Mother's Day in Portland, Oregon

The holiday Mother's Day is celebrated annually in the American city of Portland, Oregon. The city has seen various events and activities to commemorate the holiday, including plant sales and shows, fun runs and fundraisers, train rides, and restaurant specials.

Events and activities

Various events and activities have commemorated Mother's Day in Portland. The Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in southeast Portland hosts an annual Mother's Day Sale and Show.[1] The holiday plant sale was online during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The annual Run Mama Run organized by Family Forward Action has been held on Mother's Day. The 2016 event at Mount Tabor Park in southeast Portland included a 5K run and a 10K run, plus a race for children and other activities, including crafts, flower planting, and yoga.[3] Portland Monthly's Mother's Day Festival in 2018 had a 5K run, 10K run, and Woman Up Festival.[4] For multiple years, the Portland Beardsmen have delivered Mother's Day bouquets as part of a fundraiser for local nonprofit organization The Uprise Books Project.[5][6] Oaks Amusement Park has offered free rides to mothers on the holiday.[7] Portland Community College has also hosted a Mother's Day plant sale.[8]

In 2022, the Oregon Rail Heritage Center hosted train rides along the Springwater Corridor for Mother's Day, which included a dessert buffet and free mimosas for mothers.[9][10] In 2025, Portland Thorns FC commemorated the holiday by hosting a fundraiser for PDX Diaper Bank billed as the "world's largest baby shower".[11] Additionally, a gardening class at one local middle school organized a plant sale fundraiser around Mother's Day, in an attempt to address funding cuts in Portland Public Schools.[12]

The city has also seen demonstrations and other community gatherings on the holiday. Approximately 3,000 people participated in a Mother's Day peace walk during the Dalai Lama's visit to the city in 2001.[13] In 2025, a Mother's Day vigil was held outside Portland ICE facility. It was organized by Portland for Palestine to "honor detained mothers and demand an end to family separation, deportation and state sponsored violence".[14][15]

Food and drink

Some local restaurants have hosted events or special menus for the holiday, including Andina, the defunct Bluehour, The Country Cat, Mother's Bistro,[16] and Nuvrei.[17] The defunct restaurant Bluehour hosted a holiday brunch in 2016.[18] In 2018, the Oregon Zoo hosted a holiday brunch and Pix Pâtisserie hosted a tea.[19] Arden Wine Bar and Kitchen, Bhuna, Normandie, and the Oregon Zoo all hosted specials for the holiday in 2019.[20] In 2021, during the pandemic, Ava Gene's, Bullard Tavern, Cooperativa, Kachka, Montelupo Italian Market, Normandie, Olympia Provisions, Papa Haydn, Radar, RingSide Steakhouse, Sweedeedee, and Tusk were among restaurants offering Mother's Day picnic baskets, meal kits, and other cook-at-home options.[21] Additionally, Salt & Straw debuted a series of four flower flavors to celebrate Mother's Day in 2021.[22] In addition to Bullard Tavern, Multnomah Whiskey Library and Pink Rabbit hosted holiday brunches in 2023.[23] Pinolo Gelato offered free scoops of gelato to mothers on the holiday in 2025.[24]

Helen Bernhard Bakery has offered cakes with "elaborately piped flowers" for Mother's Day, according to The Oregonian.[25] The defunct JaCiva's Bakery and Chocolatier offered edible flower pot cakes for Mother's Day and Valentine's Day.[26]

References

  1. ^ Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden:
    • "Guide to Mother's Day in Portland: Unique, last-minute activity ideas". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
    • "From wood ducks to 100-year-old rhododendrons, this Portland garden has beautiful sights year-round". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2026-03-09. On Mother's Day weekend, there's also a large rhododendron display.
    • "What to do in Portland each month of the year". The Oregonian. Flowers of all kinds begin to bloom in April, but the rhododendrons tend to come alive in May, usually in time for the garden's big Mother's Day event.
    • "The 16 most beautiful places in Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-07-06. Retrieved 2026-03-09. A popular spot for weddings, senior photos and Mother's Day outings, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden in southeast Portland gets a lot of traffic – for good reason.
  2. ^ "In 2021, Mother's Day plant sales were online - or else cancelled". The Bee. Pamplin Media Group. 2021-06-05. OCLC 55663345. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  3. ^ "Have a Healthy, Happy May with These Local Wellness Events". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  4. ^ "Slide Show: Portland Monthly's Woman Up". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2025-08-07. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  5. ^ "Portland Beardsmen don tutus, deliver Mother's Day flowers around the city". The Oregonian.
  6. ^ "Is Portland weird again? 'Old Baby Pageant' has city back in its Portlandia era". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2025-09-10. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  7. ^ "Portland amusement park offers free rides for moms on Mother's Day". The Oregonian.
  8. ^ Evertz, Mark. "PCC Flower and Plant Sale for Mother's Day | News at PCC". Portland Community College. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  9. ^ Ogle, Wesleigh (2022-05-06). "Things 2 Do: Mother's Day Weekend". KATU. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  10. ^ "Take a train ride with the Oregon Rail Heritage Center this Mother's Day". KGW. 2022-05-03. Archived from the original on 2022-06-05. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  11. ^ Portland Thorns FC:
  12. ^ Aljobory, Sana (2025-05-11). "Portland students raise funds with gardening class amid budget concerns". KATU. Archived from the original on 2025-07-26. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  13. ^ Writer, Joseph B. Frazier (2001-05-14). "The Dalai Lama arrives in Portland for three-day visit". The Coos Bay World. Associated Press. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  14. ^ Aljobory, Sana (2025-05-12). "Mother's Day vigil in Portland calls for end to family separation and deportation". KATU. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  15. ^ "'Mothers rise up for peace' in Portland ICE protest". KOIN. Archived from the original on 2025-08-10. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  16. ^ Mother's Bistro:
  17. ^ "Where to find Mother's Day brunch and more in the Portland area". The Oregonian.
  18. ^ Walsh, Chad (2016-05-04). "16 Portland Mother's Day Brunch Spots for Last-Minute Planners". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  19. ^ "Our Top Picks for Portland-Area Mother's Day Fun". PDX Parent.
  20. ^ Frane, Alex (2019-05-10). "Mother's Day Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner Specials That Won't Get You Disinherited". Eater Portland. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
  21. ^ COVID-19 pandemic:
  22. ^ Smith, Suzette. "RANKED: Who Will Be Champion of Salt & Straw's Month of Flower Ice Creams?". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on 2023-01-23. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  23. ^ "Where to Grab Mother's Day Brunch in Portland | 2023". Portland Monthly. Archived from the original on 2024-12-26. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  24. ^ "Forget Roses. Here's How to Really Celebrate Mom". PDX Parent. Archived from the original on 2025-10-15. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  25. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2024-05-09). "Iconic Northeast Portland bakery celebrates 100 years of wedding cakes, holiday cookies". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2026-03-09.
  26. ^ "JaCiva's bakery". The Oregonian.
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