Princeton Magazine | Celebrating the Heritage of Princeton, New Jersey

Young Patriots Day at Battlefield State Park

Calling all young patriots! Learn about colonial life and the American Revolutionary War at Young Patriots Day at the Princeton Battlefield on Sunday, September 15 from 12 to 3 p.m.

Activities for school-age children and families begin with a flag raising at noon with Gen. George Washington and the Princeton Girl Scout Service Unit.

Activities include demonstrations and drilling with the New Jersey Grays; a talk with George Washington and Ben Franklin; demonstrations including weaving, woodworking, Colonial Spies, and 18th Century Medicine; artillery and musket firing; information tables from historical organizations and sites; and tours of the Thomas Clarke House and Museum.

Families who plan on attending can register at pbs1777.org/young-patriots-day/.

Celebrating 45 Years of Scarecrows in the Village

Celebrate fall! An autumn tradition kicks off on Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Peddler’s Village in Lahaska, Pa. For six weeks, more than 100 scarecrows line the brick pathways of the Village. Some are inspired by famous characters, some are humorous, some are scary, and all are handmade by area residents and organizations. The display is free and on view daily through October 27. Guests are invited to vote on their favorite scarecrows, and the creators of the winning scarecrows receive prizes.

The festival includes entertainment, outdoor treats, pumpkin painting, and scarecrow-making workshops. Click here for the schedule of events.

Wicoff House Museum Celebrates Five Years

Celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Wicoff House Museum in Plainsboro at its first outdoor History Faire on Saturday, August 31, from 12 to 4 p.m. Learn about the rich history of the 18th and 19th centuries during a day full of fun, education, and nostalgia.

The Wicoff House Museum is located at 641 Plainsboro Road, inside the municipal complex. It was the home of John Van Buren Wicoff, who led the successful effort of the residents of Plainsboro to incorporate the Township in 1919.

Einstein Magnetism Exhibit in Dohm Alley

What’s a museum to do when there is not yet a site for the museum? The Princeton Einstein Museum has created a pop-up exhibit, “Einstein’s Attraction to Magnetism.” Funded by the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, it is on view 24/7 through September 15 in Dohm Alley, located by 102 Nassau Street.

When he was 5 years old, Albert Einstein’s father gave him a compass, sparking his curiosity in invisible forces. The exhibit explores what magnetism is, how physicists use it, and includes an Einstein selfie for fun photos. There is also an image of the actual compass Einstein owned, which is in the collection of the Historical Society of Princeton at Updike Farm. more

Old Barracks Tavern Night Supports Student Field Trips

Tavern Night at the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton on Friday, September 6 from 7 to 10 p.m. is a celebration of 18th century Colonial American history.

Enjoy savory hors d’oeuvres and an open beer and wine bar in an 18th century tavern. (No one under age 21 is permitted.) Share drinks, play card games, and learn dance steps to the most popular songs with ladies and gentlemen from the period as well as modern guests. Period dress, while not required, is not discouraged.

This fundraiser supports educational programming for thousands of New Jersey students through the Barracks “Meet the Past” field trips. Tickets, not sold at the door, are available here.

Experience the Past on Saturdays at Howell Farm

Take a step back in time to the year 1900 at Howell Living History Farm with its special Saturday events. Try Canning & Pickling on Saturday, August 17; a Fiddlin’ Contest and Picket Fence Art Show on Saturday, August 24; and the 41st annual Plowing Match on Saturday, August 31. The events are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the farm, a facility of the Mercer County Park Commission, located at 70 Woodens Lane in Hopewell Township. more

Visit the Flower Garden at Pretty Bird Farm

View the colorful flowers in the private garden and more at Pretty Bird Farm in Rosedale, Hunterdon County, on August 24 through the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. The farm will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a $10 donation to the Conservancy. more

Saying Goodbye to Ocean City’s Wonderland Pier

Kids and adults alike who love the amusements in Ocean City take note: Gillian’s Wonderland Pier will close after this season.

A letter on gillians.com from owner Jay Gillian states that he is retiring after 47 years. Wonderland and 6th Street Pizza (the complex is at 600 Boardwalk) will be open through the summer, but visitors to Ocean City might want to visit and take advantage of some specials:

Until August 30, there are unlimited rides “after dark” on Sunday nights from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. for $25.

Wristband Days are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; $25 for unlimited rides from 4 to 6 p.m.

