Mother’s Day… A day to celebrate all of the women who have done the amazing / terrifying / wonderful / exhausting / beautiful / challenging / blessed work of raising children! A day celebrated with gifts, cards, special activities, time off, a meal together, and more.
In 1914, Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating Mother’s Day, held on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. Here we are over 100 years later celebrating all of you AWESOME moms out there!
We polled our Facebook readers and asked what moms REALLY want for Mother’s Day. The most popular answers:
- a full night of sleep / get to sleep in / a nap
- massage / spa day
- quiet time without being bothered
- to be lazy / no household responsibility
- a maid/clean house
- mimosas (brunch optional)
- a day out with the family
- a day where someone else is in charge / makes all the decisions
ATTENTION DADS. MEN. SIGNIFICANT OTHERS.
If you’re reading this looking for ideas, see list above. Seriously, these are things moms actually want.
We also know the moms out there wouldn’t mind a special activity planned by someone else and a meal they don’t have to cook… SO, we’ve got ideas for activities to do with mom, places to make crafts for mom, unique places to find gifts, and a list of local restaurants and Mother’s Day events near you in Central Florida.
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12, 2024
Mother’s Day Brunch and Special Events in Lakeland + Polk County
We’d highly recommend calling to check on reservations, especially for restaurants with Mother’s Day Brunch near you. These events feed from our calendar. Keep checking back – many events and specials aren’t announced until 1-2 weeks prior – we will continue adding events until May 11.
Activities for Mother’s Day: Lakeland
♥ Visit Mayfaire by-the-Lake – Lakeland’s outdoor art festival along the shores of Lake Morton, happening Saturday and Sunday. Check out our post for tips on attending with kids.
♥ Go for a walk or a bike ride at Bonnet Springs Park
♥ Take the entire family for a walk around Lake Mirror and a stroll through Hollis Garden.
♥ Plan a Picnic at one of our favorite picnic locations.
♥ Catch a movie at the Silver Moon Drive-In.
♥ Visit a U-Pick Blueberry Farm or a U-Pick Peach Farm – check out our list to find a farm near you!
♥ Plan a picnic at Circle B Bar Reserve – be sure you pack a tablecloth, napkins/paper towels, utensils, food, drinks, and wear walking shoes to explore the trails after you eat.
♥ If you have older kids, spend time as a family ax throwing at Ax Caliber or try the golf simulators at The Back Nine, or see if your family can escape at Lakeland Escape Room or Escapology. Plan a mini-golf date at Family Fun Center.
♥ Does mom love the outdoors? Spend the day on a canoe or kayak tour.
♥ Take mom for a sweet treat – we’ve got a full list of local ice cream and dessert places in our Sweet Treats & Frozen Eats Guide.
♥ Plan an ice cream party at home – be sure you get her favorite ice cream flavor, along with toppings, whipped cream, and cherries.
Get more ideas in our Outdoor Activities Guide, Indoor Activities Guide, and Free Things to Do in Lakeland + Polk County.
More Brunch / Lunch / Dinner Ideas
♥ Local breakfast treats can be found at Charlie’s Mini Donuts, Hole in One Donuts, Uncle Nick’s Bagels, Reececliff, and Fat Jack’s {Related – The Best Places for Donuts in Lakeland + Polk County}
♥ Head to a Downtown Lakeland Restaurant for lunch or dinner – The Purple Onion, Bay Street Bistro, Black & Brew, or Mitchells are all great choices.
♥ In the mood for Italian? Scarpa’s Italian, Il Forno, and Palace are our favorites.
♥ Take mom out for a beverage at Swan Brewing. It is family-friendly!
♥ Find somewhere with live music or entertainment
♥ Dads – take Mom on a date! Use our list of Date Night ideas to find other adult things to do and romantic restaurants.
Unique Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
You likely know where to find flowers or buy a spa/pedicure/massage gift certificate, so we’re going to skip the obvious here and give you a few unique gift ideas and places to shop where you might find specials for Mother’s Day.
♥ Give mom the gift of a Friends of Bonnet Springs Park membership or even buy a personalized brick at the park
♥ Purchase a one-of-a-kind gift at the Polk Museum of Art’s Mayfaire-by-the-Lake – you’ll find jewelry, artwork, prints, garden decor, ceramics, and other unique items that make great gifts for mom.
♥ The Shop at Polk Museum of Art has a variety of unique gift items to choose from. Open all weekend during Mayfaire!
♥ Instead of flowers, give a unique plant from The Nectary, Austin’s Backyard Garden, or The Green House Garden Store.
♥ Shop Local – find unique gifts at local stores like Scout & Tag, Rafa Natural, Traditions Unlimited, Gaines, Babe’s Shoes & Apparel, or Stationary Loft.
♥ Order an Edible Arrangement for the fruit/chocolate covered strawberry lover.
♥ Wash her car or have it detailed
♥ Get all your shopping done in one place – Lakeside Village has a variety of gift stores including Books-A-Million, Francesca’s, Versona Accessories, and Yates & Hagan.
♥ You can also find homemade items and local goodies at the Downtown Lakeland Farmers Market on Saturday morning.
♥ Give her tickets to an upcoming event at the RP Funding Center, Theatre Winter Haven, or Lakeland Community Theatre.
Spring Activities Guide
Check out our full Spring Activities Guide for more things to do in Lakeland, Polk County, and Central Florida from January – May. BBQ Festivals, Valentine’s Day, 5k races, seasonal events, annual favorites, SUN ‘n FUN, Easter Egg Hunts, Mother’s Day, and more.