Duckling Day is a celebration of the children’s classic book Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey, held annually on Mother’s Day.

Duckling Day is a family-friendly celebration held each year on Boston Common. Duckling Day features activity booths, lawn games, magic, and live music all at Parkman Bandstand. The event ends with a parade retracing Mrs. Mallard’s steps to the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in the Public Garden.

Registration for Duckling Day 2025 is open! Click the button below to register for this year’s event.

Thank you to our event sponsors:

Steve & Kate's Camp          

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The day begins at 10:00 a.m. with check-in and a goody bag full of Duckling Day-themed items for every child. Playtime on the Common features a wide range of activities including activity booths, lawn games, magic, and live music that take place on the grass at Parkman Bandstand. The area is filled with children, parents, and caregivers who come together to enjoy games and other outdoor activities.  

Playtime on the Common activities include: 

  • A free-flowing community play space where kids can play games, hula-hoop, and bounce around on pony hoppers with Knucklebones.
  • An interactive one-woman circus variety show featuring Jenny the Juggler, who will dazzle you with her dexterity and wit.
  • Magic and delightful mini miracles performed by Bonaparté the Strolling Magician.
  • Face painting by talented artists.
  • Live dance performances by students from Woo Ching White Crane School and City Boston Ballet Make Way for Ducklings Dancers from Tony Williams’ Urban Nutcracker.
  • An opportunity to hang out with our friendly Duckling mascot!
  • A visit from a live marching band.
  • A Make Way for Ducklings reading station, where the beloved children’s classic is read aloud, accompanied by a creative movement activity from City Boston Ballet.
  • A dedicated quiet tent.
  • Various activity stations presented by our sponsors and much more!All activities are included with family admission.

We understand how excited your little ducklings are about this special day and we are committed to making it happen rain or shine!  

We look forward to seeing you there.

Duckling Day is accessible via the following transit options: 

Via car: The Bandstand is located at 165 Tremont Street, Boston, MA on GPS. Paid parking is available in the Boston Common Garage or Transportation Building garages; on-street parking is free on Sundays. 

Via subway: Take the Red or Green Line to Park Street, Green Line to Boylston, or Orange Line to Downtown Crossing (requires short walk)

Via MBTA Bus: Take any of the following bus routes: #11, #43, #501, and #504. For any of these bus routes, stop close to the Common. Stops may require a short walk. Check your MBTA app for exact proximity.

We are proud to support families with sensory sensitivities by providing sensory friendly check-in. Please reach out to our team at events@friendsofthepublicgarden.org for more information and assistance.  

The event is ADA accessible. The parade route is level and does not traverse any stairs or elevated surfaces.  

Being a Duckling Day sponsor gives your organization or company a unique opportunity to connect with families and children from the Greater Boston metro area. Promote your brand in a fun and memorable way that builds customer loyalty. Most sponsorship levels include an on-site exhibit space fully integrated with the performers, games, and activities as well as pre- and post-event promotional benefits for your business. 

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Maliaka Shepard, Senior Communications & Outreach Officer at maliaka@friendsofthepublicgarden.org. 

Please contact Maliaka Shepard, Senior Communications & Outreach Officer at maliaka@friendsofthepublicgarden.org if you wish to arrange press coverage.

Friends of the Public Garden is thrilled to once again welcome Rhondella Richardson to Duckling Day as our event emcee.

Rhondella Richardson is an Emmy award-winning journalist and co-anchor of NewsCenter 5’s weekend morning newscasts alongside Jennifer Eagan. She has been with WCVB for over two decades, starting as a general assignment reporter in 1996.

Throughout her career, Rhondella has covered significant events such as the Boston Marathon bombings, September 11 attacks, and blizzards in New England. She was one of the few journalists to personally interview Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas during a supermarket strike and has a talent for securing exclusive stories.

Rhondella has held various roles at WCVB, including co-anchor of the weekend EyeOpener and member of the “5 Investigates” team. Before joining WCVB, she worked at prominent stations like KING-TV in Seattle, WJAR-TV in Providence, and WMUR-TV in Manchester.

In addition to her reporting work, she contributed to “The Today Show” in 1994 and produced a series on trade between Vietnam and North America. She also participated in “Tuesday’s Child” segments at WJAR-TV and appeared on the soap opera “Another World.”

Rhondella received WCVB’s Leo Beranek Fellowship and started her broadcasting career as an intern for CityLine in 1986. Recognized as one of Boston’s “50 Most Intriguing Women,” she has received the University’s Medallion Award and remains active in various community organizations, including UNICEF and local schools.

A Magna Cum Laude graduate from Northeastern University in Journalism, Rhondella also played on the university’s Division One Tennis Team. She currently resides south of Boston.

Thank you to our fabulous media sponsor, WCVB Channel 5.