MercerMe

Community Clothing Swap
2025-10-12 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Wull & Oak, 10 E Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
Join Wull & Oak and Stylebook for our Community Clothing Swap with music, small bites, ethical fashion and a good time! Do you have nice clothing pieces that never see the light of day because they no longer fit or just don’t fit your life? Don’t let them languish in the back of your closet – bring them to the swap! Your unworn clothes could be someone else’s wardrobe staple! This is a one-for-one swap, with a limit of 10 clothing items per person. Nearly new clothing only – bring what you would want to find! This year we are also allowing up to 3 children’s halloween costumes per-person at the swap.
Proceeds from the event are benefiting local non-profit, Seeds to Sew, an organizations that supports sustainable income for women and funds education for girls in rural Kenya.

The Amazing Pumpkin Carve
2025-10-12 12:00 - 19:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
What’s the Carve All About? Think old-fashioned fall festival vibe – but with a twist! Hopewell Valley Arts Council commissions local artists to carve 150+ pound pumpkins into massive works of art. The Amazing Pumpkin Carve is four jam-packed days of:
– Mind blowing 150+ pound carved giant pumpkins
– Live music and fire pits with story tellers
– Face and mini-pumpkin painting, fun for the whole family
– Food trucks and new for 2025 – a BEER garden
10/9 Thurs 7pm-9pm
10/10 Fri 5pm-9pm
10/11 Sat 12pm-9pm
10/12 Sun 12pm-7pm
Woolsey Park, 221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville NJ.
Tickets: $8 – $20 (Kids in strollers FREE)

Movie in Kunkel Park
2025-10-12 17:00 | Kunkel Park, Pennington, NJ, United States
Join the Pennington Borough Parks and Recreation Department as they host a movie at Kunkel Park on October 12, 2025 at 5pm. Please contact Pennington Borough for details.

Art Talk: Is it Manet or Monet?
2025-10-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ, 08534, United States
October 15 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm via Zoom

Is it Manet or Monet?
Presenter: Janet Mandel, Arts Educator
October 15 and October 22, 2025 @ 7 PM via Zoom

Registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ViPpjxO2StWna-diel-1Ww
What a difference a vowel makes! Édouard Manet and Claude Monet were two giants of the 19th Century avant-garde who influenced each other in profound ways. However, many aspects of their personal lives, artistic technique, and even philosophical ambitions were radically distinct. In this two-part talk, we will examine these likenesses and differences through the lens of their remarkable works, and you will become an expert in the comparison! Manet in Part 1 and Monet and a quiz in Part 2! Bring a pencil!
Please note that this program is two parts. You need only register once to join both sessions. You may also choose to attend only one session, though it is meant to be a two-part experience. Thanks!
Sponsored by the Friends of the Pennington Public Library and the Hopewell Valley Arts Council.
About Our Presenter: Janet Mandel taught in New Jersey’s public schools for 32 years, the last eighteen of which were at Columbia High School in Maplewood, where she taught English, art history, and World Languages and Cultures. Now retired, Janet presents illustrated talks on a variety of art history topics at adult schools, libraries, museums, senior centers, community centers, and similar venues.
Pennington Public Library
30 N Main Street, Pennington, NJ 08534
609-737-0404

The Revolutionary Mile Team Challenge
2025-10-16 16:30 - 18:30 | Downtown Trenton, S. Warren & W. Front St, Trenton, NJ, 08608, United States
Team Up for Downtown Trenton!
The Revolutionary Mile Team Challenge
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Front and Warren Streets
Downtown Trenton, NJ
Race starts at 5:30 pm | Check in at 4:30 pm
The Revolutionary Mile Team Challenge is a dynamic team event that brings runners, walkers and history enthusiasts together for a one- and-a-half-mile challenge across downtown Trenton’s iconic streets.
CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE

Run for Time and Glory – Teams compete for the fastest combined

times with awards for both the top teams and individuals.

