MercerMe

Scrap Metal Connection
2026-02-07 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Hopewell Twp. Public Works, 203 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
The Hopewell Valley Green Team will host a scrap metal collection on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Please bring your assorted scrap metal (nothing extremely heavy) to the Hopewell Township Public Works Building between 12:00 and 3:00 p.m. and we will make sure it is recycled for you. Volunteers are needed to staff the event—please contact us if you’re interested: hvgreenteam@gmail.com.
Acceptable materials are listed here: https://hopewellvalleygreenteam.org/recycling/recycling-

Frederick Douglass’ Birthday: Transcribe-a-thon
2026-02-13 12:00 - 15:00 | Hopewell Branch Library – MCL, 245 Pennington-Titusville Road, Pennington, 08534, United States
In-person program hosted by the Mercer County Library SystemFriday, February 13, 2026, from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
This in-person event, hosted by the Mercer County Library System at the Hopewell Branch, invites community members to celebrate the birthday of Frederick Douglass by helping make history more accessible. Participants are encouraged to drop in with a laptop to help transcribe historical documents related to Black history and culture, contributing to projects such as The Colored Conventions Project.
Attendees may also stop by to watch the DouglassDay.org livestream, featuring inspirational speeches and songs. Light refreshments will be served.
Location:Hopewell Branch Library245 Pennington–Titusville RoadPennington, NJ 08534609-737-2610
Registration is requested.

New Jersey in the Revolutionary War
2026-02-17 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Virtual program hosted by the Mercer County Library SystemTuesday, February 17, 2026, at 7:00 p.m.
Hosted virtually by the Mercer County Library System, this program covers the period from 1763 to 1789, spanning the end of the French and Indian War through the establishment of the U.S. Constitution. The presentation highlights the critical role New Jersey—particularly Central Jersey—played in the nation’s founding, including the Ten Crucial Days, the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the ratification of the Constitution.
Co-sponsored with the Historical Society of West Windsor.
Registration is required. Visit events.mcl.org to receive the virtual program link.

Powers of Attorney, Guardianship, and Essential Legal Planning
2026-02-18 18:00 - 19:00 | NJ
Virtual program hosted by the Mercer County Library SystemWednesday, February 18, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
This virtual program, hosted by the Mercer County Library System, is designed for families, caregivers, professionals, and community members supporting loved ones with long-term care needs. Participants will gain an overview of estate and long-term care planning, including wills, decision-making authority, guardianship, inheritance considerations, Medicaid planning, and the benefits of planning ahead rather than reacting in a crisis.
The presentation is led by Ryann Siclari, Esq., an attorney experienced in disability law, elder law, and long-term planning, and is offered as part of the Colorful Dreams Care Program Series.
Registration is required. Visit events.mcl.org to receive the virtual program link.

Arm in Arm Mobile Food Pantry
2026-04-06 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-13 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-04-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Mercer County Library – Lawrence Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
Are you experiencing food insecurity? Arm In Arm’s mobile food pantry will be at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch on Monday, April 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. No registration is required. Arm In Arm staff will register participants upon arrival. For more information about the food pantry, visit arminarm.org.
Arm In Arm has been active in Mercer County for four decades providing essential resources like food and financial support. Healthy food such as fresh produce, eggs and milk, frozen proteins, quality baked goods, and shelf stable canned and boxed items as well as personal care products such as shampoo, soap, and diapers are made available to families in need. Arm In Arm welcomes 4,000-5,000 families annually through 40,000+ visits to our food and mobile pantries and works with 200-400 at-risk families to prevent or end homelessness.
“We’re proud to collaborate with Arm in Arm and other committed organizations to serve those in greatest need,” said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. “Our Libraries serve as important hubs in our communities, and by brining bringing services here we’re able to meet our residents where they are.”
In conjunction with Arm In Arm, other social service agencies will be on site. On April 6, the Mercer County Board of Social Services, SNAP Navigator, PSE&G Community Outreach and the Lawrence Township Health Department will have informational tables. On April 13, the NJ Division on Civil Rights, the New Jersey Hospital Association, the Mercer County Nutrition Program and the Council on Compulsive Gambling of NJ will have informational tables. On April 20, the Mercer County Board of Social Services, the Presbyterian Church Voting, DHS Community Outreach Program and Mount Carmel Guild will have informational tables. On April 27, the DHS Community Outreach Program and the Mercer County Superior Court will have informational tables. All visiting services will take place at the same time and place as the mobile food pantry (2:00 – 4:00 pm at the Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System).
Arm In Arm relies on volunteers to get food into the hands of those who need it most. Want to get involved? Contact Shariq Marshall at 609-508-7851, shariqm@arminarm.org.
The Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System is located at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ. For more information about the library’s programs call 609-883-8292, e-mail lawprogs@mcl.org or visit www.mcl.org.

