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Festivals, block parties and more can't-miss weekend events

With another week almost in the books, it’s time to look ahead to the weekend. I hope your schedules are clear because you’ll want to hit all of these events.

With another week almost in the books, it's time to look ahead to the weekend. I hope your schedules are clear because you'll want to hit all of these events.

Starting Thursday, May 15 is the Mid-Atlantic Wine and Food Festival throughout various locations in Delaware. With food and drink pairings ranging from sushi and saki to bacon and bourbon and lots of wine tastings, this four-day event, ending on Sunday, May 18 will leave you with an appreciation of worldly and exotic tastes. Events begin at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

Kids are invited to get involved in all things literary this weekend at Mt. Airy's Kids' Literary Festival. Big Blue Marble Bookstore hosts the three-day fest with programming beginning Friday, May 16.

Artists from across the country will devote their creative time to making masterpieces along the Schuylkill Banks Trail (from Fairmount Water Works to Locust Street Green) for Art in the Open. Over three days, Friday, May 16, Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18 spectators will see sculptures, wood carving and other outdoor-inspired art pieces come to life. The second day of the event, Saturday, May 17 is Family Day, where the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Independence Seaport Museum and other groups will have free art activities from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. You'll be able to find these organizations booths for the day located across from the Fairmount Water Works.

Enjoy Italian culture and food on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 at 9th Street Italian Market's Italian Market Festival. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days, 9th Street from Fitzwater Street to Federal Street will have multiple stages with performers, vendors and all the Italian food you could ever want. Cannolis, anyone?

Broadway and Pitman Avenue in Pitman, NJ will be lined with more than 200 crafters and vendors for the Pitman Spring Craft Show. Nosh on food from Pitman eateries and get shopping starting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Another New Jersey craft show runs on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 in Historic Smithville Village Green: Mayfest. Smithville's annual spring craft show will feature an international food court, boat rides and more. Both days begin at 10 a.m.

For the past eight years, innovative minds and spectators alike have flocked to Trenton and Norris Streets in Kensington for the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby. This year's procession of human-powered parade floats begins at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and the awards ceremony starts at 4:30 p.m. However, from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. there will be music, games and other entertainment for your enjoyment. Bring a critical eye, since there's a People's Choice category in which the audience chooses the winner. Scout a viewing location along the parade route and enjoy this year's creations.

To celebrate Philly Soft Pretzel Factory's Sweet Sixteen, they're throwing a block party on Saturday, May 17. The outdoor affair starts at noon on the 7300 block of Frankford Avenue—the original Philly Soft Pretzel Factory location—and will have a pretzel dog eating contest as well as other family friendly activities.

Get the competitive juices flowing on Saturday, May 17 for the Philly Challenge 2014. Here's how it works: form a group of two or more and race around the city, competing against other groups in an Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt. The race gets underway at 1 p.m. at the Field House on Filbert Street. Besides bragging rights, the top 50 teams qualify for the championship round in Las Vegas.

For some, the third Saturday in May means one thing: Preakness Stakes. Take part in Philly's derby themed fundraiser at the Piazza at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 for Preakness at the Piazza. While you're viewing the 139th Preakness Stakes dressed in your best attire, you'll also be raising money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Two Atlantic City, NJ venues are hosting big-name comedians on Saturday night. Revel welcomes Bill Cosby and the Borgata has Anthony Jeselnik on the lineup—both hit the stage at 8 p.m.