PRINCETON NJ Announcement

Princeton 250th Celebration Events

February 16, 2026

Nestled in the heart of American history and innovation, Princeton is proudly celebrating its 250th anniversary—a remarkable milestone for a town that has long stood at the crossroads of tradition, intellect, and community spirit. This year’s celebration is a vibrant tribute to Princeton’s rich past and dynamic present, featuring a series of exciting events that bring together residents, visitors, and alumni alike. From historical reenactments and art exhibitions to lively parades and community festivals, Princeton 250 is more than a commemoration—it’s a joyful reflection of the town’s enduring legacy and its bright future ahead. 

We will be updating this list all year long so please check back. Also, all events can be found on our Events Calendar.  Feel free to scroll to the bottom of the page for a list of resources regarding local historical references.

 

 

April 15 - July 12, 2026 - 

“Nursery of Rebellion”: Princeton and the American Revolution - Princeton University Library 

Drawing on an array of PUL’s manuscript and rare book collections, this exhibition will commemorate the 250th anniversaries of U.S. independence and the Battle of Princeton, and showcase Princeton’s archival treasures from the revolutionary era alongside documents and artifacts that reveal local experiences of the American Revolution on campus and in the surrounding communities. Exploring the Revolution across lines of gender, class, race, allegiance, and status, the exhibition will offer visitors a range of perspectives on the Revolution’s ideals and contradictions, its anxiety and violence, and its achievements and tragedies. More Info/Hours

 

April 18, 2026 - Lambertville Historical Society Revolutionary War History, Richard Holcombe House, 11am.

Living-history experience commemorating nation's 250th anniversary. A Continental Army encampment with demonstrations; talks by George Washington and Daniel Bray; children’s activities all day; tours of Holcombe House (where Washington stayed twice) and the barns; presentations on local history during the revolution; historical exhibits. Rain or shine. 11 a.m.

260 North Main Street, Lambertville. www.lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.

 

April 23, 2026 - Old Barracks Museum Lecture Series

Michael C. Harris Fighting for Philadelphia, 6pm.

Attend the Old Barracks Museum's Spring Lecture Series to learn more about the history that helped to shape our nation. Lecture will begin at 6 PM, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be provided. Copies of these titles will be available for purchase during the event or at www.barracks.org. All proceeds go towards supporting the Old Barracks Museum and its mission. Michael C. Harris gives an in-depth account of the battles between Germantown and Valley Forge during the American Revolution. Highlighting Forts Mercer and Mifflin and the Battle of Whitemarsh, Harris uses extensive research and maps to understand this pivotal period. This lecture will be held at the Historic Trenton Masonic Temple at 100 Barrack St., Trenton, NJ 08608.

Click here for more information

April 23, 2026 - Lecture: "The Painter's Fire" - Revolution Up Close: A Public Lecture Series, 7pm.

Princeton University - Robertson Hall 100 (Arthur Lewis Auditorium)

Zara Anishanslin presents "The Painter’s Fire: A Forgotten History of the Artists Who Championed the American Revolution" as the first lecture related to Firestone exhibit "Nursery of the Rebellion."

The war that we now call the American Revolution was not only fought in the colonies with muskets and bayonets. On both sides of the Atlantic, artists armed with paint, canvas, and wax played an integral role in forging revolutionary ideals. Zara Anishanslin charts the intertwined lives of three such figures who dared to defy the British monarchy: Robert Edge Pine, Prince Demah, and Patience Wright. From London to Boston, from Jamaica to Paris, from Bath to Philadelphia, these largely forgotten patriots boldly risked their reputations and their lives to declare independence. Click here for more information

 

April 25, 2026 - America Laments Her Loss: George Washington Memorial Needlework, 2:30pm

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road, Princeton

America’s first national tragedy, the death of George Washington, was memorialized in many decorative arts. Among these were the samplers and other needleworks made primarily by young girls as part of their educational process. Dan Scheid, a prominent local needlework collector, will show numerous examples of these works from the early through mid-19th century that honor our first president and reflect the nation’s sense of loss. $10 per person, includes museum admission.

Click here for more information

 

April 29, 2026 - Lecture – “The Writing of the Declaration and What It Meant in 1776, Friends of Washington Crossing Park, 6pm.

Friends of Washington Crossing Park (FWCP) has been awarded a $15,000 grant through America250PA’s Lecture250 Series to support their upcoming presentation, “The Writing of the Declaration and What It Meant in 1776”. The funding will help Washington Crossing Historic Park offer this signature lecture and support the other free public lectures presented at the park throughout the year, exploring the people, ideas, and events that shaped our Commonwealth and the nation.