The Declaration of Independence: America's Birth Certificate from Conception to Celebration
2026-04-06 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Historian Joel Farkas discusses the development of the document, from the Magna Carta (1215) to the French and Indian War, the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, the French Revolution (and Napoleon), the War of 1812, to today. Joel Farkas is a graduate of The Ohio State University, an Officer in the United States Army, a National Park Service volunteer docent at Washington’s Headquarters, Morristown, NJ, a lecturer at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Rutgers University, and a lecturer at Florham Institute for Lifelong Learning at Fairleigh Dickinson University on Monday, April 6, 7:00 pm. Sponsored by the Friends of the Hickory Corner Library. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Tree Seedling Giveaway
2026-04-11 10:30 - 13:00 | Hopewell Twp. Public Works, 203 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
On Saturday, April 11, Hopewell Township will host a free Tree Seedling Giveaway from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Public Works Building.
You are invited to pick up young trees to plant at home, helping expand our community’s tree canopy while supporting cleaner air, wildlife habitat, and neighborhood beauty.
Event Details:

📅 Date: Saturday, April 11
🕥 Time: 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Hopewell Township Public Works Building

Trees play a vital role in creating healthy habitats for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. By planting even a single seedling, you’re making a meaningful contribution to biodiversity right in your own backyard.

In Conversation with Author Ted Chiang
2026-04-16 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Online
Thursday, April 16, 2026 @ 7 PM via Zoom
Ted Chiang has become a definitive voice in speculative fiction, captivating readers with his award-winning collections Stories of Your Life and Others and Exhalation. He possesses a masterful ability to bridge the gap between rigorous scientific inquiry and the profound depths of human emotion. His work serves as a modern exploration of the “what if,” often using our evolving relationship with technology to challenge our understanding of free will, memory, and consciousness. These stories resonate because they grapple with the fundamental questions of what it means to be sentient in an evolving universe. In this keynote, Chiang will discuss various themes found in Exhalation: Stories, with a focus on the persistence of wonder and how shifting the lens of logic can fundamentally alter our perspective on the nature of existence.
Sponsored by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District and the Friends of the Pennington Library

The Gambler, the Writer, and Zelda: The History Behind The Girl in the Green Dress
2026-04-20 18:30 - 19:30 | NJ
Join author Mariah Fredericks on Monday, April 20, 6:30 pm as she discusses her new mystery, inspired by the unsolved 1920 murder of Joseph Elwell. Through images and historical insight, Fredericks explores how she wove together the real-life stories of Elwell, Morris Markey, and Zelda Fitzgerald in her novel The Girl in the Green Dress — praised by The New York Times as “dazzling … a lively return to Jazz Age Manhattan.” Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

TrashedArt Contest Reception
2026-04-21 18:30 - 20:00 | Mercer County Library – Lawrence Branch, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
The Mercer County Library System is hosting the 17th Annual TrashedArt Contest Reception on Tuesday, April 21st at 6:30 pm. The contest celebrates Earth Day by encouraging patrons to turn ordinary trash into extraordinary art. Entries will be judged by MCLS staff and local professional artists. Library patrons will also have a chance to vote for People’s Choice award winners prior to the reception. Grand prize winners will be awarded for first, second and third places. The reception is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Advanced registration is appreciated for all events. Please register online on LibCal at https://mcl.org/. The Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System is located at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ. For more information about the library’s programs, call 609-883-8292, e-mail lawprogs@mcl.org or visit www.mcl.org.
This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Lawrence Library. For more information about the Friends of the Lawrence Library, please stop by the Lawrence Reference Desk. The Friends of the Lawrence Library help support programs such as book sales, book clubs, contests, crafts, events (such as this one), guest speakers, parties and workshops for adults, as well as character greetings, crafts, entertainers, events, parties and more for youth at the Library. Join the Friends of the Lawrence Library today!

How to Create a Pollinator Garden for Beginners
2026-04-25 10:30 - 11:30 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
Join the Hopewell Valley Community Wildlife Habitat Program on Saturday, April 25, 10:30 am at Hopewell Branch for a fun and informative session on starting your own pollinator garden. Learn all about the importance of pollinators and how you can attract them to your garden. Expert speakers will guide you through the process step by step. You will learn how to start a garden of any size (even if you are new to gardening), why now is the time to start your garden and how to create a low maintenance garden that you’ll love. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment while beautifying your outdoor space. Registration is requested.

