With everything happening in the Princeton-Mercer area, winter is no time to go into hibernation. Whether you’re a visitor or year-round resident, winter is a wonderful season for exploring the area and enjoying activities that are only available for a short time each year! 

Locally brewed coffee, live music, art exhibits, outdoor ice skating, fine dining, you name it… there’s enough to keep you busy every day of the week for the remainder of the winter season without visiting the same place twice! 

Here is a small sampling of ideas for celebrating the winter wonderland across the Princeton-Mercer region. 

Events and Activities 

Skating on the Square is back at Palmer Square! Enjoy outdoor ice skating every Saturday through February 25 at Palmer Square in the heart of downtown Princeton. 

Check out Live Music at the Vineyard every Sunday through March 30 at Crossing Vineyards & Winery on Wrightstown Road in Newtown, PA. Visit the Crossing Vineyards & Winery calendar of public events for information on wine and food events, trivia nights, and more! 

Terhune Orchards in Princeton is hosting its Winery Weekend Music Series every weekend through March. Enjoy indoor seating or relax outdoors with fire pits and hot mulled wine! Celebrate the ancient British tradition of Wassailing the Apple Trees on Sunday, January 28th from 1 to 4! 

Celebrate Einstein’s birthday and Pi Day – March 14 – during Pi Day Princeton at the Princeton Public Library! Enjoy an Einstein Look-a-Like and Pi Recitation contest, an expert memorization speaker, and pie sampling experiences. Pi Day events will be held on March 10 and 14 at 9:30 am.   

Escape the cold for some serious heat at CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, beginning with the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks LIVE Glow Party from February 9 – 11! Winter events also include: 

Arts and Culture 

Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton presents Night Forms for its third and final season! This spectacular, after-hours multi-sensory light and sound experience uses projection mapping to engage with Grounds for Sculpture art and horticulture collections. See Night Forms on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings through April 7 and check the Grounds for Sculpture calendar for information about winter events! 

Throughout the year, the Arts Council of Princeton on Witherspoon Street presents exhibitions, performances, free community cultural events, studio-based classes and workshops in the visual, performing, and literary arts. 

Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University will host multiple events presented by Princeton University Concerts, including: 

  • Pianist Helene Grimaud (January 24) 

  • Faust-Queyras-Melnikov Violin, Cello, and Piano Trio (February 15) 

  • Healing with Music: Exploring the Intersection of Music, Dance and Parkinson's (March 4) 

  • Hagen String Quartet (March 7) 

  • "Adventures in Chamber Music" Concert for Kids (March 17) 

See the work of local photographers on display during the Spotlight Series Photography Exhibit at the Lakefront Gallery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital – Hamilton through January 31. The exhibit features images by members of the Princeton Photography Club. 

Cozy Cafes and Restaurants  

When it’s cold outside, nothing beats a steaming hot cup of coffee, tea, cider, or hot chocolate brewed by local businesses. The Princeton-Mercer area is known for its many unique coffeehouses, including Small World Coffee on Witherspoon Street. This locally owned and operated treasure offers coffee and dishes made onsite, often using local, organic ingredients!  

Of course, Princeton-Mercer communities are spoiled with access to so many fantastic local restaurants, taverns, sweet shops, distilleries, breweries, and wineries. Want to explore someplace new? Visit our Restaurants page for dozens of local options! 

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