Events

10 things to do in Boston this Mother’s Day weekend

BosTen is your weekly guide to the best events and coolest things to do in Boston.

By Kevin Slane

May 9, 2024

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Welcome to BosTen, your weekly guide to the coolest events and best things to do in Boston this weekend. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter here. Have an idea about what we should cover? Leave us a comment on this article or in the BosTen Facebook group, or email us at [email protected].

See art after hours with MFA Late Nites

This Friday, the Museum of Fine Arts is bringing back its signature MFA Late Nites event, keeping its doors open until 1 a.m. for visitors and offering nightlife-themed activities to accompany its exhibits. It’s the perfect opportunity to see Hallyu! The Korean Wave, which explores the rising global influence of South Korean culture through objects like a scale-model recreation of the bathroom from “Parasite” and a suit worn by Psy in the music video for global hit “Gangnam Style.” Visitors are encouraged to “dress to impress” for Late Nites, which will include DJs, dancing, art-making, live music, and other activities. (Friday, May 10 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.; 465 Huntington Ave., Boston; $25) — Kevin Slane

Hit the ‘Piñata’ with Freddie Gibbs & Madlib

Midwest rapper Freddie Gibbs reached a career peak in 2014 when he teamed with producer Madlib for their hit album “Pinata,” which featured a throwback sound at a moment in time when trap beats dominated the scene. Gibbs is unflinching in describing his hardscrabble Gary, Indiana roots — though he sure makes those tough times pretty danceable on a few tracks, such as the Danny Brown joint “High.” To celebrate the album’s 10th anniversary, Gibbs and Madlib are doing a limited “Teñata” tour, with the first show on Friday night at MGM Music Hall. One would assume the duo’s set will lean heavily on the 17-track “Piñata,” but hopefully MadGibbs will find time to throw in tracks from their 2019 album “Bandana” as well. (Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m.; 2 Lansdowne St., Boston; $32-$63) — Kevin Slane

Laugh it up with Nate Jackson at The Shubert

Ah, people sitting up front for Nate Jackson at the Shubert: You have no idea what you’re in for. Well, if you’re a fan of the globally touring comedian, you actually probably do — spontaneous, hysterical riffs about any number of audience members lucky (or unfortunate?) enough not to blend into the background. But don’t worry, Jackson — TikTok superstar, a featured actor on the NBC comedy hit “Young Rock” (he’s Junkyard Dog), and owner of Super Funny Comedy Club in Tacoma, one of just four Black-owned comedy clubs in the U.S. — is never mean-spirited, only hilarious. (Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m.; 265 Tremont St., Boston, $43.50-$53.50) — Peter Chianca

Rock out with Guster at Somerville Porchfest

Once a year, Somerville transforms into one huge concert during PorchFest, with hundreds of musicians performing on porches across the city. The annual celebration returns this Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., with performances split into two-hour windows: West Somerville porches will play during a noon to 2 p.m. window, Central Somerville from 2-4 p.m., and East Somerville from 4-6 p.m. This year features easily the biggest act to ever perform at Porchfest, indie rock outfit Guster. The group, which formed at Tufts back in 1991 before rising to national prominence, will perform at 12 Aberdeen Road (just down the street from their old apartment) from 3 to 3:30 p.m. The group, which is releasing its first new album in five years next week, typically draws thousands of people to its shows, so the city of Somerville is taking the rare step of closing down the road during the performance. To see a full schedule of the more than 400 acts scheduled to put on a show, check out the official 2024 Somerville Porchfest map. (Saturday, May 11 from 12-6 p.m. at various locations; free) — Kevin Slane

Shop the Seaport Summer Market

In collaboration with the Makers Show, the Seaport Summer Market returns for the third year starting this weekend. The market runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through June 30, then resumes later in the summer from Aug. 24 through Sept. 22. It features over 80 vendors each weekend and over 130 vendors in total throughout the season, selling goods like cosmetics, art, specialty foods, clothing, and plants. Guests can also expect a pop-up from Boston Children’s Museum, a DJ, and food trucks like Cheese Louise, ZaZ, and Blanche’s Ice Cream. (Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; 88 Seaport Blvd., Boston; free) — Natalie Gale

Take flight at the Mass Audubon Bird-A-Thon

This Saturday is Mass Audubon’s annual Bird-A-Thon, when thousands of birders spend 24 hours trying to identify as many species as possible. Hardcore avian enthusiasts will be stationed deep in the wilderness this weekend, but amateur birders who want a taste of the action before the madness truly begins should swing by Boston Nature Center in Mattapan on Friday for an evening bird stroll. The free educational event is an unofficial kickoff to the Bird-A-Thon, so you’ll be able to learn more about all of the area’s feathered friends. (Friday, May 10 from 6-7:30 p.m.; 500 Walk Hill St.; free) — Kevin Slane

Bring the kids to the Duckling Day Parade

Duckling Day returns to Boston Common and the Public Garden this Sunday, celebrating both Mother’s Day and Robert McCloskey’s beloved book “Make Way for Ducklings.” Festivities kick off at 10 a.m. near the Parkman Bandstand with “Playtime on the Common,” where children can play interactive circus games with Esh Circus Arts, see a magician, check out the “Make Way for Ducklings” reading station, and visit with the Harvard University Marching Band. The parade begins at noon, marching from the bandstand through the Common and Public Garden and ending at the “Make Way for Ducklings” statues. Registration costs $35 for a family of any size and includes a goodie bag full of Duckling Day-themed gifts. (Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; 165 Tremont St., Boston; $35 per family) — Natalie Gale

Smell the flowers at Arnold Arboretum’s Lilac Sunday

Lilac Sunday returns to the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University in Jamaica Plain this Mother’s Day, a sure sign that spring is here in Boston. This year’s celebration will be the 114th annual Lilac Sunday, celebrating the park’s hundreds of fragrant purple lilacs while they’re in peak bloom. Visitors can explore the arboretum’s lilac grove with an expert tour, self-guided tour, or by downloading the park’s mobile app, Expeditions. The day also includes hands-on children’s programming, and picnicking in the arboretum’s landscape is allowed on Lilac Sunday only. (Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Arborway, Boston; free) — Natalie Gale

Grab an origami flower at the Harvard Art Museums

Now that the Harvard Art Museums always offer free admission, the staff is coming up with additional new and creative perks to get people to come visit. This Sunday, curator Elizabeth M. Rudy will be offering a handmade origami flower to the first 100 people to arrive at the special exhibition “LaToya M. Hobbs: It’s Time.” The exhibit showcases how Hobbs, a woodcut artist, balances her roles as a contemporary creative, wife, mother, and educator. If you want to keep the flower theme going, you can also swing by the glass flowers at the Harvard Museum of Natural History, one of the gems of the entire Harvard Art Museums system. (Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; 32 Quincy St., Cambridge; free) — Kevin Slane

Bring Mom to the Mother’s Day Makers Market

Still searching for the perfect Mother’s Day gift? Let her pick one out herself at the Mother’s Day Makers Market this Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. at the Charles River Speedway in Brighton. The event, run by Boston Women’s Market, features 30 women-founded local businesses, selling a mix of jewelry, art, home goods, and more. There will also be a number of activities throughout the day, including a bouquet-making station at Butterbean Florals, a spritz bar from cocktail spot Birds of Paradise and refreshments from Speedway fixtures like empanada shop Super Bien. (Sunday, May 12 from 12-5 p.m.; 525 Western Ave., Boston; free) — Kevin Slane