Take Historic Footsteps – Walkers stroll the course, stopping at

historic markers where volunteer storytellers (carrying yellow
umbrellas so you can’t miss them!) bring Trenton’s history to life.
REGISTER TODAY
trenton-downtown.com/events/revolutionary-mile
$30 a person | $35 after October 14
Teams of five or more save $10
BONUS: All participants receive a $10 gift card when they sign up

Democracy on the Corner
2025-10-16 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-10-23 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-10-30 17:30 - 18:30 | Hopewell Borough Downtown, Broad Street, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
Join community members every Thursday at 5:30pm at the corner of Greenwood and Broad for a peaceful, visible demonstration of resistance. Participants bring signs and stand together in opposition to what they describe as illegal, unhealthy, and unconscionable actions by the current federal government. The weekly gathering offers comfort, connection, and solidarity among like-minded neighbors, and serves as a reminder to commuters that the community continues to stand up and speak out. The gathering typically lasts about an hour.

Lawrence Hopewell Trail Run Club
2025-10-16 18:00 - 19:00 | Mercer Meadows Rosedale Lake, Federal City Road, Pennington, NJ, 08534
Location: Meeting in Rosedale Park at the first parking lot by the lake.
Time: Thursdays at 6:00p, bi-weekly.
Mileage: Run Club is open to runners of all distance preferences. We will have a 2-mile and 5-mile group, but feel free to run as short or as long as you would like.

Caring for the Whole Self: Chronic Illness and Emotional Well-Being
2025-10-16 18:30 | NJ
Thursday, October 16, 6:30 pm
Living with a chronic illness such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, or arthritis can affect more than just the body—it can also significantly impact emotional well-being. Kara Buda, PhD, clinical health psychologist specializing in psychosocial oncology, will discuss why feelings such as fear, sadness, and uncertainty are common and how therapy can provide practical tools, encouragement, and strategies. Discover ways to strengthen your resilience, take an active role in your well-being, and enhance your overall quality of life while navigating the challenges of chronic illness. Presented as part of the Penn Medicine Princeton Health Community Wellness Program. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Ewing Fall Spin
2025-10-18 07:30 - 15:00 | TCNJ Campus Town, 600 Campus Town Drive, Ewing, NJ, United States
Ewing Recreation and Ewing Green Team are running the 10th annual Fall Spin Bike Ride on Saturday, Oct. 18, starting at Campus Town and to benefit Women’s Space/Younity. In-person registration starts at 8:15 a.m. Pre-registration can be done online at ewingnj.org/recregistration. Riders can register the day of the ride starting at 8:45am in the parking area. For more information, visit this link https://ewinggreenteam.org/ewingfallspin or call the Ewing Rec Department at (609) 883-1776.

Lawrence Hopewell Trail Saturday Morning Walking Club
2025-10-18 09:30 - 11:00 | Brearley House, 2000 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, United States
On Saturday, October 18, at 9:30 a.m., meet us at Maidenhead Meadows. We are still so excited at the opening of this new segment, we want to keep sharing it.
All are welcome. There’s no fee. See you there!

LHT Segment: Maidenhead Meadows
Where we’ll meet: Parking lot
MAP link: Click here
When: Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 9:30 a.m.
Who: Everyone welcome

Haunted Hopewell
2025-10-18 15:00 - 17:00 | Woolsey Park, 203 Washington Crossing- Pennington Road, Hopewell, NJ, United States
Come join the fun at our 5th Annual Haunted Hopewell event on Saturday, October 18th, from 3–5pm at Woolsey Park! We’ve got trick-or-treating, games, crafts, a photo spot, a DJ, and tons of Halloween fun for kids of all ages!
Grab your costumes, bring your friends, and get ready for a fang-tastic afternoon full of laughs, candy, and fall fun!
This event is FREE and open to everyone — it’s sure to be a boo-tiful day you won’t want to miss!

Celia Reisman | In Plain View
2025-10-18 17:30 - 19:30 | Morpeth contemporary, 43 West Broad St, Hopewell, NJ, 08525, United States
An astute observer of the world around her, Reisman’s subjects are in plain view. What at first glance what appears to be a faithful depiction of a believable place, on further study reveals a complex imaginative journey of color and form.
Earning a BFA from Carnegie Mellon and MFA from Yale Reisman came to representation backwards: abstraction first, from her student days and then direct observation.
She finds her domestic surroundings no matter how seemingly mundane rich with interpretation. Juxtaposing architecture and nature she invents her own world, both familiar and unexpected.
Celia Reisman’s work has been exhibited in shows across the United States. Reisman was awarded a Purchase Prize by the American Academy of Arts and Letters Invitational Exhibition, and was given a Survey Exhibition at the Michener Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
She has taught at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Swarthmore College, and Dartmouth College.

