Planet Princeton Weekend Picks, June 24-26

Complexions Contemporary Ballet performs at McCarter Theatre on Saturday night as part of the Princeton Festival.
The Complexions Contemporary Ballet performs at McCarter Theatre on Saturday night as part of the Princeton Festival. Photo: Bill Herbert.

Friday, June 24

Closing Reception for Start Fresh Exhibition – The Arts Council of Princeton will hold a Closing Reception for Start Fresh, a group exhibition about clarity, finesse, energy, surprise, nature, healing and defying expectations in art. 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Free. More information

Family Game Night at the Princeton Public Library – Teen volunteers will help set up various board games in the Princeton Public Library Story Room for a night of family fun.. 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Princeton Public Library, Princeton Free More information

Dancing Under the Stars – Members of Central Jersey Dance give demonstrations and lead others in an evening of dancing. 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., Hinds Plaza, 55 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Free. More information

Princeton Summer Theater presents “Assassins” – Assassins is a tale of the American Dream gone awry. A multiple Tony Award-winning musical, Assassins combines Sondheim’s brilliant lyricism and rich music in a revue-style tale addressing our nation’s culture of celebrity and the violent means taken to obtain it. 8 p.m., Hamilton Murray Theater, Murray Dodge, Princeton University, Princeton. $24.50 – $29.50 More information

TGIF Tilt Alley Benefit – An event to promote Tilt Alley. Art, dancing and more. Casual. Drop-in and check out the art. 8 p.m. to 11:45 p.m., Princeton Art Attack, 43 North Tulane st Princeton. Donation. More information

Saturday, June 25

5th Annual Sean Hanna Foundation Golf Outing – 5th Annual golf outing being held by the Sean Hanna Foundation for Pediatric Center. 8 a.m. until noon., Bunker Hill Golf Course, 220 Bunker Hill Road, Princeton. $165 More information

Free, public birding trip at Mercer Meadows Pole Farm with the Washington Crossing Audubon Society – Join the Washington Crossing Audubon Society for a free public birding trip led by Sharyn Magee at the Mercer Meadows Pole Farm. Walk the paths and compare the flora and fauna to those of Rosedale Park. 8 a.m. Free. More information

Montgomery Friends Farmers Market – The Montgomery Friends Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. from June through October. It is located at the Village Shopper on Route 206, just north of the junction with Route 518. Operated by Montgomery Friends of Open Space, the market features local NJ farm products. 1340 Route 206, Skillman. More information

Summer Solstice Open House/Butterfly House Opening – Celebrate the start of summer on the Stony Brook-Millstone Reserve with the opening of the Kate Gorrie Butterfly House for the season. Enjoy hikes and informal tours of the Watershed Center. The butterfly house and Watershed Center are handicap-accessible. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. More information

2016 Hopewell Community Campout – The Hopewell Borough Recreation Committee, in partnership with D&R Greenway Land Trust and the Hopewell Valley YMCA, invites the public to enjoy the annual Hopewell Community Campout at St. Michaels Farm Preserve on Saturday, June 25 into Sunday, June 26. Information and Registration are available at www.drgreenway.org.. 2 p.m. to 10 a.m., St. Michael’s Farm Preserve, Aunt Molly Road, Hopewell. $45 More information

Luke Donforth Calling Contra Dances to the Music of Toss the Possum – 3:00-6:00 Experienced Dancers Session ($12, students $8). 6:00-7:30 Potluck Supper for all 7:30-8:00 Beginner Lesson free. 8:00-11:00 Contra Dance for all ($16, students $12) All Day admission $25. Suzanne Patterson Center, 1 Monument Drive, Princeton. More information

Great American Camp Out – Pitch a tent and camp out for wildlife! The Great American Camp Out celebrates camping as a teacher-naturalists and camping staff will be present to help you enjoy the outdoors. Hiking, scavenger hunts, cooking and more. 4 p.m. to 10 a.m, Watershed Center, 31 Titus Mill Road, Pennington. $50 – $60 More information

The Princeton Festival Presents Choral Concert with Baroque Orchestra – The Princeton Festival Chorus and the period-instrument Princeton Festival Orchestra perform four of Johann Sebastian Bach’s cantatas. Led by talented professional conductors who have honed their skills in the Festival’s week-long conducting master class. 5 p.m., Miller Chapel, Princeton Theological Seminary, 64 Mercer Street, Princeton. $20 More information

American Heart: A Benefit for Syrian Child Refugees – Music highlighting American culture and food from around the world. Activities for children and multimedia musical entertainment throughout the evening, Performances by professional artists and children. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Barclay Square at Princeton Forrestal, 1900 Barclay Boulevard, Princeton. More information

Cafe Improv: A Night of Live Music, Poetry and Comedy – The Arts Council of Princeton and Café Improv present home-grown performances of local and regional music, poetry and comedy. $2 General Admission; $1 ACP Members, students and seniors. 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. More information

The Princeton Festival presents Complexions Contemporary Ballet – Complexions makes it “sensationally, jaw-droppingly clear that we live in the age of the super dancer, at a time when technical virtuosity is being redefined as an expressive state” (Dance Magazine). 8 p.m., Berlind Theatre at McCarter Theatre Center, 91 University Pl, Princeton. $35 – $45 More information

Mercer County Freedom Festival and Fireworks – The Freedom Festival will take place from 3 to 11 p.m. at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds in West Windsor. The musical lineup includes Brothers in Harmony, Crazy in Stereo and Burnt Sienna,
with fireworks following the concert at dusk. The event features food, craft vendors, live music, beer and wine gardens, games,
water rides, and a children’s area with inflatable rides and more.

Sunday, June 26

Bird in the Hand: Songbird Banding – Visitors to the Fiddler’s Creek Preserve in Titusville can experience a “behind-the-nets” look at an active field research project. At “Bird in the Hand: Songbird Banding,” visitors will learn about the research taking place and see wild birds up-close as they are banded, measured and released. 8 a.m., Fiddler’s Creek Preserve, 495 Washington Crossing Pennington Road, Titusville. More information

Firefly Festival at Terhune Orchards – Celebrate fireflies by making wings, bug boxes and antenna. Enjoy live music by Miss Amy and her Big Kids Band while you wait for the fireflies to come out. Circus Place, New Jersey’s premier circus training facility, will showcase their Youth Circus Performance. 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Terhune Orchards, 330 Cold Soil Road Princeton Free. Craft  fee $5, food for sale. More information