Mother’s Day on a Budget: Free, Affordable and Fun Ideas to Celebrate Mom
On Mother’s Day, show Mom she’s worth a million bucks without spending it
Last Updated April 10, 2026
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There are few things that everyone can agree upon — but here’s one. Mothers are the best. Although we should celebrate Mom every day, one day a year is reserved for treating her like a queen — even if you don’t have a king’s ransom to spend. Don’t fret. There are plenty of wonderful things to do with Mom that will make her day special without breaking the bank. Here are some ideas for a budget-friendly Mother’s Day celebration.
Family Night at a Drive-In
Gather the family, blankets to cuddle under and popcorn for snacking and head to the StarLight Drive-In. Want to make it extra special? She gets to select the movie.
An Old-Fashioned Picnic
Have a picnic. There are plenty of parks in Atlanta so grab a basket of food and have a picnic, starting with Piedmont Park. What’s better than some fried chicken, chips and brownies? You can either make the food at home or do take out. Mom will love the old-fashioned family togetherness. Don’t forget to bring along a Frisbee or a ball for a bit of competitive family games.
Spa Specials
Treat her to a spa treatment. Now, hold on. We know that pampering can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Check for specials at places like RestFuel, a wellness boutique that offers services such as cryotherapy and compression, and Perspire, an infrared studio with several metro locations.
Check out Must-Try Spas in Atlanta.
Man’s (and Mom’s) Best Friend
Moms, especially on their special day, deserve lots and lots of hugs, snuggles and kisses. So, for the animal-loving mom, head over to an animal shelter that allows animal lovers to take a dog or a cat home for the weekend. What’s more fun than helping an animal? Mom and the family will have a special day taking the pup for walks, throwing balls and getting lots of doggie kisses. At LifeLine Animal Project you can host an animal for a weekend. Mom will love it — and you just might add to the family.
Food Hall Feast
Dine at a food hall. The joy of food courts — and Atlanta has some of the best in the country — is that there are plenty of choices for every member of the family — and prices are reasonable. Check out Chattahoochee Food Works on the Westside, Halidom in East Atlanta, Krog Street Market, Ponce City Market and Politan Row at Colony Square. Make it extra special by bringing a small vase with flowers to put on the table.
Check out our Ultimate Guide to Atlanta’s Food Halls.
After the meal, take some extra time to walk around. Surrounding these awesome food courts are lots of interesting shops and outlets that mom will enjoy. Don’t forget to walk over and see the famous street graffiti art at Krog Street tunnel.
Family Fun
Game on. Round up the family and head over to Puttshack, Five Iron Golf, Flight Club, Your 3rd Spot, the Roof at Ponce City Market, Painted Duck or Painted Pin for some family fun that all can play and enjoy. And don’t forget: on Mother’s Day, Mom wins.
Check more places to chill out.
Go Antiquing
There are lots of secondhand stores, outlets and vintage stores in Atlanta but the biggest is the monthly Scott Antique Market Show, and this year it’s on Mother’s Day. So let mom indulge in her love of bargains, vintage dishes, antique jewelry, furniture and clothes as the family shops the 366,000 square feet at Atlanta Expo Center.
If mom is into thrifting, check out our guide.
Fun at Festivals
The Chastain Park Spring Arts Festival is always a Mother’s Day favorite. Bring the family — and the family dog — to this award-winning festival that features nearly 200 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metal craft artisans, glass blowers and jewelers. This free festival also has artist demonstrations, live music and lots of great food and beverages. The festival is part of the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, which also sponsors the Spring Festival on Ponce and the Old Fourth Ward arts festivals, among others.
The Sweet Auburn Springfest is also in full gear with lots of food, vendors, a children’s area and music to enjoy. Held in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn District, it’s one of the city’s most popular festivals.
The High is Free
The admission is free at the UPS Second Sunday at the High Museum of Art, and this year, Mother’s Day falls on the second Sunday. That’s right. Take the whole family for a day for a day of art and fun — on the house (or UPS, more precisely). Enjoy art-making activities, performances, music by a local DJ as well as viewing the High’s internationally known art collection. Take MARTA and get off at the Arts Center Station so you don’t have to worry about parking (or parking fees).
Sweets for the Sweet
Moms love chocolate, so make her day with handcrafted chocolates. Try French Broad Chocolate at Ponce City Market. The shop offers bonbons, caramels, signature desserts and drinking chocolate. Xocolatl Chocolate, located at Krog Street Market, makes gourmet chocolate on the premises from bean to bar. Mom will surely enjoy the variety of chocolates, including flavored (raspberry, ginger spiced and barrel-aged dark whiskey), single-origin chocolate, and even trail mix.
Bird’s–Eye View
How many times have you thought about riding the SkyView Ferris wheel but never got around to it? Well, Mother’s Day is the perfect time to head down to Centennial Olympic Park to take the ride and enjoy the view. Every family member will enjoy it. Afterward, walk through the park and enjoy quiet family time.
Moms and Daughters to the Finish Line
Celebrate women and fitness at the 2026 Northside Hospital Atlanta Women’s 4 Miler on May 10. Moms and daughters (ages 9 and up) will enjoy getting fresh air and exercising together. If you average about a 25-minute-per-mile pace, the course will take 1 hour and 40 minutes. Reasonable accommodations can even be made for those with disabilities. Not only do you get a finisher medal and a T-shirt, but every participant also gets flowers at the finish line.
Looking for more ideas to celebrate mom? Check out our brunch guide.
Mary Welch is an award-winning writer who has reported on the maturity off Atlanta’s culinary and hospitality scene as well as its growth as a sophisticated international city. Her byline has been seen in local and national outlets such as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Travelgirl, Global Atlanta, and American Lawyer covering topics such as travel, business, cars, law, hospitality and education. She co-authored a book with Chuck Leavell, the keyboardist for the Rolling Stones and a Georgia tree farmer, on the future of the American forest.
Originally Published April 3, 2025
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