The Princeton Festival celebrates the contributions of Motown to popular culture and the Civil Rights Movement on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19. The day-long commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation includes free community events presented in partnership with the Municipality of Princeton, and culminates in a ticketed performance of Masters of Soul, A Motown Review in the Festival’s main performance pavilion at Morven Museum & Garden.
Masters of Soul, A Motown Review features harmonies and smooth moves made famous by legendary artists such as Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, James Brown, and others. The show authentically reproduces the look, choreography, style and sound made famous by record labels that were relatively unknown at the time but went on to profoundly influence the history of popular music: Motown Records, Stax, and others.
The performance goes beyond the music to preserve the integrity of the entire Motown experience. The show features a completely live performance with seasoned musicians and world-class performers from The TFC Band. This group has toured extensively worldwide for more than 40 years and created the Masters of Soul show in 2008 as a way to heighten the experience for their fans and deliver a stage show that captures the sights, sounds, and feel of the Motown era.
Tickets to the 7 p.m. performance start at $35, and are available at princetonsymphony.org/festival or by calling 609-497-0020.
Several free Juneteenth events precede the evening concert:
The public is invited to a Juneteenth Flag-raising at 1 p.m. at Monument Plaza in front of the Monument Hall at the corner of Nassau Street and Bayard Lane with remarks by Council Members.
At 4 p.m., Dr. Rochelle Ellis, lecturer of voice at Princeton University, takes a look at the music of Motown and how the record label helped further the cause of the Civil Rights Movement in America in a talk titled “The Motown Sound.” She traces the origins of Motown and how this distinctive sound affected American pop music, spotlighting some of the major groups on the Motown label. The free presentation takes place at Stockton Education Center at Morven Museum & Garden.
A community celebration follows from 5 to 7 p.m., also on the Morven grounds. The family-friendly event includes the sharing of Juneteenth resources, history, crafts, and education commemorating the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with community partners: Art Against Racism, The Historical Society of Princeton, The Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, Morven Museum and Garden, The Municipality of Princeton, Princeton Parents for Black Children, Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart, and YWCA Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden offers free museum admission all day during their normal hours.
For more information, visit www.princetonsymphony.org/festival.
The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum (SSAAM) in Skillman hosts its fourth annual Juneteenth celebration, Stories of Freedom, on Saturday June 21, from noon to 4 p.m. at the historic Mt. Zion AME Church and Reasoner/True House.
The day includes live performances, interactive exhibits, food, and hands-on activities for all ages.
Live performances include the SSAAM Heritage Singers and Band with songs rooted in African American musical traditions; Keith Spencer, a celebrated baritone and storyteller bringing freedom narratives to life through music and spoken word; Luna Stage: The Ground On Which We Stand, a theatrical journey exploring themes of identity, resistance, and remembrance; and Mr. Boom Boom’s Drum Circle, an all-ages drum experience uniting rhythm and community.
SSAAM’s current special exhibit is “The Head That Wears the Crown,” exploring the cultural and spiritual legacy of African American women’s headwear across generations. Additionally, guided tours of the church, heritage garden, and museum grounds will be offered.
Other community activities include a story booth in which attendees can record personal reflections on freedom and history; spoken word & read-alouds featuring stories of struggle, joy, and liberation from voices of all ages; scavenger hunts; and a Little Free Library of Banned Books.
Tickets for adults are $20 online or $25 at the door. Children ages 14 and under are $10 online or $15 at the door. For more information, visit: ssaamuseum.org/juneteenth-2025.
