Festivals

Throughout the year, Princeton festivals and events will give you dozens of reasons to visit!

Each year, our Homestead Festival, a celebration of the Owen Lovejoy Homestead’s remarkable place in history, is held during the second weekend in September. The weekend’s activities include a window display contest; museum tours; a pulled pork barbecue dinner and ice cream social; horse-drawn wagon rides; car show; helicopter rides; an arts and crafts show and market; a BBQ rib cook-off; a 5K race; class reunions; and the Homestead Festival parade.

Through the summer, Festival 56 provides a wonderful range of theatrical events from comedies and musicals to dramas, as well as Shakespeare in the Park performances on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings.

The Main Street Summer Concert Series is excuse enough to look forward to warm, sunny days! A variety of bands, playing on various days during the summer on Main Street… a crowd pleaser for all ages. Admission is free and our local food and beverage vendors will have you coming back for more. Wrap up your summer late August with a trip to the

Bureau County Fair, one of the longest-running county fairs in the state!

Bicyclists at all skill levels look forward to the annual June Z Tour Ride. See picturesque Princeton and surrounding beautiful Bureau County from a two-wheeled prospective. This popular biking event provides four routes ranging from ten to one hundred miles.

In October, Shadows of the Blue and Gray offers a chance for families to see how Civil War soldiers lived and fought. The campgrounds are open for tours on Friday and Saturday evening, and a Civil War battle re- creation is the focus of Sunday’s events.

Throughout the year, our Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with local merchants, hosts several special seasonal events bringing shopping, entertainment and fun together along our two unique Main Street shopping districts. Whether it be strolling the street during Summer Solstice, embracing your inner witch during Witch’s Night Out, or participating in the magical transformation of our town during the holidays, you are sure to fall in love with what Princeton has to offer year round.