Flowers, a card, brunch: All are perfectly acceptable ways of honoring your special someone on Mother’s Day.

But if you’re a little short of cash, waited too long to make a reservation or want to do something different this year, here are other ways to celebrate your mom or that other mother figure in your life.

Ways to celebrate Mother’s Day around ErieBiking and hiking are fun ways to spend Mother's Day at Presque Isle State Park. Shown here is a portion of the park's paved Multi-Purpose Trail.

1. Hike or bike or run: Head outdoors with the whole family to one of the many paths and trails around the Erie area. A few options for walking are the paved sidewalks at Frontier Park, boardwalk at Asbury Woods and trails at Erie Bluffs State Park. The paved Multi-Purpose Trail at Presque Isle State Park is good for walking, biking and also skating. The E.A.R.S. 5K Bun Run, which includes a 1-mile walk option, will be May 10 at 9 a.m. at the Harborcreek Community Park field, 5850 Firman Road. Registration is $25. The Erie Runners Club will hold its Mother’s Day 5K fun run/walk May 11 at 9 a.m. at the Clark Road entrance to Harborcreek Community Park. Registration is $20.

Glow Wild will be open at the Erie Zoo on Mother's Day.

2.Glow Wild: This special event on Thursday through Sunday evenings at the Erie Zoo features over 40 handcrafted lanterns made to look like some of your favorite animals. The zoo’s real animals will be on display too. Tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for children. If you opt to go to the zoo during regular daytime hours on Mother’s Day, your mother figure will receive half-off general zoo admission.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!Sarah Sargent, executive director of Erie Bird Observatory, releases a red-eyed vireo after putting a small radio transmitter safely on its legs while banding migrating birds on May 25, 2021, near Fry's Landing at Presque Isle State Park in Millcreek Township.

3. Look for the birds: Mother’s Day falls the day after World Migratory Bird Day this year and either day is a good one to look to the sky around Erie. The Erie Bird Observatory conducts bird banding at Fry’s Landing at Presque Isle State Park on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. through June 1.

Atlantic Flyway: Spring brings millions of birds to Erie County. Learn more about these migrants

4. Take her out to the ballgame: The Erie SeaWolves are home for Mother’s Day weekend, with games May 10 and 11 at 1:35 p.m. The May 11 game features a Mother’s Day buffet in the Stadium Club for $54. Regular game tickets are $15 and $18.50.

You can celebrate mom with a card bought from a store or made by hand. Or take her to a local event and make art together.

5. Make art: May 11 is a Second Sunday of the month event at the Erie Art Museum, 20 E. Fifth St. That means you can drop in from 2 to 4 p.m. for family art-making. This month, participants will create botanical drawings with special guest activity leader Ana Balcazar. Admission is pay-what-you-wish. May 10 is a Second Saturday of the month event at the Inner-City Neighborhood Art House, 201 E. 10th St., where there will be free face painting and creative projects for all ages, including custom beaded wire suncatchers, from 8 to 11 a.m.

6. Go to the gardens: Goodell Gardens & Homestead, 221 Waterford St., Edinboro, is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shop at the Mom’s Market, with free admission, May 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Very Important Mom experience that day will feature tea, pastries and bouquets for $60 for person. Also May 10, the Penn State Extension Master Gardeners of Erie County will hold their annual plant sale from 9 a.m. to noon in Wilson Picnic Grove at Behrend College and the Fair View Garden Club will hold its annual garden mart from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 7100 West Ridge Road, Fairview Township.

Erie in a Box is a board game similar to Monopoly but with Erie-based properties.

7. Play a game: Pull out your mom’s favorite board or video or yard game. Grab some drinks and snacks. Make sure to let her win once or twice.

8. See a show: Mother’s Day weekend options include “The Phantom Tollbooth Jr.” at the Erie Playhouse, 13 W. 10th St., and “Boys in the Band” at the Performing Artists Collective Alliance, 1505 State St. Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo will be at the Warner Theatre, 811 State St., on May 12. Ticket prices vary.

9. Spend time with mom: Take a drive together. Sit and talk about the things you’ve done together. Cook together. Plant flowers together. Watch her favorite movie together. Ask her how she’d like to spend the day with you.

10. Help mom: Take out her trash. Paint her porch railing. Fix that thing that’s needed fixing around her house forever.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@timesnews.com.