| Thursday, May 7, 2026 Mother’s Day weekend has officially arrived, and the local calendar is starting to explode. More than 65 events are happening across southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island this weekend alone, and you can feel the momentum building as we head toward Memorial Day, just a few short weeks away. Of course, this weekend belongs to Mom. There are brunches, vineyard events, carriage rides, flower festivals, craft workshops, mini photo sessions, tea parties, and enough buffets to keep you full until Monday morning. And honestly? A Mother’s Day buffet still might be undefeated. If you’re planning to go that route, make reservations ASAP because spots are disappearing quickly at some of the bigger restaurants and resorts. We’re also leaning hard into spring this week with a huge number of plant sales, flower festivals, garden markets, and craft fairs across the region because, let’s face it, you all love them, and this is absolutely their season. One special shoutout goes to ARGIA Mystic Cruises, which recently celebrated 40 years of launching the ARGIA. Not a bad milestone for one of the shoreline’s best sailing experiences. Friday night quietly turns into classic rock night around here, too, with the music of Electric Light Orchestra and Jon Bon Jovi getting the full live-concert treatment at tribute shows at the Mohegan Sun Arena and Wolf Den. Meanwhile, down at the shore, Misquamicut Springfest 2026 kicks off on Friday with rides, food, music, and the always-dangerous combination of carnival energy and ocean air. Honestly… a carnival on the beach is hard to beat. Have a great weekend with your mom, your family, your friends, or whoever you’re spending it with. And if you end up somewhere fun, send us photos or upcoming events we should know about: 📩 hello@thectbeacon.com 📘 The CT Beacon Facebook Page |
Mother’s Day Dining Guide: The Best Buffets, Brunches & Specials
We rounded up eight standout buffet experiences stretching from Westerly and Mystic to Norwich and Old Saybrook, along with a full table of restaurants offering prix fixe menus, specialty brunches, and holiday dining specials. Whether you’re looking for prime rib carving stations, waterfront dining, classic breakfast spreads, or something a little more upscale, this guide has pretty much everything you need in one place.
Mother’s Day Weekend Events: Flowers, Wine, Sailing, Crafts & More Ways to Celebrate Mom
Mother’s Day weekend is about a lot more than brunch reservations this year. Across southeastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island, there are plenty of ways to spend actual quality time together. We pulled together the full list inside the events calendar so you can find the kind of Mother’s Day outing that actually fits your family instead of scrambling at the last minute.
Mother’s Day Aboard ARGIA
Skip the crowded dining room and celebrate Mom on the water instead. ARGIA’s Mother’s Day sail out of Mystic includes coastal views, fresh air, complimentary mimosas, and one of the most relaxing experiences happening all weekend. One sailing is already sold out, and the remaining spots are going fast.
Misquamicut Springfest Returns to the Beach
A carnival on the beach? Yeah, we’re in. Misquamicut Springfest kicks off Friday with rides, live music, food trucks, beer gardens, vendors, and oceanfront chaos in the best possible way. From country night to 90s throwbacks, this is one of the biggest seasonal kickoff events on the shoreline.
Run, Walk & Support the Arts in Misquamicut
The MCP Memorial Scholarship Fund 5K at The Andrea is more than a race. It’s a family-friendly community event supporting arts scholarships with runners, walkers, raffles, Mother’s Day fundraising, and even kids on bikes and scooters joining the fun along the shoreline.
Spring Plant Sales Are Everywhere Right Now
Garden season has officially arrived. From flower festivals and farm markets to school greenhouse fundraisers and vineyard plant weekends, we rounded up the best local plant sales happening across the region. Tomatoes, herbs, hanging baskets, annuals, heirlooms… if you’ve been waiting to start planting, this is your weekend.
Flower Festivals, Bouquets & Bloom-Filled Weekends
Mother’s Day weekend and flower season go hand in hand around here. We rounded up the best flower festivals, bouquet sales, tulip fields, hanging baskets, and bloom-filled events happening from Mystic to Westerly so you can bring home something a little more memorable than a last-minute grocery store bouquet.
Spring Craft Festivals Are Taking Over the Weekend
This weekend is packed with artisan markets, spring craft fairs, handmade goods, local artists, specialty foods, and outdoor shopping events across Connecticut and Rhode Island. Whether you’re hunting for gifts, home décor, candles, jewelry, plants, or just want an excuse to wander around with a coffee in hand, there’s a craft festival for that.
The Price Is Right Live Comes to Foxwoods
“COME ON DOWN!” is taking over Foxwoods with four live performances of The Price Is Right Live, the interactive stage version of the legendary game show. Plinko, the Big Wheel, Cliffhangers, Showcase prizes, and the chance to get called out of the audience? Yeah… this is pure nostalgic chaos in the best way possible. We rounded up all four showtimes in one place.
Friday Night Goes Full Classic Rock
Friday night belongs to arena rock legends as the music of Electric Light Orchestra and Bon Jovi gets the live concert treatment at Mohegan Sun. From soaring orchestral rock and Mr. Blue Sky to fist-pumping singalongs and late-night Wolf Den energy, both tribute shows bring big-stage nostalgia and crowd-favorite hits to the shoreline casino scene.
Last modified: May 12, 2026
