With more than Tucker’s Tales, Patriots Week returns to downtown Trenton for its ninth year, running Thursday, December 26, through Wednesday, January 1.
Highlights of the week that celebrates Trenton’s important role in the Revolutionary War are the Battle of Trenton re-enactments on Saturday, December 28, and the Colonial Ball at the Masonic Temple on Friday, December 27.
While many popular (and mostly free) attractions return — the Fife and Drum Concert, Pracktitioners of Musick, Tucker Tales Puppet Theater, Sword and Swagger, the Colonial Dinner, Colonial Tea, Tours of the Trenton Battlefield, Hidden Treasures of the State House, and Petty’s Run tour — new offerings include Martha Washington’s Kitchen Garden, Phyllis Wheatley: Voices of Freedom, “Reporting the Revolutionary War” book signing, as well as presentations on the Trenton Area Militia of 1776, the Affair at Egg Harbor, and the Lore of Liquor.
The week also features contemporary programs and hands-on activities such as Dad’s Hat Rye Tasting, Cardmaking and Letterwriting to Soldiers Overseas, the New Citizen’s Swearing-In Ceremony, a Young Patriot’s Panel of students who have created battlefield projects, the launching of newly developed App of the Capitol Complex and the Princeton Battlefield, and cell phone audio tours of the Trenton Battlefield.
Thursday, December 26
9 a.m. to noon; 1 to 4 p.m.: Bus tour, Washington Crossing (meet at Lafayette Yard Hotel, ticket cost)
11 a.m.: New Citizen’s Swearing-In Ceremony (Location TBD)
11:30 a.m.: Site Tour: Hidden Treasures of the State House (State House)
1 p.m.: Opening Lecture: NJ’s Role in Revolution (Masonic Temple)
2 p.m.: Puppet Show: St. George and the Dragon (Masonic Temple)
2:30 p.m.: 10 Years of the American Revolutionary War Round Table (Masonic Temple)
3 p.m.: Colonial Concert: John Burkhalter, Pracktitioners of Music (Friends Meeting); Site Tour: Pettys Run (Meet at Old Barracks)
Friday, December 27
10 a.m.: Walking Tour: Battle of Trenton (Meet at Cafe Ole)
10:30 a.m.: Family Scavenger Hunt (New Jersey State House)
Noon: The Local Trenton Area Militia and the Campaign of 1776 (Masonic Temple); Civil War Flag Unveiling (NJSM Galleries) 12:30: Hogmanay (Trent House)
1 p.m.: Young Patriot’s Panel: Battlefield Projects (NJSM Auditorium); Fife and Drum Concert (Masonic Temple, ticket cost)
2 p.m.: History of the Old Barracks (Masonic Temple); Colonial People: Over Here Molly Pitcher (NJSM Auditorium)
3 p.m.: Colonial Culture: Martha Washington’s Kitchen Garden (NJSM Auditorium); Book Signing: Reporting the Revolution (Masonic Temple)
4 p.m.: Rye Tasting: Dad’s Hat Rye (First Presbyterian)
7 p.m.: Colonial Ball (Masonic Temple, ticket cost)
Saturday, December 28
11 a.m. and 3 p.m.: Battles of Trenton
Noon to 2 p.m.: Re-enactors Lunch (Masonic Temple, admission cost)
12:30 and 1:30 p.m.: Puppet Show: The Trouble with Trenton (Warren St. Plaza)
2 p.m.: The Local Trenton Area Militia and the Campaign of 1776 (Masonic Temple); Colonial People: Noah Lewis as Ned Hector, Black Patriot of the Revolution (NJSM Auditorium); Between Battles: Reading of the Minute to Quakers (Friends Meetinghouse)
5 p.m.: Colonial Dinner (First Presbyterian, ticket cost)
Sunday, December 29
9 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m.: Bus Tour: Princeton Battlefield (Meet at Lafayette Yard Hotel, ticket cost)
11 a.m.: Colonial Church Service (First Presbyterian)
11:30 a.m.: Site Tour: Hidden Treasures of the State House (State House)
Noon: Historic Perspective: Mary Stumpf at Princeton Battlefield (Masonic Temple); Walking Tour: Colonial Churches and Cemeteries (Meet at St. Michael’s Church)
2 p.m.: NJ’s Uhlan: Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Karge (Masonic Temple); Tea at the Trent House (Trent House, ticket cost); Exhibit Tour: Where in the World is NJ, Historical Maps (NJSM Galleries)
3 p.m.: Colonial People: Phyllis Wheatley Voice of Freedom (Quaker Meeting); Beer Tasting (First Presbyterian)
Monday, December 30
11 a.m.: Military History: Affair at Egg Harbor (Masonic Temple)
Noon: Puppet Show: Punch and Judy (Masonic Temple)
12:30 and 2 p.m.: Living History: Sword and Swagger (Masonic Temple)
1 p.m.: Historic Preservation Panel: Battlefield Buildings (Masonic Temple)
2:30 p.m.: Art History: Eyewitness Images of the Revolution (Masonic Temple)
Tuesday, December 31
11 a.m.: Exhibition Tour: NJ Early People, Lenni Lenape (NJSM Galleries)
3 p.m.: Trenton’s State of the City Cultural Partners Reception (NJSM)
5 p.m.: First Night: Community Peace Vigil (Friends Meetinghouse)
8 p.m.: New Year’s Eve Concert: Capital Philharmonic (Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, ticket cost)
Wednesday, January 1
7:30 a.m.: Real Time Tour: Princeton Battlefield (Meet at Princeton Battlefield)
patriotsweektrenton.com.
