Bountiful brunches are just the beginning of things to do for Mother’s Day in Santa Cruz, which falls on Sunday, May 8.
We’ve compiled shopping, hiking, crafting activities and more to celebrate all things mom leading up to and throughout Mother’s Day weekend.
So go ahead and start planning to spoil, indulge, treat and appreciate the mom in your life—she deserves it.
Mother’s Day Sunday Brunch
Bargetto Winery
Bargetto’s creekside courtyard makes for a scenic brunch setting on mom’s special day. Enjoy a gourmet buffet catered by Michael’s on Main and raise your glass of hand-crafted wine in a toast to the guest of honor. Note: Deadline for reservations is Sunday, May 1st.
When: 12:00 pm
Cost: General $55 / Children 5 and older $43
Call 831.475.2258 ext. 10 for reservations.
Bargetto’s Mother’s Day Brunch Menu
Chaminade Resort & Spa
Indulge mom with panoramic ocean views, sparkling champagne, and a phenomenal buffet featuring a seafood bar, omelet station, and carvery. You might want to go the extra mile and treat her with a gift certificate to the spa, too. Just saying.
When: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Cost: Adults $64.95 / Children 6-12 $18.95
Call 831-475-5600 for reservations.
Chaminade’s Mother’s Day Brunch Menu
Saturn Cafe
Mother’s Day Brunch at Saturn features bottomless mimosas for mom and comfort food with a vegetarian/vegan twist, including many gluten-free items.
Call 831-429-8505 for reservations.
Saturn Cafe’s Weekend Brunch Menu
Shadowbrook
Hop in the cable car and ride in style to your Mother’s Day feast. Shadowbrook will be serving its dinner menu all day along with Mother’s Day specials such as Spinach and Gruyere Quiche and Angus Ribey with Lobster Bearnaise.
When: 11:30 am to 8:30 pm
Call 831-475-1511 for reservations
Shadowbrook’s Dinner Menu
Severino’s
Severino’s is pulling out all the stops for mom with an “endless” champagne brunch and a complimentary rose. A carving station, prawn cocktails, and dessert extravaganza are just a few of the specials that await. Extend the day’s festivities with a walk to the Cement Ship at nearby Seacliff State Beach.
When: Brunch 10:00 am to 2:30 pm (Dinner 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm)
Cost: Adults $43 / Kids 5-12 $16
Severino’s Mother’s Day Brunch Menu and Dinner Menu
Crow’s Nest
Celebrate mom with harbor views and brunch specials including Dungeness Crabcake Benedict and Crab and Shrimp Crepes. Be sure to save room for the house made dessert offerings including Strawberry Shortcake and a White Chocolate Lavender Raspberry Tower.
When: Brunch served 11:30 am to 3:30 pm
Crow’s Nest Mother’s Day Menu
Michael’s on Main
Treat your mom to a delicious and memorable meal at Michael’s on Main aka MOMs…how perfect is that? Tempting menu specials include Pistachio Crusted Salmon and a fluffy spring omelet with fresh asparagus and wild mushrooms.
When: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Michael’s on Main Mother’s Day Brunch Menu
Felton Fire Auxiliary’s Annual Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast
Bring the whole family and celebrate mom with a good ole pancake breakfast. Bonus points for helping to raise funds for the Felton Volunteer Fire Department.
When: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm
Cost: Adults $10 / Kids under 12 $5
Santa Cruz Food Lounge
Only the finest for mom! Three seatings are available for this gourmet brunch buffet served on heirloom china. Gifts for all moms await so be sure to make reservations.
When: 10:00 am, 11:00 am, and 12:00 pm
Cost: $17 – $33
Additional Mother’s Day Brunch Restaurants
Sanderlings Restaurant
Johnny’s Harborside
Ideal Bar & Grill
Your Place Farm to Table
Hindquarter Bar & Grille
Stonehouse Bar & Grill
Ristorante Italiano
Bittersweet Bistro
The Point Chop House & Lounge
Hoffman’s Downtown
Lulu Carpenter’s on Pacific
Pre-Mother’s Day Shopping
Art Inspired of Capitola
Art Inspired is offering a Mother’s Day wishlist. Visit this unique local artist collective to create your list, then drop subtle hints to your loved ones on where to shop. Easy peasy!
Location: 409 Capitola Ave. Suite A
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm
Carport Pop-up
Get your Mother’s Day shopping done at quite possibly the best location ever…Marianne’s Ice Cream in Aptos! Carport Pop-up is hosting a local maker’s fair featuring jewelry, leather goods, pottery, aprons, and more.
When: Saturday, April 30, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: 218 State Park Dr., Aptos
2nd Annual Mother’s Day Gift Fair
Don’t know what to get mom for Mother’s Day and looking for something unique? Come check out the Mother’s Day Gift Fair and get your shop on. Plenty of vendors will be there selling plants, beauty products, jewelry, clothes, ceramics and more. Food will also be for sale and family friendly games round out the event. All proceeds will benefit Live Oak Community Resources.
