The Friends of the Boston Public Garden celebrate Mother’s Day on May 12, with the annual Duckling Day parade, inviting parents and children to parade through the Boston Common and Public Garden dressed like characters from the popular children’s book, Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Parkman Bandstand on the Boston Common and the parade starts at noon.

The morning events include such family entertainment as face painters, balloon artists and a magician. Actors from the Wheelock Family Theater will also perform a dramatic reading from the book. Parade walkers will be led by the Harvard University Marching Band through the park and to their destination near the famous duckling sculptures. Each child registered will receive a goodie bag filled with Duckling Day toys.

Cost: $35 per family in advance, $40 on the day of the event. Location: Parkman Bandstand, Tremont and Winter sts, Boston Common, Boston. For more information, visit FriendsOfThePublicGarden.org or call 617-723-8144.