s never seen a yoga mat before. All levels of yoga expertise are welcome.

$35, 1-3 p.m., Down Under Yoga, 306 Walnut St., 617-244-9642, downunderyoga.com

Radiant Mother’s Retreat

Whisk your mom away from the stresses of her oh-so-busy life to the blissful relaxation of the spa at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. With their Radiant Mother’s Retreat, you and your mother can enjoy the benefits of a Rose Indulgence Body Wrap and either a manicure or pedicure. Go early or stay late to enjoy the amenities of the full spa experience, a great chance to talk as your troubles melt away in the spa’s steam room.

$235 Monday-Thursday, $260 Friday-Sunday, available until May 31, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, 776 Boylston St., 617-535-8820, mandarinoriental.com

Photo via Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University/Facebook

Lilac Sunday 

Just like your mother is the focus of this day for you, the lilacs at the Arnold Arboretum are in the spotlight every Mother’s Day. With more than 380 lilac plants, the Arboretum has one of the largest lilac collections in North America. Take a tour of the over 170 types of lilac, strike a pose as your favorite bud, or compete in Lilac Bingo while listening to various musical performances and nibbling on goodies from some of Boston’s favorite food trucks throughout the day.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., The Arnold Arboretum at Harvard University, 125 Arborway, 617-524-1718, arboretum.harvard.edu

Franklin Park Zoo

Don’t forget those furry moms as well! Take a trip to the Franklin Park Zoo this Mother’s Day to visit the animal moms, from gorilla Kiki and her three daughters, to Cheyenne the zebra and her three-month-old, Nemo. With baby lemur twins and prairie dog pups scurrying around, and a newly opened Aussie Aviary where your family can feed seeds to budgie birds, it’s prime time to head to the zoo. As an added bonus, Moms get in free all day long as a tribute to the women who raised us.

Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, 617-989-2692, zoonewengland.org

Harbor Cruises

What better way to spend Mother’s Day than out on the Boston Harbor? With music, food, and unbelievable views, a boat ride through the Boston harbor elevates a Mother’s Day celebration to a classy affair. Treat your family to a day at sea whether you want a classic brunch cruise from Boston Harbor Cruises, dinner and a live DJ from Odyssey, or breathtaking views from the largest outdoor decks of any Boston cruise company with Spirit. Pick a cruise that will make this Mother’s Day one she won’t forget.

Brunches in Boston

Give your mom a break from the shopping-cooking-dishes routine and take her out to a nice Mother’s Day brunch. Go prix fixe with Craigie on Main‘s brunch and get a cocktail specially designed for mom, or try buffet-style at the Ritz Carlton instead, where you and your family can make cards to console victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and say thank you to first responders. If you know your mom likes to pick and choose, try Gaslight‘s brunch, winner of Best of Boston Brunch in 2012, for the standard brunch menu plus specials designed with mom in mind.