'Tis The Season: Your Guide To 2021 Holiday Events In Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ — The holidays are officially here. While the holiday tree and menorah lighting ceremony in Princeton are done, the Municipality has a lot to offer this season.

This December, look at lights, enjoy a concert, shop at holiday markets, and more.

Here’s our guide to family-friendly holiday fun in Princeton. If you know of other events your neighbors would enjoy, send an email to sarah.salvadore@patch.com.

Holiday Pops by Princeton Symphony Orchestra, McCarter Theatre: On Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m., enjoy an evening with festive orchestral favorites and melodies of the season with family friends. Rossen Milanov conducts the Princeton Symphony Orchestra at this Princeton holiday concert featuring soprano Laquita Mitchell. For tickets, click here.

Holiday Entertainment and Strolling Santa, Palmer Square, Princeton: If you are not in the mood to attend an event, you can just stroll around Palmer Square and enjoy the holiday season. On Saturdays and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., you can walk around Palmer Square, take in the twinkling lights, festive garlands, and enjoy some music. This Saturday Courtney's Carolers will be performing and on Sunday enjoy music by Harmonics Quartet. Details here.

A Christmas Carol Bake-Off Festival of Plays: If you love plays, this is an event you will enjoy. Ten plays, written in the course of one week by a diverse group of playwrights from neighboring communities have been selected from the 49 Bake-Off works generated in November. It will be presented as play readings by an ensemble of actors including Ebenezer Scrooge and actor Greg Wood, in a fun, lively, and celebratory event. Scheduled for Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m. Tickets and other details can be found here.

Ice Skating, Palmer Square: We know Palmer Square is magical during this time. Adding to the festivities is Princeton’s synthetic skating rink. So, bundle up, and enjoy a spin on the ice with friends and family under twinkling lights.

The Brandenburg Concerts: A McCarter holiday tradition, this concert brings together over 20 resident members of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center—an all-star lineup performing one of music’s most enduring masterpieces, all in a single evening. Details here.

Holiday Shopping, Princeton Makes, Princeton Shopping Center: Princeton Makes in the Princeton Shopping Center is an artists’ cooperative. So expect to find everything that's one-of-a-kind and created by a local artist. You’’ find a variety of artwork like paintings and drawings) and handcrafted items including jewelry, felted scarves, hats, and more - all perfect for gifting. And don’t worry about your budget - there’s something for everyone. Beginning Monday, they are open seven days a week, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., for holiday shopping.

A Christmas Carol, Community Play Reading: For the first time in two years, this holiday season, enjoy a unique telling of Charles Dickens’ classic story, "A Christmas Carol." McCarter’s "A Christmas Carol Community Play Reading" is a free event created for community members and will feature the community itself, as readers and audience members. Also incorporated into this event will be carol singing. Ticket and other details are available here.

Winter Wonderland With Santa, Terhune Orchards: Visit Terhune Orchards and warm up by the fire pits with hot chocolate, s’mores kits, and mulled wine (for grownups only). Visit with Santa is from 12 p.m.- 3 p.m. You can also take a family photo at the special Holiday Winter Wonderland display. And while there, shop for unique gift baskets, which include the orchards’ own fruit, baked goods, and wine. Beginning Dec. 11. Click here for details.

Artist Chalet Winter Village, Hinds Plaza: Artist Chalet Winter Village makes local shopping easier. Buy directly from artists and makers. Find unique, handmade gifts. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Arts Council of Princeton. the chalets have been curated by the Arts Council of Princeton and decorated by McCarter Theatre. And while you're out shopping, grab a hot drink and snacks from local restaurants. Until Dec. 19, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com