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10 things to do in Boston this Mother’s Day weekend
BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest happenings in and around Boston.
Toast Cinco de Mayo with the Boston.com Cocktail Club
Bostonians won’t just be celebrating Mother’s Day and the Kentucky Derby this weekend: It’s also Cinco de Mayo, and the Boston.com Cocktail Club will offer up some virtual cocktails that celebrate the spirits of Mexico this Thursday at 7 p.m. Join host Jackson Cannon (The Hawthorne, Eastern Standard) and guest bartender John Mayer Spressert (Craigie on Main) as they teach you how to make two cocktails using tequila and mescal — the Silver Monk and the Oaxacan Old Fashioned. Attending the Zoom is free, and you can find a full list of necessary ingredients here. — Kevin Slane
Wake up to dream pop when Hatchie brings new music to Crystal Ballroom
When Hatchie takes the Crystal Ballroom stage this Thursday at 8 p.m., she’ll be celebrating the release of “Giving the World Away,” her latest album. Harriette Pilbeam, the dream-pop singer-songwriter behind Hatchie, has already released a few singles from the new album, including “Lights On,” “Giving The World Away,” “Quicksand,” and “This Enchanted.” Critics have hailed both “Quicksand” and lead single “This Enchanted” as evidence of Pilbeam’s “continued evolution as an artist,” which will no doubt be on display at the new Somerville venue on Friday. — Arianna MacNeill
Chow down at the Greenway Food Truck Festival
While some look for swans and cherry blossoms, still others wait for their favorite food trucks to line the city streets before they feel spring has sprung. Join those eager meals-on-wheels fans to start the season at the 2022 Greenway Food Truck Festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. With everything from dumplings to tacos to bubble tea, the outdoor culinary experience coincides with the opening day of the Greenway Artisan Market, a vibrant open-air market run by Somerville Flea featuring talented area artists, crafters, and independent designers. Hit up the nearby Trillium Beer Garden to wash down all of that snacking, while contemplating a splash in the Rings Fountain or a spin on the Greenway Carousel. Food Trucks at the Greenway Food Truck Festival will include Bon Me, The Cookie Monstah, The Dining Car, Frozen Hoagies. — Cheryl Fenton
Unlock your inner steampunk in Waltham
Have repeat viewings of “Downton Abbey” and “Bridgerton” given you Victorian fever? Combine your petticoats with modern technology in Waltham this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Watch City Steampunk Festival, an annual celebration of the melding of 1800s fashion with 1900s innovation. The family-friendly event is free of charge, and features vendors, entertainers, and food trucks. — Kevin Slane
Sip juleps at High Street Place’s Derby party
If you haven’t checked out High Street Place yet, head to the new Boston food hall’s Kentucky Derby Party this Saturday. Watch the race on the venue’s gigantic LED video wall, capture your race day attire with the on-site photo booth, place wagers (for charity) at the betting window, and sip on Mint Juleps, Aperol Spritzes, or any other drink of choice from High Street Place’s 19 different vendors. The party will even have a red carpet and a bugle player to mark the start of the race, bringing a bit of Churchill Downs to the downtown. To purchase tickets, visit the event website. — Kevin Slane
Make way for the annual Duckling Day Parade
The Friends of the Public Garden hosts its annual Duckling Day Parade on Mother’s Day, paying tribute to the iconic children’s book “Make Way for Ducklings” by Robert McCloskey. After last year’s virtual event, the parade is back for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, complete with costumes, the Harvard Marching Band, circus games, and live music. The event typically draws over 1,000 attendees, including hundreds of children. The day kicks off with “Playtime on the Common” at 10 a.m., where event goers can play games, watch performances, see a magician, grab a goodie bag, and read “Make Way for Ducklings” at the reading station. At noon, the parade begins from the Parkman Bandstand and is led by the Harvard Marching Band, which brings parade attendees through the picturesque springtime Boston Common and Public Garden, finishing near the Make Way for Ducklings statues. Families are encouraged to get decked out in costumes and decorate their strollers, and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the Public Garden after the parade. — Natalie Gale
Raise a glass at City Winery on The Greenway
Bostonians looking to enjoy a chilled glass of wine or pint of beer outside should head to Dewey Square this weekend. City Winery on The Greenway is now open for the season directly across from South Station through September. The pop-up bar will serve its locally crafted wine on tap, including a variety of reds, whites, and rosé, as well as a selection of local craft beers and cider. There will also be a menu of fresh wraps, cheese boards, and snacks to complement the wine garden experience. — Morgan Rousseau
Smell spring at Arnold Arboretum’s Lilac Sunday
This Sunday, the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain will host its 112th annual Lilac Sunday, a celebration of the park’s hundreds of lilacs while in peak bloom. The Arboretum has over 400 lilac plants and 149 different taxa, making it one of the finest collections in North America. Lilac Sunday visitors can take a guided tour with an expert or an independent tour with the Arboretum’s mobile app or this printable guide. — Natalie Gale
Treat mom to a Mother’s Day brunch
Everywhere you look around Boston, restaurants are bringing their A-game for Mother’s Day, trotting out special offers and prix-fixe menus left and right. Highlights include a special menu from Alcove (featuring spring onion soup, poached lobster, and lemon panna cotta), the decadent brunch buffet at Lucie, and the special pan-seared foie gras with rhubarb at Ma Maison. For a full list of suggestions, check out our Mother’s Day brunch guide here. — Kevin Slane
Celebrate Mother’s Day with free MFA admission
After you buy your mom a nice gift, treat her to something that won’t hurt your wallet by heading to the MFA, which is offering free admission on a first-come, first-served basis May 8. Passes include admittance to the new exhibit “Turner’s Modern World,” an examination of the works of radical British artist J.M.W. Turner. — Kevin Slane
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