Mother's Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027. The City Market runs Saturday, May 8, and brunch, garden walks and pools are close by. Updated as venues announce.

Last checked Oct. 19, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Facts come from each organizer’s own page, linked below. We list Mother’s Day menus and events only when the venue announces them itself.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027. As of Oct. 19, no Charlottesville venue had announced a 2027 Mother’s Day event, so this page starts with what runs every week in May: the Saturday City Market for gifts, the city’s parks and gardens for a walk, and our brunch list for Sunday. We will add brunches, teas, concerts and markets as each venue posts them.

At a glance

  • Sat. May 8: City Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., 100 E. Water St.
  • Sun. May 9: Mother’s Day; see our brunch guide
  • Pools: Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays; outdoor pools open later in May

Gifts: the City Market and downtown

The City Market runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., April through November, at 100 E. Water St. That makes Saturday, May 8, the last market before Mother’s Day. The city keeps a vendor directory of the farms, bakers and makers who sell there. Questions go to 434-970-3371.

A block north, the Downtown Mall’s independent stores, galleries and bookshops are listed in Friends of Charlottesville Downtown’s shopping directory. Parking in the Market Street and Water Street garages is free for the first hour.

Brunch on Sunday

Restaurants post Mother’s Day menus on their own sites closer to the day. Our brunch guide lists Charlottesville restaurants that serve weekend brunch, with days, hours and addresses from each one’s website. Book early, and check whether a restaurant has a set holiday menu.

A walk or an outing

  • Botanical Garden of the Piedmont, 950 Melbourne Road near John Warner Parkway. The garden says all its programs are free and open to the public, including guided site tours limited to 16 people; register by email at rsvp@piedmontgarden.org. Parking is free along Melbourne Road.
  • Rivanna River Trail, paved and flat, from Riverview Park. See walking and biking trails.
  • Downtown Mall, for lunch outside and a stroll. See our Downtown Mall guide.
  • Date night or a show: see date night for theaters and wine bars.

What is open

Mother’s Day is not a city holiday. Trash pickup, buses and recreation centers keep their normal schedules. Smith Aquatic and Fitness Center is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays. The city’s outdoor pools opened Memorial Day weekend in 2026, after Mother’s Day; see summer camps and pools.

Tell us about your event

Restaurants, shops, gardens and churches: send us your Mother’s Day brunch, tea, market or event with the date, time, place and a link to your own page.

What this means for you

  • Shop the City Market on Saturday, May 8, for a gift from a local grower or maker.
  • Reserve brunch as soon as restaurants post their menus.
  • The garden tours are free but small; email ahead.

Related guides: brunch, free things to do and farmers markets.

Frequently asked questions

When is Mother’s Day 2027?

Sunday, May 9, 2027, the second Sunday in May.

Where can I buy a Mother’s Day gift from local makers in Charlottesville?

The City Market at 100 E. Water St. runs Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., April through November, so it is open Saturday, May 8. The Downtown Mall has the city’s independent shops.

Where can I take Mom for brunch in Charlottesville?

Our brunch guide lists Charlottesville restaurants that serve weekend brunch, with hours from each restaurant’s own site. Mother’s Day is one of the busiest brunch days, so book ahead.