Morven to host Princeton 1776 Fest on Oct. 3

Morven Museum & Garden will stage a one-day Princeton 1776 Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3, bringing Revolutionary-era demonstrations, reenactors, music and family activities to Princeton. The event is designed to mark the 250th anniversary era with hands-on history, special exhibitions and discounted museum admission.

Why it matters: - Princeton 1776 Fest turns Morven Museum & Garden into a live-history event tied to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. - The program combines education, family activities and special exhibits, giving visitors a single-day way to experience Revolutionary Princeton. - The event also supports Morven’s museum attendance, with half-price admission during the festival window.

What happened: - Morven Museum & Garden will host Princeton 1776 Fest on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Princeton, New Jersey. - The one-day event is a collaboration with the Princeton Battlefield Society, Historical Society of Princeton, Princeton Chapter of the DAR and Morven. - If rain cancels the Saturday program, the festival will move to Sunday, Oct. 4, from 12-3 p.m.

The details: - Visitors will find hands-on activities, historical demonstrations, displays, live music, food and drink, and costumed reenactors across the museum grounds. - Guests can play colonial lawn games, join soldiers in tavern songs and interact with historical figures including Dr. Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin. - The event includes craft and cidermaking demonstrations with samples, plus displays of historic costumes, tools and apothecary supplies. - Community partners will offer additional activities, including open archives and an archaeological dig from the Historical Society of Princeton. - Other participating groups include the League of Women Voters of the Greater Princeton Area, The Old Barracks Museum, Princeton Public Library, Rockingham State Historic Site, Sand Hill Historical Association, Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum and the West Windsor Historical Society. - The Princeton Battlefield Society will unveil its diorama of the Battle of Princeton, the victory led by General George Washington that helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. - The Princeton Chapter of the DAR will present a new exhibition, “The Legacy of the Revolution: Building a More Perfect Union.” - Live music will run all day on the front lawn from the Ragtime Relics and John Burkhalter of the Practitioners of Musick. - Food and beverages will be sold on site, with McCaffrey’s Food Markets offering burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, salads, desserts, beverages and vegetarian options. - Triumph Brewing Company will sell Ironbound Cider and a special Triumph ʼ76 Ale made for the occasion. - The Triumph ʼ76 Ale was brewed at 7.6% ABV with Liberty, Centennial and Triumph hops, and only a couple of kegs will be available. - Morven’s museum will be open from 12-3 p.m. with half-priced admission for festival attendees. - The museum will feature the 250th exhibition Five Independent Souls: The Signers from New Jersey, with more than 100 historic objects tied to New Jersey’s five Declaration signers. - Tickets cost $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and are free for kids 12 and under plus active military and veterans with ID. - Attendees can save $5 by buying tickets online in advance at Morven’s event page.

Between the lines: - The event leans into immersive public history, using food, music, reenactment and artifacts to make the Revolutionary era feel immediate. - The special beer and limited keg count add a one-time, scarcity-driven draw for adult attendees. - The exhibit on New Jersey’s Declaration signers broadens the program beyond performance into museum interpretation and civic history.

What's next: - Morven will either hold the festival on Oct. 3 or, if needed, shift it to Oct. 4 because of rain. - Visitors planning to attend can buy advance tickets online to lock in the lower price and save $5. - The museum’s special exhibition and festival programming will run together during the event window.