This year, Mothers Day is returning this Sunday, May 12, and there is no shortage of local events and activities to honor mothers and mother figures in the Bay Area. Whether you are excited for a special brunch, city-wide event, or family friendly activity, the Bay Area is the best place to celebrate your loved ones.

Though Mother’s Day has its roots in ancient Greek, Roman, and Christian celebrations, its modern interpretation comes from the early 20th century, where Anna Jarvis, daughter of the founder of the Mother’s Day Work Clubs, sought to create a holiday to honor the sacrifices mothers made for their children. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson established the second Sunday in May as a national holiday, and it has since become one of the largest commercial and sentimental holidays for Americans.

Here are a few of our favorite ways to celebrate Mother’s Day in the Bay Area:

1. Mother’s Day Brunch: Arguably the most popular way to celebrate this holiday, enjoy the wonderful cuisine that the Bay Area has to offer with your family! Head to Foreign Cinema or Brenda’s French Soul Food in San Francisco, or enjoy Angelica’s and Son & Garden on the peninsula for a tasty and filling brunch. Don’t forget to make a reservation in advance!

2. SF Ferry Building: Head to the San Francisco Ferry Building for their exciting Mother’s Day celebrations! They will host family-friendly workshops all day where you can create pop-up cards, jewelry, dried flower bouquets, cookie decorations, and more! When you are finished, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the San Francisco Bay.

3. Mother’s Day Women of the Bay Afternoon Sail: Join your mom aboard an 80-foot schooner for a relaxing sail around the SF Bay while celebrating the mothers and women that have shaped local history. Enjoy the Bay from a different perspective and enjoy the wonderful town of Sausalito when you return! Reserve your spot here.

… and many more! We hope you and your loved ones enjoy this weekend of celebration and reflection!

More Helpful Articles

Elephant Seals are Back!

It’s peak elephant seal season in the Bay Area! With the end of winter approaching, we have reached baby season for elephant seals. They hang around the Bay year-round, but there’s no better time to visit your local beach dwellers. The Bay Area is full of hidden gems,...

read more

Happy National Hunt for Happiness Week!

Overcome your winter blues with National Hunt for Happiness Week! Spanning from January 17-23, this week is designed to help bring joy back into the mundane parts of life while we have shorter, colder days. This week was created by the Society for Happy People, under...

read more

SF’s Comedy Takeover is Here

On your marks, get sketching, go to SF Sketchfest 2026!  Known as one of the biggest comedy festivals in the country, Sketchfest is a celebration of comedy in all forms, from live stand-up to podcasts and short sketch scenes. The festival was founded in 2001 by Daviw...

read more