Make merry this Mother's Day

When you're a child, a handmade card or small gift will suffice for Mother's Day. Beyond those years, the bar is set higher for celebrating the first caregiver in your life.

What follows is a list of dining and other fun options to celebrate this special day. If you know of any other special Mother's Day events, please email them to sdias@bakersfield.com.

The brunch bunch

Celebrate your mom or other maternal figures in your life with fun events and deals. Many of these involve food because the No. 1 rule of Mother's Day is "don't ask Mom to cook" (unless she wants to do it).

Start your weekend on Saturday with a "Mom's Day Off" pre-Mother's Day brunch at the Pour House Bar & Grill (4041 Fruitvale Ave.), overseen by chef Lino Gonzalez.

Nosh on avocado toast, French toast sandwich, huevos rancheros and more while enjoying craft cocktails from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 661-589-9300 for reservations.

The next day Gonzalez will host a Brazilian-style Mother's Day Brunch at Lino's Venue in downtown Bakersfield.

The event will include bottomless mimosas, endless skewers of prime cut meats, seafood, omelets, salads, pastas, fresh fruit, desserts and more.

There will also be live acoustic music and a photo area.

Cost is $85, $30 for children age 3 to 10, free for children 2 and younger.

Reservations start at 10 a.m. for the event at 1931 H St. Call 661-885-8006 for more information and to purchase tickets.

Talent runs in the family as diners will learn at Lino's Mexican Cuisine with its Mother's Day Buffet.

The menu includes chile verde, pancakes, eggs, bacon, cheese enchiladas, fajitas, baked chicken, birria, albondigas, salad, guacamole, soft drinks and assorted desserts.

The buffet runs from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the restaurant, 2911 Taft Highway.

Cost is $28 or $38 to include bottomless mimosas.

Call 661-381-7612 for reservations.

Maui Pho (4011 Ming Ave.) is back with its Mother’s Day Dim Sum Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The popular dine-in event, which will post a menu later this week, books up fast, so call 661-834-3235 or message the restaurant on Facebook or Instagram to reserve a table.

There will also be a limited number of to-go orders allowed with a 11 a.m. pickup time.

The Petroleum Club at Sundale (6218 Sundale Ave.) will host its annual Mother's Day Brunch from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Expect an upscale buffet with prime rib carving and omelet stations, ice cream sundaes, drink specials and more.

Cost is $65 (plus tax and gratuity), $55 for club members and their guests. Call 661-324-6561 to purchase your seat.

The Padre Hotel (1702 18th St.) will also offer brunch from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The menu includes shrimp cocktail, charcuterie boards and mini quiches; French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, country potatoes, biscuits and gravy; entrees of baked ziti, chicken Marsala and pistachio-crusted salmon; sides of cheesy potato gratin, seasonal vegetables and salads, Hawaiian rolls and butter; and a seasonal dessert display.

Call 661-427-4900 to reserve your spot.

Elements Venue is back with a Mother's Day Champagne Brunch presented with MG Events.

Guests can choose from two sessions with family-style seating and live entertainment.

The morning session (9:30 to 11:30 a.m.) will include a performance by Dulce Armonia while Mariachi Sol Y Luna will perform at the afternoon session (noon to 3 p.m.) at the venue, 3401 Chester Ave.

Brunch includes 10 hot American/Mexican entrees, a waffle and omelet bar, rotating carving station (with ham, prime rib, turkey and tri-tip), a taco station, menudo and pozole, four salads or fruit options, dessert display, soft drinks and Champagne.

There will be a large Mother's Day picture frame so attendees can pose for a special family portrait.

Admission is $38.95 (tax and gratuity included), $18.95 for children 12 and younger.

Those who want to sit together must have tickets purchase by the same person.

Brunch includes 10 hot American/Mexican entrees, a waffle and omelet bar, rotating carving station (with ham, prime rib, turkey and tri-tip), a taco station, menudo and pozole, four salads or fruit options, dessert display, soft drinks and Champagne.

There will be a large Mother's Day picture frame so attendees can pose for a special family portrait.