Dr. Emily Sneff’s new book, When the Declaration of Independence Was News, examines how the Declaration was disseminated, interpreted, and remembered in Pennsylvania and across the Atlantic world in 1776. Sneff, a consulting curator for national exhibitions commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, holds a Ph.D. in History from William & Mary and will be on a national book tour in advance of the 2026 anniversary.

Click here for more information

 

April 29, 2026 - The Ingenious Mr. Hopkinson: A Life in Words & Musick, Morven Museum & Garden, 6:30pm.

Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street Francis Hopkinson, a member of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was also an inventor, designer, accomplished poet, and multi-talented musician, credited as the first native composer of the United States. This lecture/performance, led by The Practitioners of Musick’s John Burkhalter, will include a rich and diverse selection of music, the same repertory owned and enjoyed by Hopkinson in printed and manuscript copies that survive to this day.

Click here for more information

 

May 2, 2026 - Voices Chorale: An American Tapestry - Voices of Many Concert, 4pm.

Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, our annual spring concert weaves together music from many corners of the American choral landscape. Works by iconic composers such as Randall Thompson, Aaron Copland, and Morten Lauridsen appear alongside African American spirituals, selections from the American Songbook, and music by contemporary women composers. Get your tickets now: VoicesChoraleNJ.org

 

May 4, 2026 - Annual Meeting and Lewis B. Cuyler Lecture: Revolutionary Princeton, 7pm.

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road

Princeton In conjunction with the Semiquincentennial, historian and author Larry Kidder chronicles the experiences and contributions of Princeton residents during the Revolution. Their individual and group stories help us understand the challenges faced by ordinary people and reveal the human consequences, costs, and benefits of the war.

Click here for more information

 

May 7, 2026 - The Boston Massace, A Family History - Princeton Public Lecture Series, 7-8pm.

Princeton University - Robertson Hall 100 (Arthur Lewis Auditorium)

The story of the Boston Massacre—when on a late winter evening in 1770, British soldiers shot five local men to death—is familiar to generations. But from the very beginning, many accounts have obscured a fascinating truth: the Massacre arose from conflicts that were as personal as they were political. Professor Serena Zabin draws on original sources and lively stories to follow British troops as they are dispatched from Ireland to Boston in 1768 to subdue the increasingly rebellious colonists. And she reveals a forgotten world hidden in plain sight: the many regimental wives and children who accompanied these armies. We see these families jostling with Bostonians for living space, finding common cause in the search for a lost child, trading barbs, and sharing baptisms. Becoming, in other words, neighbors. When soldiers shot unarmed citizens in the street, it was these intensely human, now broken bonds that fueled what quickly became a bitterly fought American Revolution. Click here for more information

 

May 9, 2026 - Building Princeton: America250 Edition, 3pm.

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road

Visualize the town and campus as you’ve never seen them before! Working from photographs, teams recreate iconic Princeton structures out of LEGO building blocks. Choose among more than 50 historic structures, famous residences, community buildings, and houses of worship to construct a scale model. Additional 18th century buildings have been added for the Semiquincentennial. When complete, models are placed on a 30-foot map of Princeton, providing an amazing aerial view.

Click here for more information

 

May 13, 2026 - Old Barracks Museum Lecture Series, 6pm.

Robert Fanelli Lydia's Tale - Attend the Old Barracks Museum's Spring Lecture Series to learn more about the history that helped to shape our nation. Lecture will begin at 6 PM, followed by a Q&A and book signing. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be provided. Copies of these titles will be available for purchase during the event or at www.barracks.org. All proceeds go towards supporting the Old Barracks Museum and its mission. Robert Fanelli Lydia's Tale In "Lydia's Tale," Robert Fanelli shares the story of Lydia Darrah, whose actions are said to have saved George Washington's army from a devastating ambush. Using genealogical sources, legal documents, and other correspondence, Fanelli reveals for the first time the life and experiences of this remarkable heroine of the American Revolution. Check barracks.org for location.

 

May 14, 2026 - New Jersey Women’s Revolutionary Experiences, Morven Museum & Garden, 6:30-8pm.

As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of American Independence, this presentation will explore the varied experiences of New Jersey women during the era of the American Revolution. For many New Jersey women, the home front and battlefields remained inextricably connected throughout the war. Attention to women’s experiences brings to light the complex, contested, and prolonged nature of the American Revolution in New Jersey. This program is offered in a hybrid format offering both in-person and virtual access. A Zoom link for virtual attendees will be shared via email following registration. The program will be recorded and a recording shared with all registrants after the event.

