Hey, Dads! Kids! and other Caregivers! Mother’s Day is May 12, 2024.
In this guide, we’ve included 4 gift ideas from local makers and businesses, restaurants to enjoy, special mother’s day activities, and DIY gifts. You can check out our list of 10 ideas for free ways to celebrate the special women in your life that don’t prefer an event.
Table of Contents
4 Local Gift Ideas
These gifts will be remembered forever. I don’t think it’s about getting the perfect gift. It’s about making it memorable. Here are some local favorites.
2024Â Mother’s Day events: free for the family
May 11-12, 2024: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair
725 Vineland Pl, Minneapolis, MN 55403
This art fair is new in 2024 and my pick for how I would like to spend a pleasant Mother’s Day outing. Learn more about the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden.
May 11-12, 2024: Have An Art Day at the MIA
2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404
Always FREE and no pre-registration required. Speaking for myself, a day at the Minneapolis Institute of Art would be a fun day out for Mom. Mother’s Day always falls on Family Day, so there will be additional activities for families, including a bouquet the kids can make for Mom. Learn more about what might interest your kids at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
May 11-12, 2024: Take a Mom Fishing Weekend
Mothers who are residents of Minnesota can fish without a license for species that have open fishing seasons. Minn. Stat. Sec. 97A.445, subd. 4. (Kids under 16 can fish without a license all the time). Dad will still need a license to fish (unless you fish at a State Park, which you can usually do without a license any weekend of the year).
Don’t know where to fish? Fishing the Twin Cities: 10 Best Fishing Holes in the Twin Cities
May 11-12, 2024: Visit the Wildflower Garden
1 Theodore Wirth Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55422
Naturalist-led garden walks are offered or explore on your own any time between 10am-6pm. Find a garden map here. (Can’t make it this weekend? The garden is open every day except Monday, with daily naturalist walks.) Learn more about Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden & Bird Sanctuary.
Bonus Family Fun: Go Birdwatching –Â What to pack for birdwatching
May 11-12, 2024: Mother’s Day Bonsai Show
Como Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Drive, St Paul, MN 55103
Visit the annual Minnesota Bonsai Society show at the Como Conservatory. Then get out and enjoy the zoo. FREE.
Bonus Family Fun: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Spring Checklist.
May 11-12, 2024: Visit a Farmer’s Market
St. Paul Farmer’s Market, Downtown St. Paul, 290 East 5th Street, St Paul
Mill City Farmers Market, Downtown Minneapolis, 750 S 2nd St, Minneapolis
St. Paul Farmer’s Market hours are Saturday from 7am-1pm and Sunday from 8am-1pm. Mill City is Saturday from 8am to 1pm. Farmers Markets offer fun for the whole family. We have several more weekend farmer’s market options all over the Twin Cities.
May 10-11, 2024: Mother’s Day Plant Sale
Farm at the Arb, 3210 W. 82nd St., Chaska
Mother’s Day is the traditional day when Minnesotan’s can put plants in the ground without fear of frost. For moms who love to garden, a visit to the Landscape Arboretum’s Plant Sale would be a marvelous outing. FREE, but you need a reservation. Book your visit.
Bonus Family Fun: Why go all the way out to the Arb without visiting the gardens? $20 for adults/Free for Kids. Scroll down to the paid Mother’s Day ideas for more Mother’s Day fun at the Arb.
May 12, 2024:Â St Paul Civic Symphony Mother’s Day Concert
75 5th St. W., Saint Paul, MN 55102
Back in person this year, The Saint Paul Civic Symphony will play their annual Mother’s Day Concert at beautiful Landmark Center from 1pm-3pm. FREE.
Bonus Family Fun: The Landmark Center is open from 12pm-3pm on Sundays, so come an hour early if you would like to explore the various exhibits and museums within the building. Then maybe take a walk in Rice Park.
2024 Free For Mom
May 12, 2024: Mother’s Day Streetcar Rides
Moms get a free historic streetcar ride from 12:30-8:30pm. Tickets for other riders is $3/pp.
May 12, 2024: Moms are free at Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum
All moms get in free on Mother’s Day. All others over the age of 4 are $10.Â
2024 Paid Mother’s Day events
May 11, 2024: Raptor Mothers
Celebrate mom and learn about raptor mothers. Admission is $5 for kids, $8 for adults. Pre-register here.
May 11, 2024: Visit TCMRM Hobby Show
MN State Fairgrounds – Education Building, 1327 Cosgrove Street, Falcon Heights, MN 55108
Held in the Education Building at the State Fair Grounds, families can view model train layouts and and listen to a story read by Engineer Paul! Admission is $7/pp ages 8+. Free for ages 7 and under.
May 11-12, 2024: Take Mom to a movie
Riverview Theater, 3800 42nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Why not take mom to a Sunday Matinee at the Riverview or any of the theaters on our Cheap Flicks list. Easy, relaxing and there’s popcorn!
