Mother's Day is right around the corner — May 10 — and here in Dutchess County, we have plenty of things to do and places to go with Mom to celebrate her special day. Check out this list of the Top 10 Uniquely Dutchess Mother’s Day Experiences to help plan an unforgettable weekend for Mom and the whole family here in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley.
Taking Mom out for a delicious meal is always a nice gesture, and there are many tasty options in Dutchess, including farm-to-table restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients. Terrapin in Rhinebeck and The Villa Borghese in Wappingers Falls are among the many Dutchess eateries hosting special Mother's Day dining experiences. For a guide to Mother’s Day brunch choices, click here.
Related: The Destination Dutchess CIA Chef Finder is a free mobile passport that helps you find Culinary Institute of America-educated chefs who create world-class cuisine in the heart of New York’s Hudson Valley.
April 30–June 12 at the Dutchess Handmade Pop-Up Shop, Arts Mid-Hudson, Poughkeepsie
Find locally made glass, jewelry, greeting cards, textiles, ceramics, wood products, prints, paintings, home decorating items and so much more. The shop will be open Mondays–Fridays from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and select Saturdays (May 2, 9 and 16) from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Click here to learn more.
at Mirbeau Inn and Spa, Rhinebeck
Mom deserves to be pampered, and Mirbeau Rhinebeck's "Perfect Getaway" package will do just that. Enjoy lavish overnight accommodation for one evening at the old-world-chic, 49-room resort and immerse yourself in a variety of luxurious, modern comforts. You'll receive $150 per person toward Mirbeau's spa services, and $50 per person toward dining at Willow, Mirbeau's elegant on-site restaurant. Click here for details. Mirbeau received a Four-Star Award for 2026 from the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide.
Friday, May 8, 5:30–8:30 p.m., in the Village of Pawling
Moms, take a relaxing stroll through the quaint Village of Pawling and enjoy perks and beverages from participating businesses courtesy of the Pawling Chamber of Commerce. Need someone to watch the little ones? Pawling Recreation has you covered with the Pawling Rec Fun Night featuring games, crafts and more. Click here for updates and to register the kiddos for Fun Night.
Related: Top 10 Women Who Influenced Dutchess County's History
Saturdays, May 2 and 9, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., at the Barns at Vassar, Poughkeepsie
Shop for all the plants Mom needs to make her garden exquisite, all grown by the Poughkeepsie Farm Project farmers, staff and youth. All the proceeds from the event will support PFP’s efforts in sustainable farming, food access and education. The Plant Sale will also feature local makers and food trucks. Click here for more information.
Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, leaves and returns at the Beacon Dock
Spend an afternoon at one of the Hudson Valley’s most scenic and intriguing attractions. Frank Bannerman built his Scottish-style castle on Pollepel Island in the Hudson River in the early 1900s as a place to store military surplus items. Bannerman also built a summer home on the island, and his wife, Helen, planted beautiful gardens. Nowadays, a pleasant 30-minute cruise aboard the Estuary Steward will bring you out to the island so you can tour the buildings, stroll along the walking paths, admire the views of the Hudson and its surrounding highlands and learn the fascinating history of the island and its inhabitants. Click here to book your tour.
Related: Top 10 Dutchess Events in May
Sunday, May 10, 10 a.m., at Innisfree Garden, Millbrook
This charming English and Chinese-inspired garden invites you to relax and connect with nature this Mother’s Day weekend. Join landscape curator Kate Kerin for the Curator’s Tour and bask in Innisfree's tranquil beauty. Innisfree Garden is an extraordinary icon of mid-20th century landscape design and is recognized as one of the world’s 10 best gardens and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was designed by Walter Beck and his wife, avid gardener and heiress Marion Burt Beck, with much collaboration with landscape architect Lester Collins. The garden features a 40-acre lake surrounded by cliffs, low hills, waterfalls, streams and all sorts of beautiful flowers, plants and landscape elements. It is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle. Click here to purchase tickets for this and other great events at Innisfree.
Sunday, May 10, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie
Moms receive free admission to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum on Mother’s Day. Designed for children ages 12 and younger, the MHDM’s exhibits get kids moving, exploring, building, pretending, collaborating, creating and discovering. The museum is open 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Mother’s Day. Click here to learn more.
Is Mom fascinated by Gilded Age history? Then she will absolutely love the tours being held at the Mills Mansion at Staatsburgh State Historic Site in Staatsburg on Mother's Day Weekend. The opulent 79-room mansion was once the country home of Ogden Mills and Ruth Livingston Mills, who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle in turn-of-the-century America.
• Tales of the Titanic (Saturday, May 9, 11 a.m.): Mark the 114th anniversary of the sinking by touring the home of Ogden and Ruth Mills, who had tickets for the return trip on the Titanic — a trip which, of course, never happened. This mansion tour, led by a costumed guide, offers tales of bravery and tragedy in a setting remarkably similar to first class on the Titanic.
• Gilded Age Scandals! (Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, 2 p.m.): Learn about the scandalous behavior and intrigues of the very rich at the turn of the century while touring the mansion with a costumed guide (not kid-friendly!).
• The REAL Gilded Age: America's Elite in the Downton Abbey Era (Sunday, May 10, 11 a.m.): This tour highlights the real-life characters and themes at Staatsburgh that parallel Downton Abbey and HBO’s The Gilded Age.
If Mom's a theater maven, she's sure to enjoy these shows over Mother's Day weekend:
• "Something Rotten!" (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 8, 9 and 10, at the County Players Falls Theatre, Wappingers Falls): County Players, one of the longest running community theatre companies in the area, presents this musical comedy that offers a fresh new twist on William Shakespeare.
• "Tick, Tick... Boom!" (Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 8, 9 and 10, at The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck): Before "Rent," there was "Tick, Tick... Boom!," the autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of "Rent."
• Take a Hike at Peach Hill Park, Poughkeepsie: If Mom is the outdoorsy type, then why not accompany her on a leisurely stroll? Peach Hill Park in Poughkeepsie is open from sunrise to sunset and offers 3.5 miles of scenic hiking trails through a former apple orchard. At 485 feet, the summit of Peach Hill is the highest point in the Town of Poughkeepsie, and the views from the top are magnificent in all directions. Dogs are welcome, too. For a trail map, click here.
• Catch a Flick at Starr Cinema, Rhinebeck: If Mom is a film buff, why not take her out to catch a film on the big screen? Click here to see what is playing.
• Sample Award-Winning Vodka at Denning’s Point Distillery, Beacon: Denning’s Point Distillery’s Made of the Meadow vodka won gold medals at both the 2022 San Fran World Spirits Competition and the 2016 Fifty Best Spirits Competition. Why not take Mom for a tasting so she can sample this and other award-winning spirits at Denning’s Point? Tastings are from 2–8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2–6 p.m. on Sundays, no reservations required. Click here for details.
• Book a Hudson Valley Getaway with Active Lifestyle Tours: Enjoy all the best of what this region has to offer when you book an excursion through Active Lifestyle Tours, a tour operator that specializes in Hudson Valley getaways. Whether it's a day trip, a long weekend or an entire week, Active Lifestyle Tours can plan and operate trips for small or large group sizes. All the trips are private, so it's just your group! Click here to learn more.
