Big things are happening this weekend: big, big, big. I know they're big because they have "big" in the title, and that's not a word we use lightly around here. We've got The Big Parade, in which Angelenos walk all over town (Angelenos walking—that's big news). We've got Big Sunday Weekend, with thousands of families working together to help make the world a better place.

Another big thing is Cinco de Mayo, very big in these parts, and I know it's big because cinco is five and you need all the fingers on one hand to count that high. You'll need way more than five fingers to count all the Cinco de Mayo celebrations going on. (Lucky for you we've got them listed in our handy-dandy Event Calendar).

And what big thing should we close with? The Big Grand Butterfly Release? Big Bird Day LA? Breakfast with the Bigguns Gibbons? I'm going to go a different way: next Sunday is Mother's Day, and I want something big. You have been warned.

Keep reading for our biggest picks for this weekend.

April showers bring May flowers as the saying goes. However, May also brings a variety of spring celebrations and festivals to the Philadelphia area. This weekend you can enjoy South Street's Spring Festival, the Peddler's Village Strawberry Festival and Pottsgrove Manor's Annual Colonial Fair, which are all full of family fun.

You can also watch or run races this weekend. Families can visit Winterthur to see professional steeplechase races at Point-to-Point, while kids can participate in a variety of children's activities including stick pony races. Or cheer on the ten-mile Broad Street runners, and then hit the Kids' Fun Run, where children can watch a magic show, check out a petting zoo and participate in a "Fun" Miler.

Free activities in the area include the Delaware Museum of Natural History's Bank of America Museums on Us (free for Bank of America card holders), a Mother's Day-themed Home Depot Kids Workshop and Horn's Punch & Judy show at Sundays on Stage.

Find more options in our Mommy Poppins Event Calendar, and check out our top weekend picks below. 

This weekend is all about getting outside and enjoying the season. Celebrate spring at Benner's Farm's May Day Festival, or take in the beautiful blooms at the annual Tulip Festival in Huntington. If you've got a wannabe Superman or Wonder Woman at home, head over to the Whaling Museum's National Superhero Day Celebration! to meet fictional and real-life heroes, and make themed crafts.

Remember, you can find even more options in our jam-packed Event Calendar. To receive our posts in your inbox, subscribe to our free newsletters.

What a great weekend for spring festivals in the Boston area! There's something for everyone to celebrate: creativity at the Harvard ArtsFirst Festival (pictured), Boston's diversity at the Wake Up the Earth Festival, and the great outdoors at Springfest. On top of all of these gems, the 20-mile Walk for Hunger on Sunday is a great way to get some springtime exercise while teaching kids about giving back to the community.

Performances this weekend include The Emperor's New Clothes puppet show in Brookline and Sesame Street Live in Boston. Families can also catch a Bay Youth Symphony Spring Concert in Duxbury or a Pop Ups concert in Natick.

Also on Mommy Poppins Boston this week:

• Our May GoList can help you plan your family's activities for the whole month!
• Find out how to enjoy some Outdoor Family Fun in New Hampshire's Lakes Region.
• The 10 Coolest Stops for Kids on the Freedom Trail brings history to life for your family.
• Fingerprint Heart Necklaces make great homemade Mother's Day gifts.

Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to check out our full Event Calendar!

This is a weekend of tough choices thanks to the slew of spring fairs and festivals going on. There are lots of annual favorites like the Cherry Blossom Festival on Randall's Island, Hippo Playground's spring fair and Holi, the Festival of Colors, plus the art-filled grand opening fest for the new Whitney Museum of American Art.

Families can also volunteer to clean up a neighborhood park, or celebrate the FDNY's 150th anniversary. And Saturday is Free Comic Book Day, so local shops are giving away complimentary issues.

These are just a few of the great things going on this weekend. All of our best bets are below. You can find additional options in our Event Calendar and our Spring Fun Guide. And if you're looking to plan out your entire month, check out the new edition of our NYC GoList, which highlights the absolute best things to do with kids throughout May.

This week's news is full of great openings and arrivals for kids, from a newly renovated playground in Queens, to FDNY Open Houses in all five boroughs, to newborn gorillas at the Bronx Zoo. Plus, now that middle school offers are in, find out about District 2's proposed changes to the application process, and how your budding songbirds can audition for one of the city's most prestigious children's choirs!

And the seasons, they go 'round and 'round, and the painted ponies go up and down... Your children can travel back in time to a simpler day on one of five SoCal carousels. Some of the carousels below have a long history (like the one at Santa Monica Pier); some are great indoor activities for rainy days, and some even work as birthday party venues. What they all do equally well is put smiles on faces.

Say hello to the lovely month of May! Festivals abound in New Jersey at this time of year, like the Hackettstown Annual Spring Festival, the Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival and Bridgeton's Cinco de Mayo Cultural Fest, all happening this weekend. For more seasonal fun, go fly a kite at Terhune Orchard’s Kite Day, cheer on your favorite football team during the Jets Draft Family Day, or head to the Bergen County Zoo to watch sheep shearing and visit with barnyard animals. For even more weekend activities, check out our Event Calendar.