Finding the Right Fit: Exploring Senior Living Choices
2025-10-21 14:00 - 15:00 | NJ
Tuesday, October 21, 2:00 pm
It’s never too early to start preparing for your future or your parent’s future. Join this workshop to explore a range of living options, including independent and assisted living communities, 50+ communities, and aging in place. You’ll gain valuable insights into these choices and learn key factors to consider as you plan for the next chapter. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

Family Story Time
2025-10-22 10:30 - 11:00 | Pennington Public Library, 30 North Main Street, Pennington, NJ, 08534, United States
Join us on Wednesdays at 10:30 am in the children’s area of Pennington Public Library for our family story time, where we enjoy stories, music, and more!
*No Family Story Time on the last Wednesday of each month*
Registration not required.

WEBINAR: Gardening is for the Birds
2025-10-22 19:00 - 20:00 | NJ
Tuesday, October 22 at 7:00 PM (ET)
📍 Online | 👉 Register Here
Create a bird-friendly garden with simple, impactful changes! Birds need food, shelter, nesting sites, and materials — and your yard can provide them all.
Join Mary Anne Borge, expert naturalist, as she shares how to transform your garden into a year-round haven for birds.
About the Speaker:
Mary Anne is an instructor at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, a Rutgers Green Infrastructure Champion, and Team Leader for Lambertville Goes Wild. She also writes The Natural Web blog, which explores the essential connection between native plants and wildlife.
🦉 Hosted by: Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife

Play With Words - Student Playwriting Workshop
2025-10-22 19:30 - 20:30 | NJ
Calling All Young Writers!
The Phillips’ Mill Student Playwriting Competition, Play With Words, is now accepting submissions from students aged 12–18 who live within a 75-mile radius of New Hope, PA.
Participants can submit an original 10-minute play for a chance to win a $100 prize, receive feedback from a professional jury, and see their play performed live on the historic Phillips’ Mill stage in March 2026.
A free virtual workshop for aspiring playwrights will be held on October 22nd at 7:30 pm, offering guidance on writing and submitting your play.
Submission is free and open through January 5, 2026.
Learn more and submit at: https://www.phillipsmill.org/drama/play-with-words

Community Journalism - J Lab Certificate Ceremony
2025-10-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Mercer County Community College Conference Center, 1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ, 08550, United States
Students from Mercer County Community College’s free journalism certificate program will present their work and receive their certificates. Prospective students interested in learning more or joining Cohort V are welcome. Refreshments provided! MCCC – 1200 Old Trenton Rd. West Windsor, NJ. Conference Center first floor main dining room. Thurs. October 23, 2025, 6:30 pm.

The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats
2025-10-23 19:30 - 20:30 | Zoom Online
On October 23rd at 7:30 PM via Zoom, join bat scientist Dr. Alyson Brokaw on a journey into the world of bats—just in time for Bat Week (October 24-31)! From vampires that drink blood to speed racers that can fly almost 100 miles per hour, bats are fascinating and unique creatures. They’re also vital to our environment, helping pollinate plants, disperse seeds, and control pesky insect populations. Learn about the bats in our community, threats like white-nose syndrome, and the important role these remarkable flying mammals play in our local ecosystem.
About the Presenter
Dr. Aylson Brokaw is an Assistant Professor in Biology at Cedar Crest College, where she is studying bat ecology and animal foraging behavior. She completed her PhD in the Smotherman lab at Texas A&M University.Dr. Brokaw’s dissertation research focused on understanding how bats use smell while foraging, with an emphasis on the behavioral strategies they use to locate odor sources. She is also broadly interested in animal decision-making, social interactions, and the evolutionary morphology of bats and other mammals.
Free registration: https://tinyurl.com/dv65dakb
About DRGP
The Delaware River Greenway Partnership (DRGP) periodically sponsors lectures about different aspects of the Delaware River’s cultural, recreational, and natural heritage. An environmental nonprofit, DRGP supports the Delaware River Scenic Byway, the Lower Delaware Wild & Scenic River, the Delaware River Water Trail, and the Delaware River Heritage Trail.
To view previous Heritage Lectures, visit https://www.youtube.com/@delawarerivergp.
If you enjoy our Heritage Lectures, please donate https://delawarerivergreenwaypartnership.org/index.php/donate.
Thank you to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation of Natural Resources for financial support of the 2025 Heritage Lectures.

