On the road: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the city

Chicago

Holy mole

Say "Si" to a grande Cinco de Mayo festival held in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood that promises wall-to-wall live music, authentic Mexican food, colorful arts and crafts, carnival rides and plenty of activities for families and children. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's improbable victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, and has become a global festivity.

6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 2, and 2 to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4, at 26th Street and Kostner Avenue. Free. (773) 868-3010 or chicagoevents.com.

You can call her queen bee

Does Mom fancy the royals? Take her to the very British Langham Chicago for motherly hotel packages, a treatment or two at its Chuan Spa, springtime afternoon tea at the Pavilion Lounge, and a memorable brunch at the highly rated Travelle restaurant. The "Dear Mom" package features overnight accommodations, a bouquet of pink roses and a bottle of champagne. The Mother's Day Club Lounge Package offers overnight accommodations, a complimentary skin treatment, and a makeup application, a $50 gift certificate from Neiman Marcus and such Club Lounge services as dedicated butler service including a drawn bath; cooked breakfast; all-day refreshments; and three clothing items pressed upon check-in.

May 10-11 at The Langham Chicago, 330 N. Wabash Ave. Dear Mom package starts at $459 per night; Mother's Day Club Lounge package starts at $584 per night. Call about spa treatments, tea and Mother's Day brunch. (312) 923-9988 or chicago.langhamhotels.com.

The greatest show in Chicago

Although kids might have experienced a circuslike atmosphere during the spring holidays, the new exhibit at the Chicago Children's Museum may be more to their liking. Kids can practice tight-rope walking, juggling, ring tossing, swinging on the trapeze, spinning plates, balancing and more at Circus Zirkus. Perhaps they lean toward marketing and not showmanship? They can sell hot dogs and ice cream, staff the ticket booth and cheer from the bleachers with an abundance of props and apparel, including real clown shoes, for hours of imaginative play.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 2-July 31, at Chicago Children's Museum, 700 E. Grand Ave. Admission is $14 for kids and adults; $13 for seniors. CCM members and kids younger than 1 admitted free. Target Free Family Night is 5 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. ChicagoChildrens Museum.org or (312) 527-1000.

Midwest

Zipping around Green Bay

Green Bay's new Adventure Park at the NEW Zoo will feature dual "racing" zip lines with speeds up to 35-40 miles an hour; an aerial adventure course with 16 different challenging elements; and a three-sided, 40-foot climbing tower with contours to allow for variable levels of difficulty. The NEW Zoo and Brown County Reforestation Camp make up a 1560-acre recreational area with miles of hiking, biking and nature trails.

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through May 31; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 1-Aug. 31. Adventure Park opens May 7 at 4378 Reforestation Road, Green Bay, Wis., 10 miles northwest of downtown Green Bay. Ropes, climbing, aerial and zip line cost $2-$10 each. (920) 434-7841 or newzoo.org.

Hot chocolate

What makes the world go around? Love, money, power, centrifugal force? It's chocolate, of course, and you can get your fill at the 15th Annual Long Grove Chocolate Festival. Enjoy chocolate in numerous incarnations, including cakes, doughnuts, beer or a martini. Check in on demonstrations and workshops, wine pairings, rides, live music all over town, and plenty of activities to quell the kids' sugar rushes like a rock-climbing wall and obstacle courses.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, May 2-4, at 307 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Admission is $5 for adults, free for kids 12 and younger. Advanced tickets sold at a discounted rate at visitlonggrove.com. Call (847) 634-0888.