It’s that time of year again to celebrate mom. With it being Mother’s Day, there are a lot of “mommy and me” events going on this weekend. The Valle Drive-in has it’s opening weekend with The Croods: The New Age followed by The War With Grandpa starting Robert De Niro. Speaking of openings, the Iowa Cubs kick off their season this week too. Tuesday was the first game of the season, but this Friday kicks off the weekly fireworks show after every game. You do not want to miss that! They are playing the Indianapolis Indians and it is sure to be a game you don’t want to miss. 

Through May 16th, The Outlets Of Des Moines are putting on a book drive collecting new or gently used books for children and young adults and everything in between. They are partnering with United Way of Central Iowa to provide books for increasing low-income children’s access to books. Starting Thursday, there is a weekend long event in Pella celebrating their Dutch Heritage complete with a parade, traditional food, drink and shopping and even a tulip queen! Pella plants hundreds of tulips in the square and celebrates their blooming over mother’s day weekend every year. If tulips aren’t your thing, but you are still looking for a festival, the Renaissance Faire has it’s Spring Fling this weekend and next weekend. The whole weekend will be chalked full of family friendly entertainment throughout the day. 

Now, to move on to day specific events, TeeHee is putting on a comedy night centered around the topic of love. The event will include stand up and improv revolving around being lovesick and sick of love so will be hilarious for every stage of romance you’re in. Mainframe Studios is kicking off First Friday with Style Guides: A fashion showcase. There will be styled models on each of the four floors to help inspire your own personal style while exploring the other artists involved. Live music will be performed and delicious food will be available for purchase. 

Saturday morning the ARL is putting on a yoga class at 10AM with cats! The class will be guided by an instructor and soothed by kittens for anyone 14 years or older. The best part is that all the sweet kitties will also be adoptable and ready to go home with you if you so please. After this, head down to Winterset for the Wine Walk to taste samples, go shopping and listen to music. If wine and yoga aren’t for you, the Botanical Garden has a morning class of meditation or floral education and bouquet making. The Blank Park Zoo is even putting on a faire this weekend to celebrate moms! Wild Art 2.0 is the Zoo’s take on an art festival with events such as live demonstrations and workshops put on by artists and makers. There will be venders and animal art as well for fun for the whole gang.

Celebrate mom on Saturday by attending the annual Bubble Ball: Virtual Edition! ChildServe’s annual event starts at 7PM featuring models in exquisite bubble wrap fashion show accompanied by musical performances and surprises behind every corner. The proceeds from the event go toward children with special healthcare needs ability to have a happy and healthy life.

Lastly, the events for Sunday include a “mommy and me” painting class at Smash Park and Blank Park University at the Zoo. The Zoo is providing opportunities to learn form the experts from hands on lectures on the natural world. This weekend the topic is “The Second Most Successful Mammal in the World”; how more intriguing could that be? Even if you don’t go anywhere for Mother’s Day, it will be a great weekend to celebrate mom.