Mercer County Invites Families to ‘Come Out and Play’
Mercer County Executive Dan Benson invites families to spend a night in Rosedale Park at Mercer County’s annual Come Out and Play Camp Out. Parents and children can look forward to an evening of stargazing, games, and roasting hot dogs and s’mores by the campfire. Weather permitting, the Camp Out is scheduled for Saturday, June 7, through the morning of Sunday, June 8.
“Each year the Camp Out brings together families from across Mercer to experience the joys of nature,” Benson said. “We’re excited to invite residents to join us this June for another magical evening under the stars.”
The fun begins at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 7, when attendees can look forward to a range of fun activities, including naturalist-led fishing, board games, and guided night hikes. Families can wrap up the next morning by enjoying a continental breakfast and an early birding walk or a family craft activity before heading home around 11 a.m.
Tickets to the Come Out and Play Camp Out are $15 per-person for Mercer County residents and $25 per-person for attendees living outside Mercer County. Light dinner and breakfast will be provided, with vegetarian options available upon request. Families are responsible for bringing their own tent.
Registration opens on May 1 at register.communitypass.net/mercer. For more information, email natureprograms@mercercounty.org or call 609-888-3218.
Contributors Wanted for Art All Night
Preparations are in full swing at Artworks Trenton for the return of Art All Night, scheduled to take place Saturday, June 28, from 3 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday, June 29, from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trenton War Memorial. The event is free and open to the public.
This year’s theme is “Trennaissance,” which blends “Trenton” and “Renaissance” to “celebrate a cultural revival grounded in community, expression, and the enduring power of art to bring people together,” organizers say.
There are numerous ways for performers, artists, volunteers, or lovers of all things Trenton to get involved. Among the calls:
Volunteers: Community members ages 16 and up are invited to volunteer for four-hour shifts working on set-up, clean-up, or at the event. All volunteers receive a T-shirt. Volunteers under age 18 must have parental permission and are not eligible to work the overnight shifts between 5:30 p.m. and 9 a.m.
Artists: Visual artists are invited to submit one work in any medium. 2D artwork cannot exceed more than 36 inches in any direction, and artists must supply pedestals for sculptures. Sculptures cannot exceed more than 7 feet in height and 36 inches in width. Artwork cannot promote any organization, business, or person, and any artwork deemed sexist, racist, or pornographic will not be accepted.
Musicians: Each artist must submit one sample of a song, poem, or performance piece that they would like to present at the event. Musicians may apply for one or more of the following categories.
1. All-Day Performances: A showcase of Trenton’s variety and musical history.
2. Speakeasy Date Night: An intimate evening event featuring jazz, R&B, spoken word, and comedy, designed for couples and adults.
3. Morning Brunch Vibes: An uplifting and soulful atmosphere to start the day with energy and warmth.
All performances must align with the Trenaissance theme and be appropriate for public audiences. This is an unpaid opportunity. The submission deadline is Sunday, June 1.
Flea All Night: Making its debut in 2025 is Flea All Night, a late-night space of art, culture, and expression. The aim of the free entry event is to bring the community together to enjoy a space that uplifts services and goods including vintage items, food, beverages, and more.
Flea All Night takes place on June 29 from midnight to 4 a.m. at 13 West Front Street. Organizers seek niche vendors with cool displays and creative products that folks would want to spend their money on. Organizers are also in search of artists of all kinds to take the stage late night to keep the vibes going. Vendors will be asked to upload product and display photos, and performers will be asked to upload a brief video and photo.
Filmmakers: Now in its 11th year, the AAN Film Fest is a 24-hour celebration of cinema.
From student projects and indie gems to experimental shorts and feature debuts, the film fest showcases a wide spectrum of work on the big screen. Films sought include: Short films (no longer than 10 minutes); really short films (under 5 seconds); animation shorts; short “Adult Swim”/“Liquid Television” type animated/live action programs; short children’s animation; student films; fan films; music videos; skate videos and documentaries; graffiti videos and documentaries; interactive children’s films or programs; web series; and New Jersey-based films.
Awards will be given in various categories. The submission deadline is Sunday, May 25.
Muralists: Every year Artworks has had one or more muralists working and completing original murals during Art All Night. This year’s call is seeking designs based on the theme: “Old Habits Die Hard.” All designs must be family friendly, and artists must be able to complete their submitted design within the 24 hour timeline of the event. There is a material budget and stipend for selected artists. Submit completed designs to Lank@artworkstrenton.org by Saturday, May 31.
Teachers: Artworks is accepting proposals for master classes, interactive experiences, and live demonstrations.
Visit www.artallnighttrenton.org/opencall25 to apply for all participation opportunities.
Call for Entries: Summer Fiction 2025
U.S. 1’s traditional summer fiction issue is set to be published on Wednesday, July 23, ahead of a two-week summer break allowing readers plenty of time to enjoy the selection of short stories and poems.
Poets, playwrights, and writers from the greater Princeton region are encouraged to submit their original, previously unpublished work. See the announcement below for complete submission details, and email your work to fiction@princetoninfo.com.