Introduction to the Art of Arabic Calligraphy
2026-04-28 18:30 - 19:30 | NJ
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month on Tuesday, April 28, 6:30 pm with calligrapher Elinor A. Holland. Explore the history, meaning, and traditional practices of Arabic script calligraphy, including the Arabic alphabet, global lettering styles, and classic tools. The program concludes with a live calligraphy demonstration showcasing this ancient and beautiful art form. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

A Poetry Happening: Mercer Poets Read
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Join the Mercer County Library System for a celebration of National Poetry Month. Mercer County Library System continues this popular program on Wednesday, April 29, 7:00 pm for its fourth year, featuring local poets reading their own work or a favorite published poem. All are invited to attend an enjoyable evening of poetry! Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Hopewell Township Cultural Festival
2026-05-02 11:00 - 14:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Hopewell Township and Culture Connections invites you to our Third Annual Cultural Festival! There will be food, vendors, performances, fun and more! Bring your chairs or blankets to sit on.
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
Time: 11am – 1pm
Location: Woolsey Park, 221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ 08560
Want to get involved? https://www.hopewelltwp.org/DocumentCenter/View/17257/Ways-to-Get-Involved—Cultural-Festival?bidId=

Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art
2026-05-06 18:30 - 19:30 | NJ
Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art
Wednesday, May 6, 6:30 pm
Bats, gourds, peaches, ribbons, and monkeys on horses: these images are frequently (and creatively) depicted in Chinese art — but what do they mean? Just as the Chinese language is an exquisite conduit for rebuses (visual puns) and symbolism, motifs that appear in Chinese art often represent wishes for good fortune. Join us as we decipher hidden messages of prosperity, health, and happiness found in traditional Chinese art using selected objects from the Asian Art Museum’s collection. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Kids to Park Day
2026-05-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Hopewell Township Recreation will be joining other towns across the country to celebrate the national day of play. Join for a fun free afternooon in Woolsey Park on Sunday, May 17 from 1pm to 3pm — games, crafts, and more.

Hopewell Valley Veterans Association Memorial Day Event
2026-05-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Come honor and pay your respects to our local fallen veterans at this annual event. Handicapped parking is available.
Saturday, May 23 at 11am

Hopewell Valley Come Outside and Play! at Woolsey Park
2026-06-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance will once again be sponsoring Come Outside and Play Weekend from Thursday, June 4 through Saturday, June 6. Many Valley-wide businesses and organizations will be part of this event. Once again, Hopewell Recreation will be joining in on the fun and having an event on Thursday, June 4. Join Hopewell Township Recreation, along with other Township Departments, for some good old-fashioned fun at the park.

4th of July Carshow, Community Concert, and Fireworks
2026-06-27 17:30 - 23:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Enjoy Hopewell Valley’s Independence Day Celebration. The event will kick off at 5:30pm with a classic car show. A community concert will follow at 7:30pm and fireworks will begin around 9:15pm to conclude the event. Food vendors will be on site. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy this family-friendly community event. Rain date will be Sunday, June 28.

Titusville 4th of July Parade
2026-07-04 12:00 - 14:00 | Titusville, Titusville, NJ, United States
The Titusville 4th of July Committee will once again host the annual 4th of July Parade. You can find updates here: https://www.ttv4th.org/

Movie in the Park: An American Tail
2026-07-08 20:00 - 22:30 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
This 1986 movie follows the journey of Fievel Mousekewitz, a young mouse who becomes separated from his family while immigrating to America in search of freedom and opportunity. Set in late-1800s New York, this heartwarming animated film celebrates hope, perseverance, and the belief that dreams are possible in a new land.

Concerts in the Park at Woolsey Park
2026-07-22 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-19 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-08-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
The Hopewell Township Parks and Recreation Department will host its annual Concerts in the Park series this summer at Woolsey Park. These free outdoor concerts invite residents to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy live music with family and friends.
Parking opens at 6 p.m. and concerts begin at 6:30 p.m.
2026 concert dates:

Wednesday, July 22 – The Full Grown Men (classic rock and British Invasion favorites)

Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Pennington Station Band (acoustic rock and harmony-driven classics)

Wednesday, Aug. 26 – Princeton School of Rock House Band (student musicians from the Princeton School of Rock)

The concerts are free and open to the public.

National Night Out with Hopewell Township
2026-08-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Stony Brook Elementary School, 20 Stephenson Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
Join Hopewell Township police officers and other community groups for this annual event. Enjoy the musica, activities for children, and food while also learning about groups in your community.

Movie in the Park: National Treasure
2026-08-12 08:00 - 23:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Grab your blanket, chairs, and popcorm. Come out and enjoy movies with friends and neighbors for a free viewing of National Treasure (PG) at Woolsey Park on Wednesday, August 12. Parking opens at 8pm and show begins at 8:30pm. National Treasure follows historian Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) on an exciting hunt for a legendary treasure hidden by America’s Founding Fathers. Packed with history, puzzles, and adventure, it’s a fun, family-friendly journey through iconic American landmarks.

9/11 Memorial Ceremony
2026-09-12 11:00 - 12:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Join the Hopewell Valley September 11 and EMS Memorial Committee for a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Saturday, September 12 at Woolsey Park at 11am. Remember those lost on 9/11 and the members of our Hopewell Valley Emergency Services companies who passed away this year. Handicapped parking is available. Please bring your own chairs.
