Palmer Square previews 2025 calendar: Strolling Bunny, summer music, Hispanic Heritage festival among highlights

Elizabeth Egan, director of marketing for Palmer Square, presented the property’s 2025 events calendar to the Mayor and Council on Feb. 24, previewing springtime Strolling Bunny appearances, a retooled summer music series, a new Spring on the Square happy hour program and a larger Hispanic Heritage Month festival with community partners.

"We will continue to work closely with the Princeton Police Department for anything such as road closures or traffic control, get all the proper health permits and work with the clerk's office as well," Egan said, outlining coordination steps. She said several time slots are shifting later in the day to reflect higher foot traffic: Strolling Bunny events will run Saturdays and Sundays April 5–19 from 1–3 p.m. (moved from 12–2 p.m.), and the summer music series will run Saturdays in June, July and August from 1–3 p.m.

Signature events highlighted in the presentation include Princeton Porch Fest (in partnership with the Arts Council) with an afterparty on Hinds Plaza; Spring on the Square Happy Hour on select Thursdays to promote evening retail hours; story time with Jeff moved to Saturdays in May; three dueling piano nights with interactive elements; movie nights on the green (with a community poll to choose films); tent-sales and trunk-show days; a planned Hispanic Heritage Month festival later in September in collaboration with Mi Pueblo Lindo on Hinds Plaza and Palmer Square; Spirits on the Square in September–October; a one-day Fall Festival in October; the hometown Halloween parade (last Friday in October, noted as Oct. 24); and the usual tree-lighting, carolers and holiday trolley tours.

Egan said the team is coordinating with community partners including the Princeton Public Library (for movie-night tie-ins), the Arts Council and the Jewish Center of Princeton (for menorah timing). She invited Human Services staff to discuss participation in Welcoming Week programming during September and noted poll-based movie selection will help program community preferences.

Why it matters: Palmer Square events drive downtown foot traffic and support local retailers; the changes in timing and new programming aim to increase evening activity and cross-promotion with cultural partners.

Council response and next steps: Council members asked a few clarifying questions and encouraged coordination with Human Services and the Arts Council. No formal action was taken; the presentation served as informational and planning input to municipal event permitting and public-safety coordination.