Click here for more information

 

May 30, 2026 - Living History: George Washington's Encampment, 10-4pm

Millstone Township and Friends of Millstone Township Historic Properties is gearing up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, and we’ve asked George Washington and the 1st NJ Regiment to come celebrate with us! Come meet George and Martha Washington, Washington’s enslaved cook Hannah Till, and the members of the 1st NJ Regiment. Participate in a musket drill. Learn about people from Millstone’s past who participated in the War for American Independence. Visit a field hospital. Discover 18th-century field cooking, laundry and food rations. Listen to 18th-century music. Visit with farm animals. The event is family friendly with activities for people of all ages.

Click here for more information

 

June 4, 2026 - The Tory’s Wife: A Woman and Her Family in Revolutionary America - Revolution Up Close: A Public Lecture Series, 7-8pm.

Princeton University - Robertson Hall 100 (Arthur Lewis Auditorium)

The Spurgin family of North Carolina experienced the cataclysm of the American Revolution in the most dramatic ways—and from different sides. This engrossing book tells the story of Jane Welborn Spurgin, a patriot who welcomed General Nathanael Greene to her home and aided Continental forces while her loyalist husband was fighting for the king as an officer in the Tory militia. By focusing on the wife of a middling backcountry farmer, esteemed historian Cynthia Kierner shows how the Revolution not only toppled long-established political hierarchies but also strained family ties and drew women into the public sphere to claim both citizenship and rights—as Jane Spurgin did with a dramatic series of petitions to the North Carolina state legislature when she fought to reclaim her family’s lost property after the war was over.

Click here for more information

 

June 19 - 21, 2026 - Battle of Monmouth Reenactment

Each year the Friends of Monmouth Battlefield co-sponsors, with the State of New Jersey, an annual reenactment of the battle. The event commemorates the anniversary of the longest, hottest battle of the Revolution, fought on June 28, 1778. Hundreds of troops encamp at the park and recreate scenarios of the battle over the weekend. There are also numerous presentations and lectures, tours of the camps, and sutler area open to the public. A suggested donation of $10.00 per car is requested to help cover the cost of the event. A food vendor will be on site and handicapped parking is available. DETAILS

 

June 30, 2026 - Tyrants and Rogues: Understanding the Declaration of Independence - Revolution Up Close: A Public Lecture Series, 7-8pm

Princeton University - Robertson Hall 100 (Arthur Lewis Auditorium)

From an acclaimed historian, a revelatory account of the Declaration of Independence, centered not on the lofty preamble but on the specific grievances that make up the bulk of the document and that offer an entirely new view into the Revolutionary era. We think of the Declaration of Independence as timeless. We know the sacred phrases: “all men are created equal,” “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” “self-evident truths,” “certain inalienable rights.” These are some of the most important words human beings have ever written. And they are all from the Declaration’s preamble, which has inspired people for centuries, including generations of revolutionaries all over the world.

Click here for more information

July 4, 2026 - Jubilee at Morven - 12-3pm.

It’s the 250th anniversary of the Fourth of July! Come celebrate community, reflect on America’s past, and envision what’s next - all at the home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and New Jersey’s first Governor’s mansion. Morven’s annual Fourth of July Festival is free and open to the public, featuring activities and artmaking with community partners; garden tours; music; food; a chance to sign the Declaration of Independence; and more.

Click here for more information

 

September 10, 2026 - Princeton and the American Revolution: A Four-Part Series, HSP

Updike Farmstead, 354 Quaker Road

When: Thursdays, September 10, 17, 24, and October 1 Time: 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm (one hour talk with Q & A)

Dive into the 250th anniversary with this comprehensive program highlighting several Revolutionary War events, culminating in the Battle of Princeton. Discussions will include the largest battle of the war, the Battle of Brooklyn, and its local implications; the “Ten Crucial Days;” and the summer of 1783, when Princeton served as the nation’s capital.  Click here for more information

 

October 3, 2026  - Princeton 1776 Fest - Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street

Rain Date - October 4

This free community celebration — 250 years in the making — will include live music, living history interpreters and craftspeople, special exhibitions, and food and drink. Co-sponsored by HSP, Morven, Princeton Battlefield Society, and Daughters of the American Revolution. Click here for more information

 

 

HISTORY LINKS WE LIKE

 

David Center for the American Revolution - https://www.amphilsoc.org/david-center-american-revolution

Historic Germantown - https://historicgermantownpa.org/2026-events-and-experiences/

Historical Society of Princeton - https://princetonhistory.org/

Mercer 250 - https://250.mercercountynj.gov/

Old Barracks Museum - https://revolutionarynj.org/sites/old-barracks/

Princeton Battlefield Society - https://pbs1777.org/

Princeton Battlefield State Park - https://www.nj.gov/dep/parksandforests/parks/princetonbattlefieldstatepark.html

Revolution NJ - https://www.revnj.org/

Rockingham Historic Site - https://www.rockingham.net/

Trent House Museum - https://www.williamtrenthouse.org/

Washington Crossing Historic Park - https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/