Celebrate Mother's Day in Charlotte for 2021 - free kayak rentals, frozen yogurt, massage, more...

Mother’s Day 2021 should be a little more normal than 2020, with more in-person events happening. Here are some ideas to celebrate in the Charlotte area.

After our list of ideas for celebrating, we have a list of Mother’s Day freebies and discounts, many (but not all) at restaurants. And after that we have a big list of all the events that are on our calendar for Friday, May 7th, through Sunday, May 9th.

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Mother’s Day Gifts, Meals and Celebrations

Order Mother’s Day brunch from a Charlotte restaurant

We’ve put together a list of places in the Charlotte area for Mother’s Day Brunch. We’ve included both dine-in and take-home options.

Go on a hike

Get out and enjoy one of our beautiful greenways, parks or nature preserves. Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of more than 50 hikes and walks near Charlotte.

Take a walk in a garden

Visit one of these Charlotte area botanical gardens. There are 8 on the list to choose from and all are wonderful. If you go to Stowe Botanical Garden on Mother’s Day Weekend (Saturday, May 8th, and Sunday, May 9th) moms get in for free! UPDATE: Stowe’s website says that it’s sold out for the weekend.

Go Kayaking

Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation announced that mothers paddle for free at Kevin Loftin Riverfront Park in Belmont on Sunday, May 9th. If you’re not a mom, it’s $20 for Belmont residents and $25 for non-residents. They made this announcement on Facebook. Learn about kayak rentals here.

One Day University

One Day University features engaging, accessible talks on a wide variety of topics from top university professors. An annual subscription allows you to watch all of the talks and ask questions, and also access the extensive video library. We have a special promo, SMARTMOM, that will get Mom a one-year subscription for just $72. Get the Mother’s Day deal on One Day University.

Get a Discount for Immersive Van Gogh

If your mom is an art-lover and you want to splurge on her, get her VIP tickets to Immersive Van Gogh, which opens at Camp North End on June 18th, running through September 12th. If you purchase VIP tickets by May 9th, use the promo code TZOOMOM and you’ll get 15% off.

Buy Local Chocolate

Treat your mom to some excellent chocolate from one of these Charlotte area chocolate makers.

Buy a museum membership

Buy your mom a membership to one of Charlotte’s great museums, so that she can visit as much as she’d like. From May 6th to 9th, get 20% off a membership to the Bechtler Museum with the promo code MOMSDAY21.

Here are the links to join some Charlotte museums:

Have a Zoom meeting with a local donkey (or horse)

Mambo the donkey, who lives at Peace ‘n’ Peas Farm, in Indian Trail, North Carolina, has become world famous (Seriously! He’s been featured in news segments everywhere from Chicago to Australia!) for crashing virtual meetings. If you are having to get together with your mom remotely, through Zoom, Mambo, or one of his horse, chicken or duck pals, can join the video call for just $50. You might need to be flexible with the date of the Mother’s Day virtual get-together, as Mambo is pretty busy. Just email dangrooster@gmail.com if you want to set up a meeting. (You can also buy Mom a gift certificate to use later.) Book a Farm Animal Virtual Meeting.

Shop from a local lavender farm

Dallas Lavender Lane Farm is a new farm in Gaston County. Their online store features lavender essential oil, raspberry lavender tea, lavender lip balm, lavender baby massage lotion, lavender foot scrub and much more. They’re offering a special Mother’s Day gift four-piece sample set in a sachet bag for $20. If your mom loves lavender, make sure to check this out.

Save on flowers

If you’re not able to shop for flowers from a local shop, get a discount on flower delivery from Groupon. Make sure to look at the top of the page to see if there is an extra discount.

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Mother’s Day Freebies and Deals

TCBY: Moms get 6 ounces of free frozen yogurt at participating TCBY stores.
PDQ: Free small classic shake for moms with any purchase.
iFLY: Take mom skydiving (indoors!) Purchase a “First-Time Flyer” package and moms can get a free flight video. Use code FLYMOM21. iFly is at 7840 Lyles Lane NW, Concord.
Massage Envy: Buy one 60-minute massage and get one free.
Tijuana Flats: Moms get a free entrée on May 9th by using the code MTHR3891 at checkout.
Hooters: On Mother’s Day, buy 10 wings and get 10 FREE boneless wings for Mom. Dine-in only.