15 virtual things to do this Mother’s Day weekend: Azaleas, concerts, SNL, and Broadway

Mother’s Day won’t be the same this year for a lot of who can’t head over to mom’s house for brunch, but that doesn’t mean you can’t plan out some fun and upbeat virtual events this weekend. From concerts by Yo-Yo Ma, the best of City Winery, and Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton to a star-studded virtual Broadway event to a virtual tour of the azalea garden at the New York Botanical Garden to two special SNL episodes, these events will let you spend time with mom and take her mind off how much she’s missing you.

Friday 

Frieze Viewing Room
Free, but registration is required
Since the popular art fair on Randall’s Island had to be cancelled this year, it’s going virtual from May 8 through May 15. “More than 200 galleries from across the globe will present major works by established and emerging artists in a virtual gallery space.”

320 Festival: Educational Sessions and Songs That Saved My Life Concert
11:30am-evening, Friday-Sunday; free
This weekend-long virtual event is a mix of live concerts and panel/Q&A discussions that will bring awareness to the importance of mental health. It’ll be streamed on the 320 Festival’s Facebook and Youtube channels. There will be more than 40 musical performances from the likes of Coldplay’s Chris Martin, Guns N Roses’ Duff Mckagen, Carly Rose, Everclear’s Art Alexakis, Kiiara, and violinist Lindsey Stirling. There will also be close to 30 education sessions with themes ranging from “coping and thriving after trauma” and “human sustainability in the food and beverage community” to mindfulness exercises and resources for parents.

Have a happy hour out in the country
Sure, putting yourself out in space or on a tropical beach is a fun way to Zoom, but we think mom will enjoy a virtual happy hour in the countryside. Country Living magazine has released a set of Zoom backgrounds like “a fire pit by your very own lake” or a “pretty front porch, complete with ‘your’ own dog.”

Love, Loss, and What I Wore at the 92Y
8pm through May 25; $10
In 2017, the 92Y hosted a one-night-only performance of Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore featuring Lucy DeVito, Tracee Ellis Ross, Carol Kane, Natasha Lyonne, and Rosie O’Donnell. For the first time, they’re now releasing the production for a limited time.

Saturday 

Fifth Avenue Association’s Mother’s Day photo contest
This weekend, submit a photo of you and mom on the famed Fifth Avenue for a special gift from some of the street’s famous retailers (worth $1,000). All you have to do is use the hashtag #MothersDayOnFifth and tag @Fifth.Avenue.NYC to enter via Instagram.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine virtual blessing of the bicycles
11am; free
Now in its 22nd year, the blessing of the bicycles at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine will go virtual this year via their Facebook page and website. The event typically draws hundreds of riders to the Cathedral’s historic interior on the day before the Five Borough Bicycle Tour. This year’s ceremony “will offer a blessing for the safety of all cyclists, particularly the delivery people and messengers whose labor is essential to the functioning of New York City.”

Celebrate Moms virtual family concert
11am; free, but donations are encouraged
For over a decade, local singer/songwriter Suzi Shelton has been creating musical fun for families. On Saturday morning, she’s teaming up with Park Slope Parents for a family concert in support of the First Responders Children’s Foundation. The event will feature more than 15 children’s performers from around the country and will be streamed on Facebook Live.

Grand Ole Opry Livestream with Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton
8pm; free
Gwen Stefani is making her Opry debut this Saturday, performing live from the historic Nashville venue. She’ll be joined by boyfriend Blake Shelton, who will be streaming from his Oklahoma ranch. Stefani will be joined by Opry members Trace Adkins and Dustin Lynch. Tune in early at 7:30 for a special Mother’s Day edition of Circle Session with host Bobby Bones and featuring Sara Evans.

Saturday Night Live’s “At Home” season finale
11:30pm; free
SNL is airing its third At Home episode on Saturday, and it’ll be the finale of the 45th season. The first episode brought us Tom Hanks as a host, and two weeks ago, Brad Pitt played Anthony Fauci.

Sunday 

Salute Mom with a virtual tour through the New York Botanical Garden’s Azalea Garden
11am; free
Since you can’t see all the springtime blooms in person this year, the NY Botanical Garden is hosting a virtual tour of its beautiful azalea garden on Sunday morning. The event will feature special Mother’s Day greetings submitted by members and patrons. And if you’re feeling flowery and crafty, check out NYBG’s instructional video on how to craft paper flowers.

Broadway Does Mother’s Day
3pm; free 
“Just like your birth,” this one-time event is a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The Mother’s Day matinee features Broadway stars, their children, and their mothers for musical performances, comedy acts, and more. Scheduled guests include Laura Benanti, Harvey Fierstein, Vanessa Williams, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Alexis Michelle. Participating shows include Moulin Rouge!, Chicago, Mean Girls, Tina, and Jagged Little Pill.

Billy Bragg and the City Winery All Stars present a Mother’s Day Special
5pm; $10
100% of proceeds from this special multi-artist Mother’s Day concert will benefit The United Nations Foundation fund addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The streaming event was inspired by Billy Bragg’s recent Mother’s Day video release for his song “Can’t Be There Today,” and he is producing it in partnership with local venue City Winery. The list of performer includes Joseph Arthur, The Indigo Girls, KT Tunstall, Rufus Wainwright, Andrew Bird, The Mountain Goats, and many more.

Lincoln Center’s Memorial for Us All
6pm; free
Six faith-based groups across the city have enlisted the artists at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Jazz at Lincoln Center for a new, weekly community remembrance. The event, a short concert honoring and celebrating those who have left us too soon, will take place every Sunday at 6pm. The first memorial was held last week and was led by Wynton Marsalis in the New Orleans tradition. This Sunday, cellist Yo-Yo Ma will take the lead.

The Stone Pony presents Bobby Bandiera
6pm; free
Iconic Asbury Park music venue The Stone Pony has started hosting live stream concerts, and for Mother’s Day, local musician and former Bon Jovi guitarist Bobby Bandiera will play a special show to benefit the Asbury Park Music Foundation and the NJ Pandemic Relief Fund.

A Saturday Night Live Mother’s Day
9pm; free
Airing on NBC, SNL has put together a compilation of all your favorite Mother’s Day sketches.