Mother’s Day in Seattle: Events, Brunch & Things to Do

Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May each year.

Many Seattle events also take place on the Saturday before Mother’s Day, so it is worth looking at the entire weekend when making plans.

One of Seattle’s most recognizable Mother’s Day weekend traditions is the Pike Place Market Flower Festival, when local flower farmers fill the Market with colorful spring bouquets.

You may also find annual plant sales, garden programs, special restaurant menus, cruises and other seasonal events throughout the Seattle area.

Specific schedules change each year, so always confirm current dates and times with the event organizer.

Instead of starting with one specific restaurant, think about the kind of experience you want.

Seattle offers waterfront restaurants, downtown hotel brunches, neighborhood cafés, afternoon tea and plenty of casual options.

If the meal is part of a larger outing, choose a restaurant near whatever else you want to do that day.

There are plenty of alternatives to brunch. You could visit a garden, explore the Seattle Waterfront, take a ferry ride, visit a museum or the aquarium, go to the zoo, book a spa treatment, take a class or simply go for a beautiful walk.

I especially like combining one activity with something simple to eat rather than making the entire day revolve around a restaurant reservation.

Seattle has many good free options, including Discovery Park, Green Lake, Olympic Sculpture Park, Kerry Park, Kubota Garden and many neighborhood parks.

You can also browse Pike Place Market, walk along the waterfront or pack a picnic and turn a free outing into a full Mother’s Day afternoon.

Pike Place Market is one of the most fun places to buy flowers around Mother’s Day because local growers bring an impressive selection of seasonal bouquets to the Market.

Neighborhood florists, farmers markets, garden centers and local nurseries are also good places to look for bouquets, flowering plants or something Mom can plant in the garden.

For popular brunches, afternoon teas, cruises and limited-capacity events, reservations are a good idea.

If your first choice is booked, consider celebrating on Saturday instead of Sunday or choose a more flexible outing such as a garden, park, waterfront walk or picnic.

Seattle weather can always change the plan, so it helps to have an indoor backup.

Consider the Seattle Aquarium, a museum, Volunteer Park Conservatory, afternoon tea, a spa appointment, shopping, a cooking class or a leisurely meal somewhere you can stay awhile.

If you want a specific restaurant, tea service, cruise or ticketed event, it is smart to start looking several weeks ahead.

For a more casual day, you can often plan much later. Seattle parks, gardens, markets and waterfront outings give you plenty of options that do not require a highly structured schedule.