Make Plans for Mother's Day Weekend 2008

Moms, after sleeping in, waking to a clean house, and enjoying breakfast in bed, why not have some family fun time at one of the following Mother's Day events (and your house will stay clean … for the afternoon at least). -- Calendar Editor Carrie Wattu

Saturday, May 10
* Free Garden Admission for Moms. Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, Boylston. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Stroll the gardens. Bring a picnic. Special brunch on Sunday. Reservations required. A$8, Y $5, Free for 6 and under. 508-869-6111. http://www.towerhillbg.org/. Also May 11.
Peter Rabbit. Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, Appleton St., Holyoke. Bring your camera & join Peter on Mother's Day weekend. Activity sheets for Mother's Day & Peter Rabbit provided. $1 per ride. 413-538-9838. http://www.holyokemerrygoround.org/.
Mother/Daughter English Tea. Willard House Clock Museum, North Grafton. 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. Treat your mother, daughter or granddaughter. Reminisce about the past and experience the slow pace of years gone by in the historic Willard House. Spend a leisurely afternoon in a quite country setting enjoying tea, coffee and pastries, and the sights and sounds of clocks. $12NM. Advance registration by May 6: 508-839-3500. http://www.willardhouse.org/.
A Motherless Daughter's Day Brunch. First Congregational Church, Shrewsbury. 10 a.m. Women who have lost their mothers are welcome to attend this event in honor and remembrance of our mothers. Bring a photograph or memento of your mother to share. Carol: 508-845-6070.
Mothers' Day/Animal Makeover Weekend. Davis' Farmland, Sterling. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Groom and pamper your Farmland friends and your Mom. Ages 2 - 59 $12.95. Under 2 free. 978-422-MOOO. http://www.davisfarmland.com/. Also May 11.
Family Hike Honoring Mom. Mass Audubon: Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary 414 Massasoit Ave, Worcester. 10 a.m. - Noon. Take a gentle family hike to view the wildflowers in bloom. Afterwards, moms will sit and relax on the deck, while dad (or another adult) and kids make some special gifts. Register: 508-753-6087. A$10, C$6 NM. bmbrook@massaudubon.org

Sunday, May 11
Free Admission for Mom. The Discovery Museums, Acton. Mothers, Stepmothers, and grandmothers enjoy free admission. Admission for others: $9 one museum; $13 both. 978-264-4200. http://www.discoverymuseums.org/.
27th Annual Duckling Day Parade. Boston Common (opposite the State House). Sign up at 11 a.m. Parade is at noon. Every Mother's Day, the tiny duckling sculptures inspired by the children's book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey come out of storage. They return in a parade, designed especially for children, that winds through the Boston Common and the Public Garden. Children dress as their favorite characters from the book and are led by the Harvard University Marching Band. After the parade, swan boats at the garden lake are available. Registered children receive ducky prizes, entertainment, and refreshments. Tickets: $25 per family. Advance tickets: Mail a check made payable to Friends of the Public Garden, 87 Mt. Vernon Street, Boston, MA 02108. Tickets also at the event. 617-723-8144, 617-766-5669 or e-mail fopg@gis.net. http://www.friendsofthepublicgarden.org/.
Mother's Day. Boston Children's Museum. Cheese: 11a.m. - 4 p.m. Celebrate the special moms in your life by making paper flowers. A$10, C (2-15)$8, C (1) $2, Under 1 free. 617-426-8855.www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org.
Free Garden Admission for Moms and Brunch. Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, Boylston. See May 10th listing.
Mother's Day Brunch. Verrill Farm, Concord. 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. A$25, C under 12 $10. Relax under tents beside the farm while kids play outside after eating. Reservations by May 9: 978-369-4494.
Mother's Day Tea & Tour. Concord Museum, Concord. 1 - 3 p.m. & 2 - 4 p.m. Bring your mothers (or mothers bring your families!) to enjoy a special tour that focuses on accomplished women in Concord's history. $20NM. Reservations: 978-369-9763. http://www.concordmuseum.org/.
Mother's Day. Holyoke Merry-Go-Round (at Heritage State Park), 221 Appleton St., Holyoke. Mothers and grandmothers ride free if accompanied by a child with a ride ticket. Make Mom a flower to wear and a mother's day greeting. $1per ride or 6 for $5. 413-538-9838. http://www.holyokemerrygoround.org/.
Tiara Classic 5K Mother's Day Road Race and Kids Fun Run. Oxford Creamery, 98 County Road, Mattapoisett. 9:30 a.m. A race day for the whole family in support of the Women's Fund of southeastern MA where registrants may walk in memory of or honor of a special woman in their lives. 508-717-0283. www.cfsema.org/womensfund .
Tenth Annual Melrose Run for Women Pine Banks Park, Sylvan St., Melrose. 9 a.m. Scenic 3.5 mile run/walk event to celebrate Mother's Day; award categories include mothers, grandmothers, and mother/daughter teams. http://www.melroserunningclub.com/.
Mother's Day Brunch. Plymouth Plantation, Plimoth. 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Brunch and hands-on workshop to create a handmade Mother's Day present, or simple memento of your visit to the museum. A $34; C $20 NM. RSVP by May 4: 508-746-1622 x 8365. http://www.plimoth.org/.
Half-Price Admission/Meet Our Moms Day. Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence, RI. Special activities from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Half price admission with a child for all mothers, grandmothers, stepmothers and honorary mothers. A$12, C (3-12)$6, Under 3 free. http://www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org/.
Free Admission Mother's Day. Providence Children's Museum, Providence, RI. 1 - 3 p.m. Create paper flowers and butterflies for a Mother's Day card. Free admission for moms and grandmoms all day. $6.50 pp. 401-273-KIDS or http://www.childrenmuseum.org/.
Mother's Day Story Time. Peabody Essex Museum, Salem. 3 - 4 p.m. Ages 3 - 6 w/A. Discover the special role mothers play throughout the animal world as you listen to a reading of Mothers are Like That by Carol Carrick. Create mother and baby animal puppets to play with at home. A$15, Sr. $13, St., $11, (C 16 and under) free. 866-745-1876 or http://www.pem.org/.
Mother's Day at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum. 4 Depot St., Shelburne Falls. Mothers ride free when accompanied by a child of any age. Trolley rides include an interpretive talk on the history of the trolley, the Bridge of Flowers and the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway. Pumpcar rides, when available, are included in ticket price. Admission free. Tickets for 15-min. ride: A$2.50, C (6-12) $1.25, C 5 and under free. 413-625-9443. http://www.sftm.org/
6th Annual M.O.M.'s Run 5k Run & Walk for Cancer. VFW, 371 Summer St. Davis Square, Somerville. 10 a.m. Fun 5k run & walk with all proceeds going to basic Innovative Cancer Research with a great post race party.781-777-2513 or e-mail momsrun@comcast.net.
Mothers' Day/Animal Makeover Weekend. Davis' Farmland, Sterling. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Groom and pamper your Farmland friends and your Mom. Ages 2 - 59 $12.95. Under 2 free. 978-422-MOOO. www.davisfarmland.com.
Mother's Day. Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Special events throughout the day. Mothers will receive half off admittance, and see a portrayal of famed 19th century author Lydia Maria Child giving a talk on raising children and running a frugal household. A$20, C (3 - 17) $6, C under 3 free. 800-733-1830 or http://www.osv.org/.
Free Yoga Class. Central Mass Yoga Institute, West Boylston. 11 a.m. 508-835-1176. http://www.centralmassyoga.com/.