Nichole’s Picks 5/7 + 5/8
Pick #1: Appleton Farms Mother’s Day Spring Alpen Festival
Date & Time
Sunday, May 8
10AM-12PM
Cost
Moms are FREE; Member Adult: $24; Member Child: $12; Nonmember Adult: $30; Nonmember Child: $15
Contact Information
978.356.5728 x4112
appletoncooks@thetrustees.org
Appleton Farms
Hamilton and Ipswich, MA
A fresh idea for Mother’s Day! Spend the morning at Appleton Farms ushering in the season of spring, the fresh flavors of the farm, and the dairy herd’s return to pasture. A tradition originating in the Alps, this day will include traditional Swiss treats and homemade breakfast goodies from our farm kitchen. A fondue bar, live music, and more. Let the Moms relax and enjoy the festivities while the kids help us open the barnyard, meet the baby animals, and make a gift for mom. Flower crown making in the Carriage Barn for all to enjoy. Decorated with bells and flowers, the cows will end the celebration in a traditional cow parade to their new spring pastures.
FREE for moms! Please register all other adults and children. (Example: If Dad is registering for the family of five -Mom, Dad, and three kids- add 1 adult and three child tickets to your cart.)
This event runs rain or shine. Please pre-register so we have enough refreshments for all. Children under 1 are free.
Pick #2: Lilac Sunday at the Arnold Arboretum
I realize I wrote about the Arnold Arboretum in another “Picks” post, but Lilac Sunday for Mother’s Day is a pretty special event.
Sunday, May 8th 10:00-3:00
Of the thousands of flowering plants in the Arboretum, only one, the lilac, is singled out each year for a daylong celebration. Mainly located on the edge of Bussey Hill Road in the heart of the landscape, the lilac collection at the Arnold Arboretum is among the premier collections of these plants in North America.
Tours of the lilacs and other special collections, family activities, and food vendors make for a memorable day. Be a part of this beloved Boston tradition! Check back for the day-of schedule of events.
The Arboretum is open as usual from dawn to dusk. Activities are available from 10:00am to 3:00pm, and refreshments are available from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Pick #3: Boston Harbor Cruises: Free Ferry Day
May 7th, 2016
READ ALL ABOUT FREE FERRY DAY AND BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS HERE
Free Ferry Day!
As part of National Park Service Centennial Summer, we open our 2016 season with a FREE FERRY DAY – this is a special one-day ferry schedule to either of the two most popular Boston Harbor Islands – Georges and Spectacle Islands.
Free tickets for the Boston Harbor Cruises ferry will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis at the Ferry Center on Long Wharf-North.
No tickets will be given out at the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Greenway or Long Wharf South ticket booth.
Free tickets are from Boston only. Hingham and Hull ferries will resume later this season.
The ticket window opens at 8:30 am. On nice weather days, all free ferry tickets are distributed before 11 am, with all of the departures listed below completely booked at that point.
Tickets will be handed out for the earliest ferry, then the next, and so on, until all ferry seats for the day are distributed.
Each adult in line may pick up a maximum of 4 tickets. There will be no special arrangements for groups of more than 4 to be on the same ferry.
The inter island service in/out of Boston is not available on Free Ferry Day.
Don’t forget to visit the Boston Harbor Islands Welcome Center on the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway for free programs available throughout the day! Check our calendar for program details.
There are three departures from Long Wharf North to Georges Island for Free Ferry Day. Travel time is 45 minutes. Ticketholders must return on the ferry time listed with an average alloted time of 3-4 hour round trip per ticket.Ticketholders must return on the ferry time listed on ticket. All tickets will have pre-assigned return time.
There are two departures from Long Wharf North to Spectacle Island for Free Ferry Day. Travel time is about 25-30 minutes. Ticketholders must return on the ferry time listed with an average alloted time of 3-4 hour round trip per ticket. Ticketholders must return on the ferry time listed on ticket. All tickets will have pre-assigned return time.
As always, for a more comprehensive list of family activities, please visit our friends at North Shore Kid