When: Sunday, May 1 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Where: Live Oak Elementary
Petroglyph
You don’t have to be in Kindergarten to make a gift for your mom. Get creative at Petroglyph in Downtown Santa Cruz and paint a masterpiece keepsake for her. Paint by May 4th to have your piece fired up in time for Mother’s Day. Even better, bring mom to Petroglyph on Mother’s Day…she gets free studio fees and you both get quality time together.
Mother’s Day Weekend Shopping
Mother’s Day Pop Up
When: 5/7 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Where: Equinox & Bartolo Winery and Tasting Room
The combination of locally-made gifts and sparkling wine makes Equinox an easy choice for some last-minute shopping. Vetsy ceramics, Love Light Vintage soy wax candles, and hand-crafted rocky road are just a few of the gifts you’ll find at this pop up.
Mother’s Day Posies and Tea
When: 5/7 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Where: New Leaf Westside Community Classroom
If you ever wondered what a pocket full of posy was, sign yourself up for Bonny Doon Garden Company’s hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the skills to create beautiful floral arrangements from your own backyard.
Roses of Yesterday and Today Mother’s Day Open House
When: 5/7 and 5/8 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: 803 Browns Valley Road, Corralitos
Stop and smell the roses at the annual Roses of Yesterday and Today Mother’s Day Open House. Enjoy light refreshments, the garden in full bloom, and potted roses for sale. While you’re in Corralitos, take mom on a little wine tasting tour along the Corralitos Wine Trail.
38th Annual Spring Plant Sale
When: 5/7 9:00 am to 2:00 pm; 5/8 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: Cabrillo College
It’s pretty obvious why Cabrillo College holds its annual spring plant sale on Mother’s Day weekend, isn’t it? This popular event boasts over 1000 different organic vegetable starts, perennial edible crops, annuals, bedding plants, culinary & medicinal herbs, cut flowers, natives, perennials, salvias, succulents and vines.
Sparkling Popup
When: 5/8 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Where: New Leaf Community Markets Westside, Downtown & Capitola
Cost: Complimentary
If you’re planning to treat mom to a homemade Mother’s Day lunch or dinner, you’ll want to shop at New Leaf to sample prosecco, mocktails, chocolate, strawberries, and more. Bring mom along for complimentary samples then pick up her favorites!
Get Outdoors
Free Garden Tour
When: 5/7 at 11:00 am
Where: UCSC Arboretum
Spring blooms abound at the UCSC Arboretum gardens! The Saturday before Mother’s Day happens to be the first Saturday of the month, when the Arboretum offers docent-led tours, free with admission. This is a great opportunity to check out some rare and unique flora collections from Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and California.
Mother’s Day Walk: Women of Big Basin
When: 5/8 at 1:00 pm
Where: Big Basin Redwoods State Park
What better way to celebrate the strength and spirit of motherhood than with a stroll among redwoods and living history reenactment that pays tribute to some key women in Big Basin’s history. This 1-hour guided walk is wheel chair and stroller accessible.
32nd Annual Mother’s Day Run/Walk for Shelter
When: 5/8 from 7:45 am
Where: Ramsay Park, Watsonville
Work up your appetite for brunch and kick off Mother’s Day with a beautiful trek around Watsonville’s slough trails. This race/walk benefits Pajaro Valley Shelter Services and its mission to help families experiencing homelessness help themselves. All ages and skill levels are invited to join the fun, including families with strollers.
Mother’s Day at the Seymour Center
When: 5/8 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Where: Seymour Marine Discover Center
Perfect for families, Seymour is celebrating Mother’s Day with a special focus on ocean moms, a Mother’s Day craft for kids, and a free flower for all the moms who visit.
Mother’s Day Tea and Toggery
When: 5/8 open all day
Where: Roaring Camp Railroads
Cost: Festival is admission free after $8 parking; Fashion Show tickets $25
Treat mom to a Steampunk-inspired Mother’s Day celebration featuring a vintage fashion show, tea party, and all-day festival.
Hi Christine, I was looking for ways to promote my band’s show on Cinco de Mayo at Michael’s on Main, from 7:30-10:30 (The Ten O’Clock Lunch Band) If you have an idea, please let me know – thanks! We mostly use Facebook, and I made an account at MailChimp, but have not yet learned how to use it. We might need a person who is good at marketing for future shows. Thanks!
Hi Richard,
Thanks for contacting us about your show. For now, here’s a link to our Weekend Roundup: http://santacruzlife.com/this-weekend-in-santa-cruz-may-5th-8th-2016/
We usually list events Friday through Sunday but this week we included Thursday’s Cinco de Mayo events. You’ll find your show listed under “Also on Thursday” events.
You can also visit santacruzlife.com to submit your events for consideration in the future. Hope that helps!