May 12, 2024: Wildflowers, Honey, & Ice Cream at Wood Lake Nature Center
Take mom to Wood Lake Nature Center for a wildflower hike. Make homemade honey ice cream using honey produced by Wood Lake’s honeybees. Kids can make a card for their mother. $5/person. Pre-register to guarantee your space.
May 12, 2024: Mother’s Day Picnic at the Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN 55318
Families can reserve a box lunch for a Mother’s Day Picnic at the Arb. Your lunch will include a sandwich, chips, fruit, cookie and water. Enjoy the tulips and other spring flowers. Reservations available between 11 am and 2pm. $40/adults; $20/children, includes admission and lunch.
May 12, 2024: Mother’s Day Riverboat Excursion
Taylors Falls Boats, 220 South St, Taylors Falls, MN 55084
Each 80-minute cruise includes a narrated scenic tour through The Dalles of the St. Croix, a mimosa, and a carnation for all the Mothers on board. $17.99-$30.99/pp. Book your excursion here.
Mother’s Day gifts that kids can make
Find a Mother’s Day gift idea to make at home or around town.
Workshops, Classes and Open Studios:
Open Studios
Find our full list of studios where you can make art and leave the mess behind: Arts and Crafts for Kids around Town.
Sunday, May 5, 2024: Mother’s Day Workshop
Tinker & Nudge Studio, 3346 Hennepin Ave S, 2nd Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Make crafts and cards for mom at Tinker & Nudge card and art-making stations. 10-11:30am. $35/ parent and up to two kids, each kid after that $15.
Pre-registration Required.
Sunday, May 5, 2024: Slöjd Studio: Make a Mother’s Day Gift
American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Kids in grades 3-5, can learn the basics of embroidery and make a one-of-a-kid tea towel as a Mother’s Day present. $20/child. Pre-registration Required.
Saturday, May 11, 2024: Fleet Farm Mother’s Day Plant A Pot
Find a Nearby Fleet Farm Store
Drop into Fleet Farm to pot a flower for Mom! The store will supply pots, soil and flowers and a pinwheel for decoration. All Ages. 9am-1pm.
Anytime Projects to Do At Home:
- Gianna has some ideas for projects kids can do at home. Many of these ideas make excellent Mother’s Day gifts:
25 Easy Arts & Crafts for Kids throughout the Year
DIY Sugar Scrub for Mom
We like this easy Sugar Scrub recipe from Reasons to Skip the Housework. There is a good chance you have all the ingredients in the house and it would take minimal supervision from dad or an older sibling.
Mother’s Day Brunch or Dinner Ideas:
When asked what they want for Mother’s Day, a meal out is one of the top choices of moms and grandmothers around the country. We know going out to eat with kids poses its own challenges, so we have some ideas to help with this:
- We have some great local restaurants on our Kids Eat Free or Cheap on Sunday List. Whether you are looking for a buffet, Sunday brunch, pizza, steak or pancakes, this list has a little bit of everything. We DO recommend calling ahead because some restaurants will limit deals on Holidays.
- For mother’s among the vast majority who just want to do something as a family at home. Pre-order a Family Meal for Takeout or Delivery from a Local Restaurant.
- First year moms may appreciate these 10 Baby Friendly Restaurants in the Twin Cities.
- If the weather cooperates, a picnic at a local park could be just the thing.
10 Free Last-Minute Gifts That Moms Love on Mother’s Day
Although we list several spontaneous options, many require pre-planning and reservations. Don’t worry. Even if you wait until the last minute to plan, these 10 ideas are sure to show mom your love and appreciation for her!
- Her favorite breakfast with her favorite people (with cleanup included, please). Whether that is Eggs Benedicts, a premade quiche, French toast, ice cream or just coffee and cream with some sweets, I don’t know any Mom who will turn down breakfast in bed.
- A picnic in a park, where she can stretch out in a sunny place while everyone else runs out their energy. Need some ideas:Â 10 Places for the Perfect Picnic in Minneapolis.
- Her favorite meal for dinner (takeout is just fine!). If the weather cooperates, an outdoor BBQ is always welcome in May. Don’t forget dessert. (Chocolate dipped strawberries, maybe?)
- A dandelion bouquet.
- Help in her own garden or a stroll in a garden maintained by someone else. We have some ideas: Public Flower Gardens: 5 Local Parks with Beautiful Gardens to Explore.
- Homemade cards from the kids (and Dad, too, if he wants).
- Homemade brownies or cookies.
- A nap and/or a long hot bath – both without interruption.
- Someone else to do laundry. This would seriously be my dream present.
- Family movie night when Mom gets to pick the movie.
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Where would be a nice dinner place to take my my mom on Mother’s Day in 2023? They all seem to be brunch offerings. Thank you!
I hope one of our readers can answer this. Anne, Gianna and I just aren’t in a dinner out phase of our lives and are pretty out-of-touch with good restaurants — unless they have an indoor playground or Kids Eat Free menu, but I don’t think that is what you are going for here.
Paragraph writing is also a fun, if you know after that you can write if not it is complicated to write.
Genius! I could have my kids write paragraphs while I take a long tub soak on Mother’s Day. But how do I keep them on task while I’m locked in another room?
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