For its second year, the annual Mother’s Day parade typically held in Boston’s Public Garden will be happening online. The 2021 Virtual Duckling Day, hosted by the Friends of the Public Garden on Sunday, May 9 at 12 p.m., will feature an enhanced interactive program, celebrity readers, and online activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Duckling Day celebrates mothers everywhere! Inspired by the tenacity of Mrs. Mallard from the famous Make Way For Ducklings, the official children’s book of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, everyone is invited to join the Friends for its signature virtual reading beginning at 12 pm, broadcast on the nonprofit’s Facebook page. Friends has assembled an all-star cast to share this timeless story, including:
– First Lady Lauren Baker
– Senator Elizabeth Warren
– Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
– WCVB’s Rhondella Richardson
– Human helpers sharing the story with furry and feathered friends at the Franklin Park Zoo and the New England Aquarium
“Part of the reason Mrs. Mallard – in both book and statue form – so resonates with parents is the care she takes in finding the right home to keep her new ducklings safe and happy. In this past year, parents across New England have done heroic work to keep their children safe and happy amid a constantly changing environment,” said Liz Vizza, President for the Friends of the Public Garden. “It is my hope that parks – from the Common and Public Garden to neighborhood parklets and playgrounds – have been a refuge for families during this difficult time. There is nothing like exploring a new outdoor space with a young child to reignite a sense of wonder and delight in all of us.”
Following the reading, the program will continue with engaging and delightful entertainment for the entire family. Karen K and the Jitterbugs will perform their hit song “Get Down” with some special Duckling Day themed words, and Bonaparte the Magician will perform some duckling magic. More videos and activities, including a parks-themed coloring book, are available at https://friendsofthepublicgarden.org/2021/04/13/may-09-2021-virtual-duckling-day/.
Send in photos of you, your family, or any ducklings enjoying Duckling Day. Please submit your photos to https://spaces.hightail.com/uplink/fopg with your name and the year (guessing is allowed!) and we’ll include it in the social media celebration.
Tune in for the live virtual event!
Sunday, May 9, 2021
12 pm
https://www.facebook.com/Friendsofthepublicgarden The Friends of the Public Garden has worked in partnership with the City of Boston for 51 years to restore, maintain, and advocate for the Boston Common, Public Garden, and Commonwealth Avenue Mall. The three properties are national treasures and they are located in the heart of our city. The Friends help care for 1700 trees, 42 pieces of public art, and more than 50 acres of lawn. In recent years, the organization has completed many capital projects in partnership with the City, including renovation and activation of the Brewer Fountain and Plaza by Park Street Station on the Common and restoration of the George Robert White Memorial fountain in the Garden