You probably know that next Sunday is Mother’s Day in our country, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate that special woman in your life. And, no, you don’t have to spend a fortune and stand in line for an hour to take her out for brunch. Here are some ideas to have a beautiful Mother’s Day without spending any money at all.
Friday, May 9 — Riverside: Make your own Mother’s Day card and take it home with you at the La Sierra library. 3:30 p.m. 4600 La Sierra Ave., Riverside. 951-826-2461. riversideca.gov/library/about-library/calendar-events
Saturday, May 10 — Lakewood: The free Pan American Fiesta features live music, dancing, carnival rides (for additional cost) crafts for sale and food trucks. It runs Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 11, but most activities are on Saturday, noon to 10 p.m. Mayfair Park, 5720 Clark Ave., Lakewood. lakewoodcity.org
Saturday, May 10 — Rancho Cucamonga: Make gifts for Mom, yourself or someone special in a free Mother’s Day arts and crafts event at GEM Community Center. Meet Hello Kitty. Vendors available. Sign up in advance at thegemcommuitycenter.org. 4 p.m. at the garden across from 8338 Day Creek Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga. thegemcommunitycenter.org
Saturday, May 10. — Ontario: The Studio Saturdays: Artfully Celebrating Mother’s Day workshop at the Ontario Museum of History and Art is devoted to the remarkable women in your life. Create your own Mother’s Day gift for the mother figures that you want to honor. Advance sign-up is recommended. Noon to 2 p.m. 225 South Euclid Ave., Ontario. 909-395-2510. ontariomuseum.org/visit/
Saturday, May 10 — Los Angeles County: A Mother’s Day Rosary will be held at 2 p.m. at all 11 Catholic cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Join in person at a cemetery for prayer, gratitude and reflection, or it will also be live streamed from San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills. catholiccm.org/rosary.
Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 — Newport Beach: Enjoy a stroll or bring your kayak to the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, on 135 acres of peaceful, scenic parkland. Easy hiking trails, equestrian trails, scenic bluffs and the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Leashed dogs are allowed. 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach. 949-923-2290. ocparks.com/parks-trails/upper-newport-bay-nature-preserve
Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 — Beverly Hills: Want to pretend you’re in a scene from TV’s “Bridgerton”? You can at the grand Doheny Greystone Mansion, built by the legendary Doheny family, but now a park owned by the city of Beverly Hills. You can only visit the interior on special tours, but the beautiful exterior gardens are open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and definitely worth a visit. There are 18 acres of terraced gardens including a willow pond with turtles, statuary and fountains. (Sorry, no picnics allowed.) The 97-year-old mansion and gardens have been used as locations for many films. 905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills. 310-286-0119. ca-beverlyhills.civicplus.com/441/Visit-Greystone.
Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 — Pasadena: Take a stroll through the Arlington Garden, the only public garden in Pasadena, which was built on land that Caltrans originally bought to extend the 710 Freeway. When public outcry killed that project, the land sat vacant until it was redeveloped as a charming 3-acre public garden. You can bring your leashed pooch. It’s open daily, sunrise to sunset. 275 Arlington Drive, Pasadena. 626-578-5434. arlingtongardenpasadena.org/about/
Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11 — San Pedro: Take a walk with panoramic views of San Pedro and the harbor at Deane Dana Friendship Park and Nature Center. Have a picnic, visit the nature center and enjoy 123 acres of this park, which features a wheelchair-friendly path, picnic shelters and a playground. Open 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.1805 W. 9th St., San Pedro. parks.lacounty.gov
Sunday, May 11 — Claremont: Mothers get in free to the beautiful 86-acre California Botanic Garden on Mother’s Day. California Botanic Garden is the largest dedicated exclusively to the state’s native plants and works to conserve native and rare species. Open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Click online to reserve your free tickets at calbg.org. 1500 N College Ave., Claremont. 909-625-8767.
Sunday, May 11 — Redlands: Take Mom for a stroll amid six acres of picturesque Italian Renaissance and rose gardens at the historic Victorian Kimberly Crest House in Redlands. The gardens are free to tour Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. No reservations required. (Reservations and a fee required to tour the house.) 1325 Prospect Drive, Redlands. 909-792-2111. kimberlycrest.org.
Sunday, May 11 — Laguna Canyon: Enjoy a peaceful mostly flat walk of less than one mile that includes play and mindfulness exercises to connect with nature. It ends with a tea ceremony. Bring water. A folding chair or yoga mat is recommended. For ages 10 and older. (Note: Parking at the Nix Nature Center costs $3.) 9-11 a.m. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. Advance registration required at lagunacanyon.org
Sunday, May 11 — Los Angeles: Share stories and memories at the Mother’s Day Remembrance Service at Hillside Memorial Park, 10 a.m. in the large sanctuary. 6001 W. Centinela Ave. Los Angeles. Register at: hillsidememorial.org/events/details/mothers-day-2025
Sunday, May 11 — Van Nuys: The SuihoEn Japanese Garden is hosting a special Mother’s Day opening event with flower arranging, storytelling, Bonsai demos and a place to make your own Mother’s Day card. This 6-acre garden was designed to emulate strolling gardens built during the 18th and 19th centuries for Japanese lords on their estates. It’s a demonstration garden of the water reclamation plant next door. 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 6100 Woodley Ave., Van Nuys. 213-791-0238. thejapanesegarden.com/events/mothers-day-event/