The celebration of Independence Day begins early in Mercer County this year. Freedom Festival will be held at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, on Saturday, June 26, from 3 to 11 p.m. There will be food, games, beer and wine gardens, craft vendors, tethered hot-air balloon rides, water rides, games, inflatable rides, and fireworks. Band performances feature the Sensational Soul Cruisers at 5:30 p.m., the Amish Outlaws at 7:30 p.m., and the Dawgs after the fireworks. Admission is free.
Several towns will have concerts and fireworks leading up to the July 4 holiday. The 78th Army Band presents patriotic and military tunes in Titusville on Sunday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m. The Spirit of Princeton presents fireworks at Princeton Stadium on Thursday, July 1. Hamilton’s Veterans Park shoots off fireworks on Friday, July 2, on the same night as East Windsor Township presents Jerry Rife’s Rhythm Kings Dixieland Jazz Band and the Trenton Brass Quintet Plus One followed by fireworks. Other fireworks in the area are at Thompson Park in Monroe on Sunday, July 4, and Main Street in Cranbury on Monday, July 5.
New Hope and Lambertville present fireworks every Friday night this summer and Friday, July 2 is no exception. Stores are open late, have happy hours, sales, and food specials. Trenton Thunder also has fireworks on a regular basis and there will be fireworks at the conclusion of the Sunday, July 4, game against the Harrisburg Senators.
To celebrate America’s Independence Day visit Princeton Battlefield State Park, 500 Mercer Road, Princeton, on Sunday, July 4, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Revolutionary War period soldiers and second Continental Artillery demonstrate drill, artillery, and flintlock muskets. There are period games for all ages and tours of the Thomas Clarke House and the Arms of the Revolution exhibit available. Picnic lunches are invited.
Visitors are then welcome at historic Morven Museum at 55 Stockton Street, Princeton, from noon to 3 p.m. on the Fourth, for a celebration at the home of Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Participate in domestic colonial life activities, and “sign” the Declaration of Independence.
Festivities taking place on the Fourth include a portrayal of Charles Willson Peale, Philadelphia’s famous portrait painter, presented by Christian Johnson at East Jersey Olde Towne Village, 1050 River Road, Piscataway, at 2 p.m. An old-fashioned celebration takes place at Fonthill Museum, East Court Street and Swamp Road, Doylestown, from noon to 5 p.m. The recreation of an early 20th century July Fourth celebration include a decorated bike parade, a town ball game (19th century baseball), a watermelon eating contest, antique bicycle display, old-time games, and live music. Patriotic music by Sellersville Merry Makers, Del Val Saxophone Quartet, Marti Rogers, Bucks County Country Gentleman. Storyteller and writer Robin Moore performs in front of his teepee at 1:30 and 3 p.m.
— Lynn Miller
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