Princeton NJ Events

New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning

Saturday July 24, 2021
6:00 AM - 10:00 PM

The New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America and is the premiere family entertainment attraction in New Jersey. It holds the dual distinction of being a recipient of The New Jersey Governor's Award for Best Special Event, as well as being designated, for the 6th time, as a Top 100 Festival in North America by the American Bus Association.

Held annually at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ, the festival truly has something for everyone! From twice daily mass ascensions of up to 100 special shape and sport hot air balloons, to headlining concerts, non-stop family entertainment, hundreds of crafters and vendors, great food, fireworks, a balloon glow, and more, the festival is jam-packed with stuff to do.

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West Windsor Community Farmers Market

Saturday July 24, 2021
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Opening Day of the West Windsor Community Farmers Market’s eighteenth year begins Saturday, May 1. To keep everyone safe and distanced, the entrance to the market has changed to 877 Alexander Road through the upper Vaughn Lot. The Market will run each and every Saturday, rain or shine from 9am-1pm until Thanksgiving featuring seventeen farms and twenty artisan food makers and a knife sharpener, all from within fifty-miles of West Windsor. 

Joining the roster this year are three farms: Moonshot Farms, Snapping Turtle Farm, and SpiceBush Farm along with Catalina Empanadas, Pure Indian Foods, River Horse Brewery, Sourland Mountain Spirits, Tea-For-All. Look for more organic produce, East Asian vegetables, beer, local spirits, and grass-fed ghee. Mask wearing continues to be required by all, and hand sanitizer stations are located throughout.

Pre-ordering options available and more info on the website: wwcfm.org

Build Water Wheelies at The Watershed

Saturday July 24, 2021
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Build a waterwheel! We'll give you the materials and a basic design idea. Become an engineer as you design and assemble your own miniature waterwheel. After constructing your waterwheel, hike to the Stony Brook and test it out.

Ages 10 and up. In-person program. Dress for the weather of the day. Adult attendance required; masks and social distancing encouraged. Discount available for members. Further reading about our policies for in-person programs: https://thewatershed.org/in-person-program-policies/

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Rapunzel, Music Mountain Theatre

Saturday July 24, 2021
11:00 AM

The beautiful Rapunzel is being held captive in a tower by a witch who can only reach the top of the tower by climbing her long golden braid of hair. When a prince sees Rapunzel he vows to help her escape so that they may live happily ever after!

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The Junkyard Art Exhibition, Hopewell Valley Arts Council

Saturday July 24, 2021
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM

The Junkyard, an upcycle art exhibition, hosted by the Hopewell Valley Arts Council, will prove once and for all that "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Artists' creations will transform Woolsey Park into a temporary sculpture garden from Friday, July 23 to Sunday, July 25, reimaging trash into art -- like plastic bottles, metal tools and nails, Styrofoam, wood pallets, discarded books, car parts. The event will feature artwork by established professional and eco-artists as well as by teams/families who take on the challenge of competing to create upcycled artwork. For those in the market, the artwork and other hand-crafted items will be available for purchase.

The Junkyard will also highlight "green" education with useful and educational environmentally-related displays, as well as an array of expertly restored antique vehicles.

Open for one weekend only, the Junkyard celebrates creativity while raising awareness about the need to reduce in our throw-away culture and rethink disposability by upcycling, prolonging these items' usefulness and diverting them from a landfill. Hours: Fri 7/23 - 6pm to 8pm (last entry at 7:30pm); Sat 7/24 -11am to 8pm (last entry at 7:30pm); and Sun 7/25 - 11am to 6pm (last entry at 5:30pm). Tickets: $15 Adults / $10 Seniors (65+) / $5 Kids (up to 18) / Strollers free For tickets or more info go to www.hvartscouncil.org/thejunkyard

Bug Hunting, Tulpehaking Nature Center

Saturday July 24, 2021
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Free, all ages welcome. Capacity: 15 people.

With sweep nets, bug boxes and other tools of the trade, we’ll take a close look at these amazing animals before releasing them back to nature. Click here to register.

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Café Improv LIVE — Outdoor Concert, Arts Council of Princeton

Saturday July 24, 2021
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Café Improv is BACK! A hotspot for live music, comedy, and poetry, this 30-year Princeton tradition returns to the stage to kick off the first season of performances since shutdown in March 2020. Enjoy an afternoon of live entertainment and a celebration of community during this outdoor event on Hinds Plaza, and learn more about the upcoming season to take place in the Arts Council’s Solley Theater.

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Dream Awake, Bucks County Playhouse - Two Showtimes

Saturday July 24, 2021
2:00 PM

2 and 6:30pm

BCP’s 2021 Youth Company presents, Dream Awake, a high energy 75-minute show featuring songs, dances, stories, and scenes, created by our cast and a variety of artists. Come celebrate these young performers and experience a creative exploration of past, present, and future dreams and the exhilarating discoveries to be made when finally awake.

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Matilda, Music Mountain Theatre

Saturday July 24, 2021
3:00 PM

July 23rd- August 15th

 Friday and Saturday @ 8pm, Saturday and Sunday @ 3pm

Matilda is an extraordinary five-year-old with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind whose talents are constantly belittled by her cruel parents and headmistress. Dreaming of a better life for herself, she dares to take a stand against these oppressive forces, takes her destiny into her own hands, and helps her favorite teacher reclaim her life.

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Evening Livestock Chores, Howell Farm

Saturday July 24, 2021
5:00 PM

Help farmers feed and water the animals, bring in the sheep from the pasture, collect eggs in the henhouse, grind corn in the barn, scrub and fill water tubs, and clean the horses' stalls for tomorrow’s breakfast.

70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell, 609-737-3299. www.howellfarm.org