“No More Macaroni Crafts!” 5 Things to Do this Mother’s Day

Oh no, Mother’s Day has snuck up on you again! Despite it taking place the same day every year, it always seems to come out of nowhere. But don’t worry, we got your back. There’s plenty to do in Downtown Arlington for that special maternal figure in your life!

1. Take Her to See a Free Concert at the Levitt 

Grab a picnic blanket, a basket, and some fresh food for a night under the stars. Your mom will be entranced by the comforting atmosphere of summer nights on the Levitt lawn.

Mother’s Day weekend includes talented performances from El Chanclazo and La Santa Cecilia on Friday and Trent Walker and Slade Coulter on Saturday. Even if she’s not familiar with these artists beforehand, she’ll be a fan by the end of the night and will always remember the story of how she discovered them on a very impactful Mother’s Day.

2. Go Watch a Show at Theatre Arlington 

Theatre Arlington has been around for a long time now. Your mother, along with the rest of the Arlington community, probably has many fond memories of seeing high-quality, powerful productions at the theater. The theater’s current play is “On Golden Pond” by Ernest Thompson, a story about an elderly couple watching over their teenage grandson for the summer. Over the course of the summer, the couple and their grandson share stories and experiences from their respective generations and gain a deeper understanding of one another. If you are looking for a heart-wrenching story or if you think your mom needs to learn to update her slang, this is the show for you!

3. Visit the Arlington Museum of Art’s Uncrated Exhibit 

Whether your mom is a history buff or just loves learning new information, the Arlington Museum of Art is the place to be this coming Mother’s Day. “Uncrated: Reimaging the Arlington Museum of Art” is an exhibit featuring never-before-seen art, relics, and images from the museum’s archives and explores the history of the visual arts and art education in Arlington. Sunday May 14^th is the closing of the exhibit, so be sure to book tickets for Mother’s Day morning.

If your mom is a fan of Taylor Swift, don’t forget to surprise her with tickets to the museum’s “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour Collection” exhibit coming June 3^rd. This exhibit features original costumes, pictures, and videos from Swift’s private collection and is the perfect opportunity for mom to get to know her favorite artist in a way she’s never seen before.

4. Treat Her to a Nice Dinner 

This one is kind of a no-brainer, but sometimes all a mother really wants is to spend time with her children. Life moves pretty fast, and we often times do not leave room to sit down with our loved ones and just enjoy each other’s company. Downtown offers several intimate dining options where you can enjoy a good meal while talking and catching up with your family.

Whether your mom likes Mexican food, Italian, Tex-Mex, barbecue, burgers, or pizza, Downtown has it all. If you’re feeling extra fancy, be sure to take her to the Sanford House Inn and Spa for a nice, relaxing day of being pampered. And the best part is, you can combine this with any of the other activities and gift ideas listed above to maximize her day.

5. Craft Something Unique Just for Her 

Upgrade your macaroni slippers tradition by crafting something that she’ll actually use instead. If you’re tired of seeing her “Live. Laugh. Love” sign hanging in the kitchen, make her a new personalized wood sign at [Board & Brush]. Or, if you want to give her a unique conversation-starter, visit Catalyst Creative Arts and craft your own specialized gift. Whether it’s a leather keychain, a marble-dyed scarf, pottery, or a glass sculpture, you can do it all at Catalyst Creative.

This Mother’s Day, we’re retiring the macaroni slippers and pouring our heart into something a little more meaningful for the special women in our lives. Visit DowntownArlington.org for more inspiration on what to do for mom’s big day and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for updates on other activities your mom will love all year round.