Unionville Vineyards Masquerade
2025-10-24 19:00 - 22:00 | Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes, NJ, 08551, United States
In just days, the veil will lift on an evening of elegance and intrigue. Your presence is cordially requested at the second Unionville Vineyards Masquerade on Friday October 24th at 7pm. It will be a night full of dance and baroque-pop music, light cocktail-style hors d’oeuvres, and wine.

The event is limited to 21+ and semi-formal attire with Venetian masks is requested.

This is a ticketed event with limited capacity. Tickets will not be available at the door. Each ticket includes admission, light snacking food, and 1 glass of wine. Extra glasses of wine can be purchased throughout the night.

https://unionvillevineyards.com/…/products/masquerade-2025

Bridges of Belonging
2025-10-25 10:30 - 13:00 | NJ
Please join us at Pennington United Methodist Church, 60 S Main St, Pennington, NJ 08534 to hear former Mayor of Pennington and Director of the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry, Joe Lawver, share his journey from civic leadership to community service, offering insights on living with purpose through life’s transitions. Lunch will be provided.
Please RSVP HERE

Bridges of Belonging: Living with Purpose through Life’s Transitions
2025-10-25 10:30 - 13:00 | Pennington United Methodist Church, 60 S Main Street, Pennington, NJ, United States
The “BRIDGES OF BELONGING” event will take place this Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Pennington United Methodist Church. We warmly invite community members to join us for the third event in the “Bridges of Belonging” series that will focus on living with purpose through life’s transitions, exploring topics such as finding meaning, life through transition, and continuing to serve others. We are honored to welcome Joe Lawver, former Mayor of Pennington and current Director of the Hopewell Valley Mobile Food Pantry, as our guest speaker. Joe’s journey—shifting from civic leadership to impactful community service—offers a powerful example of how, in every chapter of life, we can continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact. His work with the food pantry demonstrates a life of purpose-driven leadership, and we believe his story will inspire all of us, especially those navigating major life transitions, retirement, or the changes that often accompany aging.
Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025 Time: 10:30 AMLocation: Morrell Hall at Pennington United Methodist Church
Lunch Provided
We invite the wider community to join us for this special event. Whether you’re looking to make new connections or find new purpose, we hope you will join us for an inspiring morning of reflection, conversation, and fellowship. This is sure to be an enriching experience, and we look forward to seeing you there!
Please RSVP! To help us plan for the event, please take a moment to RSVP by clicking on the link HERE. Alternatively, scan the QR code below to access the RSVP form:

LHT Trail and Treat Ride
2025-10-26 15:00 - 17:00 | Village Park, Yeger Drive, Lawrence, NJ, United States
Every year, Lawrence Hopewell Trail hosts its Trail and Treat Bike Ride, a celebration of the Halloween spirit, for families with children ages 12 and under. The ride and fun activities take place in Village Park in Lawrence Township.
The event includes face painting, Halloween games, and live music, followed by two rides on the LHT. The short 1/4-mile loop is geared toward younger riders 6 and under, and a 1-mile ride for the more experienced riders ages 6-12. Walkers are welcome. Costumes and bike decorating are encouraged in celebration of the Halloween theme.

Pennington Borough Council Meeting
2025-10-27 19:00 | NJ
Pennington Borough Council meetings are hosted by zoom on the first Monday and the last Monday of each month unless there is a holiday (ex: meeting on Tuesday September 2). For details please contact Pennington Borough.
See schedule here: https://www.penningtonboro.org/1211/Mayor-and-Council

Author Talk: Courtly Intrigue & Whispers as Weapons with Historical Fiction Queen Philippa Gregory
2025-10-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Zoom Online
Coined as the “queen of British historical fiction,” Philippa Gregory returns to the infamous Tudor Court with a tale that is both timely and timeless. We invite you to sit down with us for an intriguing conversation with Gregory about her newest novel Boleyn Traitor.
Jane Boleyn watches from the shadows of the Tudor Court, where secrets are currency, every choice is dangerous, and even the faintest whisper can seal the fate of queens. For Jane, survival demands playing every role required of her: a loving wife who conceals her doubts, a devoted sister to Anne Boleyn at the height of her power, and an obedient spy who carefully wields her words. But in a court ruled by ambition and a tyrant’s sword, Jane must rely on her sharp wit and skillful maneuvering to outthink those around her, knowing that one wrong move could cost her everything.
With a rich tapestry of new historical insights and lyrical language honed over decades of writing, Gregory’s return to the Tudors is a new definition of this most fascinating era. As the world becomes more extreme and unpredictable, Jane’s story of survival and ingenuity offers a compelling parallel, serving as both a powerful historical narrative and an echo of the challenges we face. This is a riveting tale of loyalty and betrayal, ambition and love—one that should not be missed by readers this fall.
About the Author: Dr. Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction. Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.
Dr. Gregory studied history at the University of Sussex and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds an honorary degree from Teesside University, and is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff. Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Neilsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output. In 2021, she was awarded a CBE for services to literature and to her charity Gardens for the Gambia, and was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