Tickets are available at evmothersdaybrunch2024.eventbrite.com.

Large parties should call Manuel at 661-301-4681 to make arrangements.

The Crest Bar & Grill (5025 Wible Road) will serve brunch buffet from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The menu will include a create-your-own omelet and waffle stations and a carving station. Traditional breakfast items, chile verde, rice and beans, fresh fruit, cold salads, and assorted desserts will also be served.

Cost is $35.95 for adults, $16.95) for children under age 10. Call 661-833-9998, ext. 2, for reservations, which are recommended.

Chef's Choice Noodle Bar (9000 Ming Ave. Suite J2) will offer appetizer and entree specials on Mother's Day as well as mimosas.

The menu will include lamb lollipops, honey walnut shrimp, Thai jambalaya and braised short rib with mashed potatoes.

Call 661-324-1234 for reservations.

Although not usually open on Sundays, Uricchio's Trattoria (1400 17th St.) makes an exception for moms. The downtown Italian eatery will serve its full menu from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call 661-326-8870 for reservations, which are recommended.

Special events

It's a Sweet Thing Bakery will again offer its Mother's Day Afternoon Tea with four one-hour time options to choose from starting at 11:15 a.m. Sunday.

Party guests will enjoy a pot of their selected tea along with a tiered server with an assortment of finger sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, chocolate-dipped strawberries and more.

Admission is $45 for those 10 and older, $35 for children ages 2 to 9.

The bakery is located inside In Your Wildest Dreams Consignment Store (2819 F St.), which will be open for shopping before and after the event.

Accommodations are limited to 10 people per session. Visit eventbrite.com to reserve your spot.

Covenant Coffee House (1700 N. Chester Ave.) will host a Coffee with Mom event on Saturday. Treat your coffee-loving mom or mother figure in your life to special bakery goods and fun drinks starting at 8 a.m.

Call Shelby at 661-331-2587 to RSVP.

Treat Mom to some wine tasting with the fun themed Happy Mommy Wines Wine Tasting at Wine Me Up.

Winemaker and owner Dana Volk will lead attendees through a tasting of wines that honor working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, new moms, stepmoms, moms of furry loved ones and more.

The tasting will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the wine shop, 3900 Coffee Road, Suite 2. Guests must arrive before 7 p.m. to take part.

Tickets are $20 and available at eventbrite.com.

Celebrate early with the Junior League of Bakersfield for its inaugural Bunco & Bubbles Fundraiser on Friday at its Community Center in downtown Bakersfield.

Enjoy an evening of the titular dice game along with snacks, other fun and drinks including sparkling wine and other adult beverages for those 21 and older.

No bunco experience is necessary, although a lot of moms know all about it.

Connect with others in your community and maybe even win some prizes - all for a good cause! Proceeds support the Junior League of Bakersfield and its mission of advancing women's leadership and serving the community.

The event runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday at the center (1928 19th St.).

Tickets are $40 (plus fees) and include snacks and two drinks. Visit the organization's Facebook page (@JLBakersfield) for the ticket link.

Proceeds support the Junior League of Bakersfield and its mission of advancing women's leadership and serving the community. Additionally, every ticket sold will provide sponsorship for one child in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provide one book a month for children up to age 5.

Those looking to entertain the kids can head to The BLVD (3200 Buck Owens Blvd.) for its Mother's Day Special.

Adults can purchase a Drinks and Games offer ($25), which includes three premium drink tickets and $10 arcade card, in advance.

Feed the crew with family-style eats ($45) that serve five with a choice of 16-inch two-topping pizza, garlic bread and salad; chicken Alfredo, salad and garlic bread; tacos (choice of carnitas, chicken, chicken chili or tri-tip for an additional $4) served with a Caesar salad, rice and beans; barbecue chicken ( or tri-tip for an additional $4) served with roasted garlic, herb potatoes, and seasonal vegetables. With all meals, Mom get a free dessert.

Call 661-873-4477 for additional details.

Celebrate mothers with an unforgettable night of music and tradition with Mariachi Los Camperos on Friday at the Fox Theater.

