Hey, Dads! Kids! and other Caregivers! Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 10, 2026
In this guide, we’ve included 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.
Spring Petting Zoo
Date: 05/03/2026 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Mustard Seed Garden Center, 10,000 Great Plains Blvd, Chaska, MN, 55318Got a hankering to see some spring farm babies? Hasse Farms Family brings their spring animals to the Mustard Seed Garden Center for you to pet. Come hungry, there are often food trucks at this event. Wristbands required, $5 per person. Face painting extra. Event also held for Mother’s Day (May 10) & Father’s Day (June 21).
Take a Mom Fishing Weekend
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 7:00 am - 7:00 pm
Location: ,
Mothers who are residents of Minnesota can fish without a license for species that have open fishing seasons. (See 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 Minnesota State Park, which you can usually do without a license any weekend of the year). FREE for moms and kids at fishing spots around the state!
Explore a Farmer's Market on Mother's Day
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: ,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
Farmers markets offer fun for the whole family. Here are a few of our favorites that could make for a fun outing with Mom.
St. Paul Farmer’s Market: Saturday 7am-1pm & Sunday 8am-1pm. Kids can paint a flower pot for mom!
Mill City Farmers Market: Saturday 8am to 1pm.
MORE MARKETS! These are just a couple of the locations listed on our guide to 40 Family-Friendly Twin Cities Farmers Markets.
Springtime on the Farm
Date: 05/09/2026 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Oliver Kelley Farm, 15788 Kelley Farm Rd, Elk River, MN, 55330
Celebrate Mother’s Day with a spring visit to historic Kelley Farm. Moms get in FREE!
FAMILY FUN Explore the farm, see the animals, plant a flower to take home for Mother’s Day, shop the annual plant sale and have a picnic -brought from home or purchased from food trucks. Cost is $8-$12 per person, moms free. Pre-registration recommended – see link for ticket path.
Have An Art Day at Mia
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 3rd Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN, 55404
Always FREE and no pre-registration required, the Minneapolis Institute of Art is always fun for the family. Mother’s Day annually falls on MIA’s May Family Day, so there will be additional activities for families on Sunday. If you prefer low-key, pick Saturday to visit. Drop in between 10am-5pm. FREE.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Art Fair
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location: Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, 725 Vineland Place, Minneapolis, MN, 55403This is one of my top picks for how I would like to spend a pleasant Mother’s Day outing. Wander the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and peruse the art. Maybe walk across the Whitney bridge to Loring Park or grab a coffee in Cardamom (Walker’s onsite restaurant). Free for the whole family. Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-5pm.
Mother's Day Bonsai Show
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr, Saint Paul, MN, 55103Visit the annual Minnesota Bonsai Society show at the Como Conservatory for Mother’s Day. Then get out and enjoy Como Zoo. FREE.
BONUS FAMILY FUN Take along our Como Park Zoo & Conservatory Spring Checklist.
Pre-K Creative Play: Celebrate Mom
Date: 05/09/2026 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Location: Eden Prairie Art Center, 7650 Equitable Dr, Eden Prairie, MN, 55344Preschoolers ages 3-6 can meet friends and experiment with ways to be creative. Caregivers remain with the child throughout the program. Pre-registration is encouraged as space is limited but drop-ins are welcome if there’s room. Cost is $12 per child.
Shepherd's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Location: Washington County Fairgrounds, 12300 N. 40th Street, Lake Elmo, MN, 55042
Bring a picnic and bring mom to this unique annual festival dedicated to all things sheep and wool. Participate in free family activities, encounter animals, watch competitions and demos — including sheep shearing and herding. $5/pp, free for kids ages 8 & under.Â
Visit the Wildflower Garden for Mother's Day
Date: 05/09/2026 - 05/10/2026 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden, 1 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN, 55405
Naturalist-led garden walks are offered or explore on your own. (Can’t make it this weekend? The garden is open every day except Monday, with daily naturalist walks.) Open 10am-6pm. FREE.
Take Mom to a Movie
Date: 05/10/2026 12:00 am
Location: ,
Why not take mom to a Sunday matinee at the Riverview Theater in Minneapolis or any of the theaters on our Twin Cities Cheap Flicks list. Easy, relaxing and there’s delicious fresh popcorn with real butter!
Mother’s Day Streetcar Rides
Date: 05/10/2026 12:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Minnesota Streetcar Museum - Como Harriet Streetcar Line, 2330 W 42nd Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55410
Take mom on an historic streetcar ride. She gets to ride for free! Tickets for other riders are $3/person.
BONUS FUN: Explore the Linden Hills Neighborhood of Minneapolis before or after your streetcar ride.
St Paul Civic Symphony Mother's Day Concert (FREE)
Date: 05/10/2026 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55102Cap off the Sundays at the Landmark series with the annual free Mother’s Day concert. The Saint Paul Civic Symphony will play from 1-3pm.Â
Bonus family fun: The Landmark Center is open from 12pm-3pm on Sundays. Plan to arrive 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.
Find a Mother’s Day gift idea to make at home or around town
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.
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
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: 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.
Coming up
Memorial Day Weekend
Father’s Day
Juneteenth
🚊Moms I know do not want to go out anywhere
They want themselves
and no one home
Last yr we got on amtrack and went down the Mississippi River fr St. Paul mn to Winona mn and back home
Spontaneous trips are great
Definitely, I chose to stay home this year. Other years I have really loved the Bonsai show or a quiet walk at Eloise Butler. The really important thing is to communicate. Surprises can be nice, but not always necessary. It never hurts to ask Mom what she wants.
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.
What type of cuisine does she like? What area of the cities?
Those are both good questions, Lauren. If you were choosing for yourself, where would you go?
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?
Pingback: Free Mother’s Day Events « WCCO | CBS Minnesota