By Wendy Greenberg

July Fourth is an important date in Princeton, not only as the day in 1776 that the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress, but also as the day in 1783 when Princeton received a letter from the Congress designating it as the home of the new government.

While the Declaration is celebrated, usually with fireworks, at least one event recognizes Princeton’s special place in history, until Congress adjourned on November 4, 1783.

Morven Museum and Garden holds its Fourth of July Jubilee on Tuesday, July 4 from noon to 3 p.m. at the historic home at 55 Stockton Street, acknowledging that in 1783, “Morven hosted Congressional delegates celebrating Independence Day.” And, 240 years later, “the museum continues this tradition, utilizing our role as the home of a signer of the Declaration of Independence (and as New Jersey’s first governor’s mansion) to engage the public in activities that explore our shared history and what it means to be an active citizen,” said Morven staff, referring to signer Richard Stockton.

Morven Jubilee activities include live music with Ragtime Relics, food from Hotpanada and Kona Ice; face painting with Maya B., the Face Paint Fairy; a scavenger hunt; open archives; garden tours; exhibitions; arts and crafts; and family games.

Attendees can visit stations hosted by the Paul Robeson House of Princeton, the Historical Society of Princeton, YWCA Princeton, League of Women Voters of the Greater Princeton Area, Revolution NJ, and the Princeton Public Library.

A traveling exhibition about Paul Robeson, “A Prologue to the Chapters that Follow: Princeton and Paul Robeson,” will be on view.

The exhibition — developed as a partnership between the Historical Society of Princeton, the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society, the Paul Robeson House of Princeton, and the Princeton Public Library to mark the 125th anniversary of his birth — uses Robeson’s own words to examine Robeson’s relationship with Princeton and its evolution throughout his life,” said Greer Luce, curator of education and public programs at Morven.

“Morven’s 2023 Fourth of July Jubilee will explore community and civic engagement through the lens of our shared local and national history,” added Luce. “We’re excited to partner with some fantastic community organizations to offer activities, crafts, and learning opportunities for the whole family.”

The Jubilee is a “good-weather-only event,” and interested attendees are asked to check the Morven website (Morven.org) if rain is forecast. Limited parking is available in the municipal lot at 1 Monument Drive, as well as street parking and other municipal lots. Morven’s parking lot will not be open for this event, which is sponsored by Baxter Construction.

Across the Delaware River in Doylestown, Pa., Fonthill Castle’s annual Fourth of July daytime community event returns to the scenic grounds of this National Historic Landmark site on Tuesday, July 4, from noon to 4 p.m., at the former home of Henry Chapman Mercer, 25 East Court Street.

The family-friendly event takes place on the outdoor grounds where guests can enjoy food, games, crafts, entertainment, and live music. Highlights will include wheelbarrow and sack races, live musicians, and food trucks, as well as antique bicycles, historic town ball (a precursor to baseball), and other activities. Children kick off the event by participating in the Decorated Bicycle Parade at 12:30 p.m., pedaling down the site’s famed tree-lined driveway on pre-decorated bicycles.

Event attendees can listen to music for all ages by the Ring the Rafters Quartet, the Delaware Valley Saxophone Quartet, and Doylestown favorite Mukamuri, as well as family performer Lolly Hopwood. The PA Wheelmen will be on hand for their annual Antique Bike Demonstration, and musician and folklorist Darcy Fair will provide a story time. Guests have the opportunity to purchase food.

Tickets to Fonthill Castle’s Fourth of July event are $5 for adults, $1 for youth (ages 6-17), and free for children 5 and under. Tickets are available online at mercermuseum.org/july4, and will be available at the door for cash only.

Not all area events are being held on the July 4 date. Four days after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, Trenton hosted the first public reading of the document outside of Philadelphia, on July 8, 1776 in front of what was then the Hunterdon County Courthouse (before Mercer County existed). This year, the Trenton Kiwanis Club will reenact that first public reading on Friday, July 7, at noon, 272 years after the first reading. The location is 23 South Warren Street, which is the same site where it was first read.

A group of civic leaders and citizens, led by Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, will each read a portion of the document, as well as the names of the signers from each of the original 13 colonies. The program is co-sponsored by the City of Trenton Department of Recreation, Natural Resources, and Culture. It is free and open to the public.

The reading is part of Trenton’s Liberty Weekend, a celebration of Trenton’s role in American history, that includes planned tours of the Old Barracks, Trent House, State House, and other historic sites. On Sunday, July 9 at 2 p.m., historian Tom Frascella offers the program “Italians in Colonial America,” with an emphasis on Phillip Mazzei, a wine and olive oil maker and a confidante of Washington and Jefferson, at the Trent House, 15 Market Street. For more information, or changes due to inclement weather, call (609) 208-9991 or see the Kiwanis Club of Trenton on Facebook.

The Princeton Public Library is co-hosting an online reading of writer and orator Frederick Douglass’ essay, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” on Wednesday, July 5, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Community members will read an amended version of the speech, which was given on July 5, 1852, in Rochester, N.Y., to the Rochester Ladies Anti-Slavery Society.

To register, use the form on princetonlibrary.org, under Events.

Organizing partners include, in addition to the library, Nassau Presbyterian Church and Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church Joint Mission Committee, Not In Our Town Princeton, Paul Robeson House of Princeton, McCarter Theatre, and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton.

What would the Fourth of July be without fireworks? The area has no shortage of these sparkling sky shows, including the following:

East Windsor: The festivities are on Saturday, July 1 (rain date is July 3) at Etra Lake Park, with entertainment starting at 6 p.m. The fireworks display will begin around 9:30 p.m. For more information, visit east-windsor.nj.us/events.

Ewing Township: The Independence Day Celebration at the TCNJ Campus, Green Lane soccer fields is on Friday, June 30, starting at 6 p.m. (rain date is July 2). Entertainment is planned before the fireworks begin around 9 p.m. For more information, see the Ewing Township Police Department page on Facebook.

Hamilton: Fireworks are on Friday, June 30 at 9:30 p.m. (rain date is July 2) at Veterans Park, Kuser Road entrance. A concert by The Heartbeats starts at 6 p.m. For more information, visit hamiltonnj.com/fireworks.

Lawrenceville: The annual Independence Day Fireworks will be held at Rider University on Friday, June 30 (rain date is July 1). Food trucks, a live band, and children’s entertainment will begin around 6 p.m. The fireworks will start around 9:30 pm. The free event is sponsored by Lawrence Township Recreation. Visit lawrencetwp.com/departments/recreation for more information.

Montgomery Township: Fireworks are on Thursday, June 29 at Montgomery High School. Games and vendor tables open at 6 p.m., and fireworks begin at dusk. Picnic blankets are encouraged. Those coming to the event should enter the high school parking lot at the northern entrance along Route 601 (Belle Mead-Blawenburg Road), drop off only in the designated area, and exit through the rear of the parking onto Route 602 (Skillman Road). Carpooling is strongly encouraged. Parking passes for the fireworks can be purchased at the Otto Kaufman Community Center for $20, although the township predicts they will sell out quickly. For more information, visit montgomerynj.gov.

Trenton: The Trenton Thunder offer fireworks on July 4 after the game, and Saturday, July 8 after the game, at the Trenton Thunder Ballpark, Arm and Hammer Boulevard.  For more information, visit mlbdraftleague.com/Trenton.

West Windsor: Fireworks at the L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair at Mercer County Park occur on June 30, July 3, July 4, and July 8, after 9:30 p.m. Admission to the Fair is $5 during the week and $8 on the weekend. For more information, go to theleadfest.com.