The concert will also include special guests Ballet Folklórico Chiquina Palafox and Dulce Armonía, the city's only all-female mariachi quartet that performed today at the annual Cinco de Mayo Pachanga.

Doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. at the theater, 2001 H St.

Tickets, ranging from $25 to $65, are available at thebakersfieldfox.com, the Fox box office (open weekdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.) or by phone at 661-324-1369.

Get ready to laugh with Mother's Day, all-female comedy show with Isabel Zorra, Sweetmeat and more on Saturday. The show starts at 8 p.m. at The Laughing Stock Comedy Club, 1525 19th St. Admission is $20 (plus fee), with tickets available at eventbrite.com.

On the big day, The Well Comedy Club (7401 White Lane, Suite 7) will host a Mother's Day Brunch & Comedy Show.

This event will include an all-star lineup of world-class comedians along with an incredible brunch buffet and drink specials that "will make this Mother’s Day one for the record books."

The club is promoting the 18-and-over event with the statement, "You can never repay the woman who brought you into the world … but this year you can bring her an afternoon of laughs she will never forget!"

Doors open at 10:30 a.m., show starts at noon May 12 at the club. Note that the buffet (included with admission) will only be available until the show starts.

Admission is $45 or $110 for either a VIP front table or VIP booth for two. Tickets are available at venue-the-thewellcomedyclub.com.

On the road

Celebrate Mom "the high desert way" with the first-ever High Tea at the Cuyama Buckhorn on Highway 166.

Enjoy the roadside resort's rustic charm with the perks of a traditional high tea affair.

Join us for a special high tea this Mother’s Day, May 12th, with two seatings at 2pm and 4pm.

A selection of tea blends crafted by proprietor and tea aficionado Ferial Sadeghian will be served along with pastries from guest pastry chef Neidy Venegas and savory snacks prepared by chef Hugo Vera.

The tea menu includes Smell the Roses (cardamom-infused black tea, rose buds, rose petals, cardamom pod), Blue Green Gold (gunpowder green tea, blue mallow petals, calendula flowers), Hibiscus Kiss (hibiscus, ginger, dried elderberry fruit, lemon verbena tisane), Desert Heat (turmeric, cinnamon, dried orange, ginger tisane), Call Me Darling (camellia sinesis) and Flower Bed (chamomile flowers, lavender, peppermint leaves).

The sweets, all featuring Tehachapi Heritage Grain Project grains, include Funfetti quenelle cake with butterfly pea powder glaze, gateaux invisible aux pommes with chai chantilly, and sancho madellines with mulberry jam and jasmine glaze

On the savory side, sandwiches include bean tartlet, salmon lox, smoked striped bass rilette and lettuce and kale tempura

Seatings will be at 2 and 4 p.m. at the Buckhorn, 4923 Primero St. in New Cuyama.

Cost is $65 for the full high tea, $25 for tea and biscuits, which are made with heritage Tehachapi Heritage grains and served with clotted cream and seasonal jams.

Visit exploretock.com/cuyama-buckhorn/event/473978/mothers-day-high-tea for tickets.

The Outlets at Tejon will host its third annual Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday.

Treat your mother to a champagne brunch "filled with laughter, love, and good food," which can be followed by an afternoon of shopping.

Guests are encouraged to dress up for the event.

Brunch will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Suite 150 (near The Children's Place) at the outlets, 5701 Outlets at Tejon Parkway in Arvin.

Admission is $35 (plus fee), which includes brunch and two tickets for mimosas for those 21 and older. Visit eventbrite.com for tickets.

Head to Harris Ranch Resort (24505 W. Dorris Ave. in Coalinga) for its Mother's Day Buffet overseen by executive chef Brendon Eddington.

The special menu will feature carved prime rib, roasted king salmon, fresh baked Alaskan halibut and chipotle-marinated chicken thigh kebabs with mango salsa. There will also be a wide variety of seafood options, side dishes and freshly baked desserts!

This buffet in the Grand Ballroom also includes coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, iced tea, and assorted soft drinks.

Running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, the event is expected to sell out.

Call 559-935-0717 to make reservations.