Connecticut
Make Mother’s Day memorable with these 8 activities in Connecticut
Mother’s Day origins and how we celebrate today. Watch video
As we celebrate moms again this year, here’s a look at how Mother’s Day came to be.
May is almost here, bringing with it warmer weather, bright spring blooms and of course, Mother’s Day, this year falling on Sunday, May 10.
Looking for an activity to celebrate the women in your life outside of the house? Luckily, Connecticut has plenty of fun Mother’s Day events that mom, aunt or grandma would enjoy, all the way from a casual day of shopping at the farmers market to an elgant brunch inside a castle.
Here are eight of Connecticut’s best Mother’s Day activities to check out with mom this year.
Cruise the Connecticut River
For moms who would love a day on the water, the Connecticut River Museum hosts special Mother’s Day cruises on RiverQuest, a tour boat that explores the river’s ecology and wildlife.
On May 10, RiverQuest will offer hour-long cruises at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for mom and one child, $15 for children under 12 or $20 for other adults.
Visit a vineyard
Does mom love a good glass of wine? Treat her to an afternoon at a vineyard. On Sunday, May 10, Stonington Vineyards will host a Mother’s Day celebration full of wine, sandwiches and sweet treats, shopping from local vendors and live music. Plus, create a custom bouquet with or for mom at the onsite Bloom Bar.
Stonington’s Mother’s Day event is free to attend, with no registration required. The vineyard is located at 523 Taugwonk Road in Stonington.
Go flower picking
If mom is a fan of flowers, take her to Wicked Tulips, a flower farm with the biggest you-pick-tulip event in New England, complete with over 1.5 million blooming tulips of various colors and 75 varieties.
Admission, which includes 10 tulips, costs $5.50 for children, $24.95 for adults on weekdays or $29.95 for adults on weekends. Additional tulips can be purchased for $1.50 per stem. Online tickets for Wicked Tulips must be reserved for a specific date and time, though guests can stay as long as they want after entering. Tickets are also sold at the door, but entry is more expensive and not guaranteed.
Wicked Tulips is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday or 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from mid-April through mid-May. Located at 382 Route 164 in Preston.
Eat brunch in a castle
While Mother’s Day brunch is offered at tons of restaurants in Connecticut, one venue in Portland is hosting a special lavish brunch that will make mom feel like a queen. At Saint Clements Castle and Marina, mom can enjoy brunch in a literal castle from the 1800s, complete with lush surrounding grounds and breathtaking waterfront views of the Connecticut River.
The castle’s Mother’s Day brunch includes a gourmet buffet of decadent desserts and chef-inspired dishes, including a personalized omelet station, sliced prime rib and a cheesecake station. Tickets to the brunch cost $70 for adults or $30 for children ages 4-12. Reservations can be made online for 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. p.m. on Sunday, May 10.
Attend a craft festival
If mom is the creative type, take her to the New England Spring Craft Festival at Mohegan Sun this Mother’s Day weekend. This unique festival blends creativity with culinary excellence in a showcase featuring over 275 artisans.
Shop for the perfect gift for mom, or let her pick it our herself, from handcrafted jewelry, luxurious spa products or specialty candles, and sample a lineup of food offerings all the way from unique salsas to handmade chocolates.
Online tickets cost $13 for one day or $18 for the whole weekend, and children ages 14 and under enter for free.
The festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 10. Mohegan Sun Earth Expo & Convention Center is located at 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd. in Uncasville.
Enjoy afternoon tea
Pamper mom with an elegant afternoon tea service aboard the Essex Steam Train. The train’s “Mommy & Me Tea” event takes guests on a scenic 90-minute train ride through the Connecticut River Valley in a restored 1920s era Pullman Dining car. Dress in your Sunday best, listen to comforting classical music and take in the scenery while enjoying an assortment of teas, finger sandwiches and pastries.
Mommy & Me Tea is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, with tickets starting at $59.99.
Go to the farmers’ market
For the moms who love to shop, head over to Bozrah Farmer’s Market on Saturday, May 9 for a special Mother’s Day Market full of handmade clothing, fresh baked pastries, unique crafts, flowers, plants and plenty of other goods from local vendors. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., enjoy a day of shopping, food trucks and live music with mom.
The market will take place at Maples Farm Park, located at 45 Bozrah St. in Bozrah.
Run a 5K
If you and mom are the active type, consider running a race together on Mother’s Day. This year, the annual Bridgeport Hospital Mother’s Day 5K will start at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, starting and ending at the hospital’s Milford Campus.
The event not only consists of a 5K, but fitness options for the whole family: a timed 5K run and walk, a 3K walk and a kid’s fun run for ages nine and under. Registration for the races costs $40 for adults or $20 for students ages 10-18, while the kid’s fun run is free to enter. Prizes will be distributed to the top runners, as well as the fastest mother-daughter and mother-son teams.