You don’t need to spend a lot of money—or well, any money—to celebrate Mother’s Day 2025 in Pittsburgh.

On Mother’s Day 2025—Sunday, May 11—you can have a great time with mom without breaking the bank. You might spend your time browsing markets “just to look,” enjoying free public spaces like community parks, and taking advantage of free events for moms. Plan your excursions either for Mother’s Day itself or another day that weekend. And if you do end up buying a treat or two to share with her, we won’t judge!

Wander through the Neighborhood Flea 

The Neighborhood Flea Mother’s Day Edition is an open-air, modern flea market that takes place throughout the warmer months at the SouthSide Works and Schenley Plaza. And the first market of the 2025 season will be on Mother’s Day!

The SouthSide Works market will feature vintage and antique finds, but you can also source homemade goods as well as tasty food from local food trucks. And if you don’t want to pay a thing, you can simply enjoy browsing through the decades of stuff.

Plus, it doesn’t cost anything to dance to the market’s live music! More than 90 vendors will set up shop at the Mother’s Day iteration of the Neighborhood Flea, which is always on the second Sunday throughout the market season. 

Get in free at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium

Every Mother’s Day, the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium celebrates family matriarchs by making admission totally free for moms of any generation—they just have to be accompanied by their child. That means you can catch views of monkeys, giraffes, elephants, and dozens of other animals; learn about where different species thrive and what they eat; and be awed by the many different ecosystems on exhibit at the aquarium.

Note that Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year at the zoo, so grab your tickets in advance, because admission is still charged for the rest of the family.

Browse a farmers market

Some Pittsburgh farmers’ markets restart in May, and browsing the stands to admire colorful produce and artisan crafts is a stellar way to spend Mother’s Day Weekend.

While Sunday markets won’t have started their seasons yet, you can still visit the Bloomfield Saturday Market, the Sewickley Farmers Market, and the Monroeville Lions Farmers Market on the Saturday just before Mother’s Day. Markets are, of course, free to browse, and if you want to spend a little, you could perhaps invest in some picnic ingredients…

Pack a picnic

You might need to spend a little money buying picnic foods, or you might already have the necessary provisions in your pantry. Either way, stuffing a basket or backpack with lunch items, snacks, and drinks and then unveiling everything in the fresh spring air is a wonderful way to eat a meal, especially with mom.

You could visit the urban parks of Frick Park, Schenley Park, or Riverview Park, setting up shop on a blanket in the grass or at one of the parks’ numerous picnic tables.

Stop and smell the flowers at a Pennsylvania State Park

Mother’s Day means spring—so go enjoy the sun! Did you know that Pennsylvania State Parks are always free to enter? You and your family could make a trip out to Raccoon Creek State Park in Hookstown, about 45 minutes from Pittsburgh, to see the park’s wildflower reserve. In fact, Raccoon Creek is hosting a free, guided Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk on Mother’s Day, May 11.

A bit farther away, but worth the drive, Jennings Environmental Education Center in Slippery Rock (roughly an hour from Pittsburgh) and Ryerson Station State Park in Wind Ridge (just under an hour and a half from the city) are also hosting Mother’s Day events. On May 11, Ryerson Station is hosting a free Mother’s Day Painting & Native Planting event where participants can paint locally made ceramic pots and plant native seeds in them. From May 3 to 11, Jennings Environmental Education Center is hosting its free Self-Guided Spring Wildflower Walkabout. With the aid of a printed guide you can pick up at the center entrance, visitors can explore a designated trail and experience the magic of spring wildflowers.

Check out the May Market at Phipps Conservatory

The May Market at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a celebration of spring, as it hosts vendors selling a bevy of plants, from house plants and native species to vegetable seedlings and tropical succulents. You can also browse other gifts for your favorite gardener, like botanical tools and even floral and plant-inspired art.

While Phipps has an admission fee to visit its gardens and exhibits, entrance to the May Market on the conservatory’s front lawn is completely free! You can admire the goods without taking out your wallet—though if you want to support a local gardener or maker, this is a great place to do it. The market will also offer free on-site programs, teaching skills like broom making and starting an herb garden. The May Market will operate on Friday and Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend.

Find your flow at Yoga in the Square

Yoga in the Square is a free series of yoga classes that takes place in downtown Pittsburgh every week between May and October. On Mother’s Day 2025, yoga instructor Ashley Koltonski will lead a free yoga session in downtown’s PPG Plaza. Why not join the one-hour, entry-level yoga class with the whole family? Note that though the class is free, you’ll need to bring your own yoga mat!

See an open mic show

Vintage Max Bookstore in Bellevue is hosting their May open mic night on Mother’s Day! Take a trip to Bellevue—located just outside of Pittsburgh—to browse the racks of books, gifts, and vintage goods at the bookstore and be treated to a night of free comedy, poetry, and song—depending on what the performers want to share! And hey, if you’re feeling brave, you or your mom (or you and your mom?) could sign up to perform for an audience!

Tickets aren’t necessary to attend, and you can register to perform online.