Mother's Day in Jacksonville 2027: brunch, events, gift markets

Last checked Oct. 9, 2026. This page is updated each year at the same address. Sources: the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ Mother’s Day promotion and Art in the Garden pages, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and the Riverside Arts Market. Where a 2027 date is not out yet, we say which year a detail is from.

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 9, 2027. In 2026 the Jacksonville Zoo let moms in free on the day and held an artisan market that weekend. Neither the Zoo nor Jacksonville restaurants had posted 2027 plans when we checked in October; this page lists the 2026 details for reference and will be updated as the new ones are announced.

At a glance

• Mother’s Day: Sunday, May 9, 2027
• Jacksonville Zoo, 2026: moms free on Mother’s Day with paying family; Art in the Garden that weekend
• Gift market every Saturday: Riverside Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Gardens: Cummer Museum, 829 Riverside Ave., open noon to 4 p.m. Sundays

Events

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 370 Zoo Parkway. On Mother’s Day 2026 the Zoo let moms in free when they came with family members who paid admission. No advance ticket or promo code was needed; free entry was handled at the gate, in person, on the day only, according to the Zoo’s promotion page. The Zoo is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, with last tickets at 4 p.m.

Art in the Garden Festival. The Zoo’s artisan market ran Saturday, May 9, and Sunday, May 10, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with more than 40 artisans and makers. Entry was included with a Zoo ticket bought online in advance. Festival page. 2027 dates are not out yet.

Hosting a public Mother’s Day event in Jacksonville? Send the date, time and link through our contact page.

Gift markets

• Riverside Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave., under the Fuller Warren Bridge: every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, with artists, makers and a farmers row. The Saturday before Mother’s Day 2027 is May 8. riversideartsmarket.org. More markets are on our farmers markets page.
• Art in the Garden at the Zoo, above, if it returns on Mother’s Day weekend.

Brunch

We list Mother’s Day brunches only when the restaurant announces one on its own site, and none in Jacksonville had posted a 2027 menu when we checked in October. Restaurants that serve brunch every weekend, with their days and hours, are in our brunch in Jacksonville guide. Book ahead for Sunday, May 9.

Gardens and an afternoon out

• Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, 829 Riverside Ave., on the St. Johns River: open noon to 4 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Adult admission is $20; seniors 65 and up pay $18. Parking in the museum lots is self-paid through ParkMobile, with a $10 flat rate on Saturdays. Visit page.
• Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Gardens, 1445 Millcoe Road: 136 acres around a lake, with natural trails through 13 ecosystems, in Arlington. Events and visiting.
• More: date night in Jacksonville and free things to do.

What this means for you

• Check the Zoo’s events page in April for the 2027 Mother’s Day offer.
• City services, trash pickup and parks run as normal on Mother’s Day weekend.

Related: Father’s Day in Jacksonville, Memorial Day and brunch in Jacksonville.

Frequently asked questions

When is Mother’s Day 2027?

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

Is the Jacksonville Zoo free for moms on Mother’s Day?

It was in 2026: moms got in free on Mother’s Day when visiting with family members who paid admission, with no code needed. The Zoo had not announced a 2027 offer when we checked.

Is there a Mother’s Day market in Jacksonville?

The Jacksonville Zoo’s Art in the Garden Festival, with more than 40 artisans and makers, ran Mother’s Day weekend in 2026. The Riverside Arts Market is open every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where can I get Mother’s Day brunch in Jacksonville?

No restaurant had posted a 2027 Mother’s Day menu when we checked. Our brunch guide lists Jacksonville restaurants that serve weekend brunch, from their own sites.