What a crazy weather week this has been! Never fear: Mommy Poppins has the inside scoop on the best summer activities to help keep your kids happy whether it's raining, thundering, or just too humid to move. For some indoor fun, older kids will enjoy a visit to the Gilson Cafe and Cinema (ages 12+ are welcome with adults during the week) in Winstead. Just about anytime is the right time for ice cream so check out our guide to the yummiest ice cream shops in Fairfield County (don't miss the Salty Cow!). When you're ready to head back outside, consider blueberry picking or paddleboarding.

For maximum fun, check out 25 Water Activities for Kids, part of our Summer of Play challenge to ditch the schedule and slow down for some good, old-fashioned fun (check out the funlist generator if you need some inspiration).

Have fun out there!

I know it feels like the summer is just getting started, and I guess in some sense it is. In the "oh my gosh there are so many things I haven't done yet!" sense: totally true.  Have you danced under the stars at the pier?  Have you delighted to Shakespeare by moonlight?  Have you eaten fried everything at the OC Fair or splashed in the water or taken in a concert at the Hollywood Bowl?  Well then, your summer has barely begun.

But in that other sense, the "how many days of summer break remain?' sense, oh boy, we're in trouble. Without actually putting a date on it, I will just say that some of us may be in one-month countdown mode for the dreaded Back to School. So all of you who are thinking "sounds great, I'll get to it later":  there is no later.  It's now or thanks for playing, better luck next summer.

What's a Momma to do? Check out our calendar.  Make note of the super awesome fun times contained therein. (Might I suggest: Piratical, princessical sing-a-long,  storylicious entertainers, out-of-this-world family night, free sweet treat, and gabba-rific meet and greet amusements?) Lay out your blanket, break out the sunscreen and let's get this party started!

Keep reading for some of our most summery picks for this weekend ....

Summer in the Hamptons and North Fork is in full swing, with more than a few family-friendly events happening from all over the East End. From fireworks to a sweet corn festival, we've come up with 10 must-attend events during the weekend of July 19-20.

Be sure to check out our Long Island Calendar for more kid-friendly activities, as well as our Hamptons and North Fork Guide. And don't forget to subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you can receive our roundup of fun things to do delivered directly to your inbox.

It's another summer weekend full of fabulous and mostly FREE family fun. Five of our top event picks of the month take place on Saturday or Sunday: the art-filled New Museum Block Party on the Lower East Side, the jazz-themed SummerStage Queens Family Day in Long Island City, Come Out & Play Family Day on Governors Island, the eye-popping Walking with Dinosaurs - the Arena Spectacular at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, and a pair of family shows at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

There's some great culture on tap, too, including a family party at the Whitney's Jeff Koons: A Retrospective, the opening weekend of the Museum of the Moving Image's What’s Up, Doc? The Animation Art of Chuck Jones exhibit, and a pair of music-filled tributes to late songwriter and activist Pete Seeger.

Whatever you do this weekend, be sure to share your family's playful pics on social media for a chance to win great prizes in our SUMMER OF PLAY CHALLENGE. You can also click through photos submitted by other readers—some of them are truly inspiring.

All of our best bets for the weekend are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide. And if you're craving air conditioning, check out our Indoor Activity Guide for great ways to beat the heat.

I am constantly telling my kids how lucky they are to live so close to New York City—especially in the summer. From beautiful parks and beaches to a variety of attractions and entertainment, all five boroughs are family-friendly stops, whether it’s for a day, weekend or extended trip. And our sponsor NYC & Company is "spreading the news" on everything the area has to offer for parents and kids.

From beautiful parks and beaches to a variety of attractions and entertainment, all of New York City’s five boroughs are family-friendly stops. Summer is a fun time to explore all of it—and our sponsor NYC & Company is "spreading the news" on everything the area has to offer for parents and kids, whether you’re a visitor from another city or a local who wants to play tourist for the day.

We’re at that halfway point of summer and hopefully you’ve filled your days with some quality family time, both indoors and out! If you’ve still got a bucket list full of summer must dos, New Jersey has some great events going on this weekend. Treat your little train lover to a railroad ride during A Day Out with Thomas, stuff yourself silly with sweets at the NJ State Ice Cream Festival in Toms River or set sail along the beautiful Palisades during a Rock’n River Sail excursion. And if you’re looking to take in some awesome summer theater with the kiddos, get tickets to see Aladdin at the Broadway Theatre of Pitman or the pirate adventure Treasure Island at the Somerset Playhouse. Also, you can check out the full list of weekend activities on our Event Calendar and don't miss our Summer of Play Guide with 100s of ideas for a fun, playful, and tech-free summer!

Los Angeles is full of museums, including some well-known free ones—The Getty, The California Science Center, and LACMA (free through their NexGen kids program). These free museums are also all huge and often very crowded with summer camps, field trips, and members. Free museum days offer access to many other large museums, and MOTA Day is a free day for several in the Pasadena area. But if you are looking for something a bit smaller, less crowded, or just for something new-to-you, on a day you choose, you still have options. These eight museums, all located in Los Angeles County, are all either free or donation-based - meaning you can get a family of four in for twenty dollars or less. Some may only take an hour to visit, but you may want to spend the whole day at others.