Literary Figures in Princeton
2025-10-29 18:30 | NJ
Wednesday, October 29, 6:30 pm

For more than two centuries, Princeton has attracted some of the most important voices in American literature, whose work has shaped both the local community and the broader landscape. This program highlights a selection of writers who lived or worked in Princeton, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot, Anne M. Martin, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Eugene O’Neil, and Thornton Wilder. Presented by Eve Mandel, Director of Education and Outreach, Historical Society of Princeton. Please visit events.mcl.org to register to receive the link to the program.

The Princeton University Sinfonia presents The Devil Takes the Stage
2025-10-30 19:30 - 20:45 | Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall, Princeton University, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, United States
The Princeton University Sinfonia will present its annual Halloween concert on Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. at Richardson Auditorium on the campus of Princeton University. Dr. Ruth Ochs will lead the 75-minute program full of haunts, skeletons, and spectral sounds, including Saint-Saëns’ Danse macabre, Emilie Mayer’s Faust Overture, an excerpt from Luigi Boccherini’s “The Devil’s House” Symphony, a medley from the musical Wicked, selections from Khachaturian’s Masquerade Suite, and the world premiere of Princeton student Eric Rucker’s On Harmony as a Timbral Quality.
Comprised of over eighty Princeton University undergraduate and graduate students, the Sinfonia presents four concerts every year. Dr. Ruth Ochs, a senior lecturer in the Department of Music, is in her twenty-fourth season conducting the ensemble. Tickets to this concert ($16 general admission/$6 students, inclusive of all fees) are available at tickets.princeton.edu, by phone during afternoon business hours (609-258-9220), or in the lobby of Richardson Auditorium starting 45 minutes prior to the performance. For more information visit music.princeton.edu and sinfonia.princeton.edu.

Native Seed Swap
2025-11-01 10:00 - 12:00 | Mercer County Library – Hopewell Branch, 245 Pennington Titusville Road, Pennington, NJ, United States
Now that the growing season is over, come to this Native Seed Swap and Packaging event! Whether or not you bring seeds from your own garden, you’re invited to help with seed packaging and labeling, and you have the opportunity to take home free seeds. Presented by Hopewell, NJ Native Seed Swap. Registration is required. Contact Hopewell Branch Library for more info.

Saturday, November 1, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Sunday of Service
2025-11-02 10:00 - 14:00 | NJ
Join neighbors for a one-day volunteer event with many ways to serve, including:

Stomp Out Hunger 5K Walk at St. Michaels Preserve benefiting Chubby’s Project (9:30 a.m.–noon)

Sewing for Chubby’s Project at Hopewell Presbyterian Church

Helping Sourland Conservancy at the Native Plant Nursery (183 Hollow Rd., Skillman; please complete the waiver in the sign-up)

Cards of Comfort at Hopewell United Methodist Church

Peanut Butter and Jelly for TASK at Hopewell Presbyterian Church

Cookie baking for the Flemington Lunch Program (bake on Nov. 2 or drop off two dozen labeled cookies at Hopewell Presbyterian Church on Nov. 1 or Nov. 2)

Date: Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025Time: 10 a.m. at project locations (Stomp Out Hunger 5K Walk runs 9:30 a.m.–noon)Location: Multiple sites in Hopewell and Skillman; see sign-up link for detailsHost: Hopewell Council of Churches
Details and sign-up: https://hopewellpres.org/announcements/sunday-of-service-112255K Walk registration (separate): https://chubbysproject-bloom.kindful.com/?campaign=1384622
Questions about sewing project equipment: Renee Richardson, rerichardson@verizon.net
Note: This event is hosted by the Hopewell Council of Churches