And Tuesday through Thursday, from 4 to 6 p.m., rides are three tickets each. more

Peacock Inn Hosts Wine Wednesdays

Wine Wednesdays are underway at The Perch at the historic Peacock Inn every Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. Savor three wines from around the globe, each paired with a tasting menu created by Wine Director Chris Scully and Chef Mark, inspired by the featured wine region and sourced by local ingredients. more

Inaugural Princeton Community Chili Cook-off

Get out your pots and start collecting your seasonings for the Princeton Community Chili Cook-off on Sunday, September 22 from 12 to 3 p.m. at Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, sponsored by the Historical Society of Princeton and the Arts Council of Princeton. more

Take a Self-Guided Tour of the Bridges of Bucks County

(Photo courtesy of Visit Bucks County)

Nearby Bucks County, Pa., is the home of 12 picturesque covered bridges, with locations along the Delaware River and inside state parks. Take a self-guided Bucks County Covered Bridge driving tour, crossing the county’s remaining covered bridges with the help of a map or a mobile app courtesy of Visit Bucks County. more

Toe-tapping with Tigertown at Hinds Plaza

Tigertown Classic Jazz, a six-piece band that plays traditional jazz music from the 1920s to the 1940s, will perform at Hinds Plaza on Sunday, August 11 from 4 to 5 p.m. as part of Princeton Public Library’s “Listen Local 2024.”

Tigertown Classic Jazz plays music during this concert that explores the roots of jazz, including the music of New Orleans, Dixieland, and swing. It’s been called nostalgic and relevant at the same time, and appeals to all ages. more

Cemetery Tour and Rowhouse Visits at Roebling Museum

Two unique events are coming up at the Roebling Museum, 100 Second Avenue, Roebling.

On Friday August 2, at 7 p.m., the first historic cemetery tour gets underway. Stories of both remarkable and everyday people who lived in the company town and worked at the mill will be highlighted. Attendees are asked to meet at Holy Assumption Cemetery. Tickets are $20.

If you are curious about the living conditions for laborers in a historic company town, take the behind-the-scenes tour “Step Inside a Roebling Rowhouse: Building a House Museum” on Saturdays in August and September from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Visitors can view newly donated artifacts, and see what it takes to transform a house into a museum. Six dates are available. Tickets are $20, $5 for members.

Buy tickets for either event here. more

Shop the yART Sale for Creative Local Art Finds

Shop the Arts Council of Princeton’s yART sale for creative bargains and one-of-a-kind finds, all handcrafted by local artisans, on Saturday, August 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This flea-market style event will be held outdoors in the Arts Council’s parking lot and around the Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street. Working in ceramics, jewelry, printmaking, painting, and more, 30-plus vendors will sell seconds, misprints, discontinued designs, and one-of-a-kind items at studio clean-out prices. more

Community Night Out Brings Princeton Together

The annual Community Night Out in Princeton is on Tuesday, August 6 at the Community Park Pool, 400 Witherspoon Street, from 5 to 8 p.m.

Stop by for a free night of swimming; grilled hot dogs; and all kinds of information, swag bags, and fun stuff from Princeton area vendors. Meet members of the Princeton Municipal Government, Princeton Recreation Department, Princeton Police Department, Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad, Princeton Fire Department, Princeton University Department of Public Safety, and more, who will be on hand to demonstrate some of the equipment and services they provide. more

“Color Purple” at Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival

(Photo Courtesy of Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival)

There is still time to enjoy the long-running summertime Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival at DeSales University in the Lehigh Valley, Pa.

The musical The Color Purple runs until August 4. This year’s “Extreme Shakespeare” play is the romantic adventure Cymbeline, also running until August 4. A children’s show, Winnie-the-Pooh & Friends, runs until August 2, and “Shakespeare for Kids” until August 3.

This season, co-leaders Jason King Jones and Casey William Gallagher curated a lineup centered around the theme of “Persistence of Love,” reflected in each play or musical selected. more

Have Your Requests Ready for Dueling Pianos

(Photo courtesy of Palmer Square)

If you ask, “Do you know. . .?” You may hear, “Hum a few bars and we’ll play it.” Have your song requests ready, because the dueling piano players probably know them.

Sing, dance, and laugh along to this high energy, all-request, interactive dueling piano show performed by the Flying Ivories every Thursday on the Green at Palmer Square through August 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. more

Historic Seaside Heights Carousel Spins Again

Good news for carousel lovers: Ocean County and Seaside Heights have reopened the 1910 Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Carousel after a long restoration.

For the past nine years, Seaside Heights has worked with volunteers to restore the Wurlitzer organ, carousel, and carvings, and refurbish the mechanics of the carousel, bringing it back to life for riders of all ages to enjoy. more

Lambertville Named Among Most Charming Small Towns in U.S.

Explore Lambertville, and visit a city that is ranked among “50 of the Most Charming Small Towns in America” by HGTV.

For this feature, the Home and Garden Television Network selected one small town from each of the 50 states, with Lambertville named as the New Jersey selection. Known as “The Antiques Capital of New Jersey,” the online article says that Lambertville is “home to a variety of talented artists and crafters whose shops and galleries sit alongside the scenic Delaware River. This town of 4,000 residents, founded in 1705, also boasts federal townhouses and Victorian homes, a restored 19th-century train depot, Zagat-rated restaurants, and award-winning hotels and B&Bs.” more

History and Nature Hike at Institute Woods

Save your spot for a history and nature hike led by the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) in the Institute Woods, at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), on July 20 or July 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. each day.

The tour exploring bits of history and the sights and sounds of the serene setting will meet at the Princeton Battlefield parking lot at 500 Mercer Street. more