Inexpensive, lovely mom plans

On this Mother’s Day weekend, you can allocate the big bucks for a dinner or brunch at mom or grandma’s favorite restaurant and still treat the significant women in your life to special events that won’t wreck the budget, including a visit to the Greenfield Hill Dogwood Festival.

Dogwood delights

To the joy of many visitors, the

83rd Dogwood Festival is returning to its traditional weekend of Mother’s Day. The three-day festival, May 11-13, features free admission and entertainment. Hours are Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hosted by Greenfield Hill Church, 1045 Old Academy Road, Fairfield, the event features a host of activities for adults and children, including a craft fair that attracts artisans from throughout New England.

In Kate’s Clothes and Kate’s Corner, tag sale items range from golf clubs to designer clothes. All proceeds benefit local, national and international charities. Other features include a plant and garden boutique, a children’s art and games area and several tents featuring baked goods and luncheon fare. Free entertainment is in the church sanctuary, unless otherwise noted: Friday, 1-2 p.m. jazz pianist “Dr. Joe” Utterback; Saturday, 11 a.m.noon and 2-3 p.m., The Angry O’Hara’s, featuring fiddle, guitar, banjo and bass; Saturday, 1-2 p.m., the Greenfield Hill Congregational Church choir; Saturday, 3-4 p.m., The Conn Artists; Sunday, 4-5 p.m., Bridgeport’s Pivot Ministry Choir. 203-259-5596, greenfieldhillchurch.com

Free, free, free

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, offers free admission on Sunday, for all mothers. Two adorable tiger cubs and red pandas are among the residents. Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

At Mystic Aquarium, 55 Coogan Blvd., moms get free entry on Saturday and Sunday with the purchase of a full-price ticket; 860-572-5955.

Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, jazz pianist “Dr. Joe” Utterback will present a free concert and reception on Sunday at 3 p.m. Reservations required: 203-762-6334, bit.ly/2pIGxZo.

Colorblends spring garden display, 893 Clinton Ave., Bridgeport. There’s no charge for a stroll among the blooms daily from dawn to dusk. The bulb importer has planted about 50,000 bulbs on the property next to its restored 1903 Colonial Revival mansion. 888-847-8637, colorblendsspringgarden.com

Of special note

The Connecticut Ballet is presenting a Mother’s Day matinee of the one-act Russian classic, “Petrouchka,” to music by Igor Stravinsky, and narrated by artistic director Brett Raphael, on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford. Tickets for the special one-hour production are $35. (On Saturday night the company is presenting two Russian ballets at the Palace; $60, $45.) 203-325-4466, www.connecticutballet.org

The Westport Garden Club is again offering its traditional preMother’s Day display and sale on Friday, at the Saugatuck Congregational Church, 245 Post Road, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., rain or shine.

The Fairfield County Children’s Choir welcomes spring with its “Imagine the Song” concert Saturday at 7 p.m. featuring the work of celebrated choral composer, conductor and music educator Nick Page at the Klein Memorial, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport. The choir will debut a new piece by Page dedicated to Mother’s Day. Tickets at the door: $20, $15. singfccc.org

Jarret Liotta / For Hearst Connecticut Media file photo The trees were in full bloom for last year’s annual Dogwood Festival at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church in Fairfield.