Princeton Festival Will Conclude With Celebration of America at 250 Weekend
The final weekend of the 2026 festival will feature jazz, Broadway, patriotic music, and performances by The Bacon Brothers.
The culmination of the 2026 Princeton Festival at Morven Museum & Garden is a Celebration of America at 250 with a three-day showcase of distinctly American music including jazz standards, rock and soul, Broadway tunes, and patriotic music.
Maestro Rossen Milanov, the artistic curator of the Festival and music director of the Princeton Symphony Orchestra said, “While the entire Princeton Festival reflects American prowess across the performing arts, I wanted to dedicate the final weekend to the rich musical colors of this country which often evokes a sense of wonder, excitement, and optimism.”
Kicking off the Semiquincentennial festivities on Friday, June 19 at 7pm, Great Ladies of Jazz pays tribute to jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Judy Garland, among others. Capathia Jenkins and Aisha de Haas give voice to signature songs with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra conducted by Lucas Waldin. Before the concert, patrons can stop by the Stockton Education Center to hear a pre-concert talk, "Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement," by Princeton University voice teacher Dr. Rochelle Ellis. Treats will be available to sample from Tipple & Rose, and Morven's Museum will be open with free admission from 5-7pm in recognition of Juneteenth.
On Saturday, June 20 at 7pm, The Bacon Brothers, Emmy-winning composer Michael and A-list actor Kevin (Footloose, Apollo 13, The Woodsman), play their own mix of folk, rock, soul, and country music they call “Forosoco.” Their music and live performances have taken them around the world, from headlining in Japan to playing iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Grand Ole Opry. Olsson's Fine Foods will be onsite with Happy Hour Boxes filled with gourmet cheeses and sandwiches.
Sunday, June 21 at 3pm – The Princeton Symphony Orchestra offers an American Fanfare salute to the USA with Broadway star Julie Benko, conducted by Edward T. Cone Music Director Rossen Milanov. The patriotic program includes works by Aaron Copland, Valerie Coleman, Virgil Thomson, Richard Rogers, Harold Arlen, and John Philip Sousa. Before the concert, family fun for children of all ages sponsored by Hunterdon Hematology Oncology will take place on the back lawn of Morven Museum & Garden from 1-3pm. America 250 flags and red, white, and blue pom-poms will be given out to the first 150 to enter the grounds.
These and other events featuring top artists will take place throughout the June 5-21 Princeton Festival on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden. Chamber music performances can be heard at nearby Trinity Church. Here is an at-a-glance lineup of performances leading up to the Celebrating America at 250 weekend:
- Friday, June 5 at 7pm – In this cabaret-style evening, Sierra Boggess charms with her positivity and thrilling renditions of Broadway classics and favorite melodies
- Saturday, June 6 at 8pm – Sondra Radvanovsky performs popular opera arias and duets with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra and tenor Victor Starsky in a very special gala performance with the option of purchasing a cocktails, dinner, and post-concert reception package.
- Sunday, June 7 at 7pm – An Evening of Dance brings together American Repertory Ballet and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra in an unforgettable pairing of music and dance.
- Tuesday, June 9 at 7pm – The Sebastians mark another return to the Festival with performances of Bach cantatas at nearby Trinity Church.
- Thursday, June 11 at 7pm – Twelfth Night is a refreshingly new ensemble which strives to invoke a spirit of boundless revelry, celebration, and community in their programming. Their Baroque program is centered on Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
- Friday, June 12 at 7pm – Opening night of Giacomo Puccini's opera of love and betrayal Madama Butterfly. Fresh from her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cio-Cio-San, Toni Marie Palmertree returns to the Festival in the same role alongside Festival veterans Victor Starsky, as Pinkerton, and Nicholas Nestorak, as Goro. Rossen Milanov conducts.
- Saturday, June 13 at 7pm – Queen Nation is the undisputed #1 ranked Queen Tribute Band in the United States. Comprising four musicians to reflect the original Queen, the band performs in detailed 70s & 80s Queen-era costumes.
- Sunday, June 14 at 4pm – The matinee performance of Madama Butterfly features the same cast as on opening night.
- Thursday, June 18 at 7pm – Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three defies convention and boundaries. The trio of Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals) and Charles Yang (violin, vocals) merge classical, Americana, and singer-songwriter traditions into a singular, remarkable sound.
Picnic boxes from Jammin' Crepes can be pre-ordered up to 48 hours before each mainstage Festival performance except the June 6 Sondra Radvanovsky concert. 2026 Princeton Festival tickets are available by phone at (609) 497-0020 and online at: princetonsymphony.org/festival.
Videos
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Handel's Messiah Richardson Auditorium (12/18-12/18) |
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The Lightning Thief The Actors Studio of New Jersey (7/24-7/26) |
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