When that Friday feeling rolls around, it’s time to step out, celebrate, and enjoy the start of the weekend. And if you’re looking for a way to kick off your weekend in the Capital City, abundant fun awaits you at the Cemetery.
Yes, you read that right! Throughout September, the famed Mercer Cemetery at Trenton will host “Fridays at the Cemetery.” This unique event invites the living residents and visitors of the Trenton community to learn more about this historic Cemetery and its famed inhabitants. In addition to landmark education, guests can enjoy live music and food trucks and connect with a like-minded group of peers. Events will be held every Friday in September from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mercer Cemetery campus at 43 S. Clinton Ave., Trenton, NJ 08609.
If you plan on attending, registration is not required but strongly recommended. If you plan on attending one or all of the events, please fill out the registration form here: Register – Fridays at the Cemetery. Registering will ensure that event organizers can anticipate your presence and get in touch to connect further. If you own a food truck and plan on attending, please be sure to register so that you or your business can claim your spot.
What is the significance of Mercer Cemetery? In addition to being the first non-secular Cemetery in New Jersey, Mercer Cemetery also serves as a time capsule of the industrial era in the City of Trenton. Per the New Jersey Historic Trust, the Cemetery was famous for many of Trenton’s important families and business leaders until the end of the century. Over 4,000 people, including 160 veterans and countless prominent Trenton citizens, now call this their final resting place.
Some common motifs guests will see throughout the Cemetery include weeping willows, flora, hands, urns, funerary cloth, and masonic symbols. They also showcase a wide diversity of headstone shapes and epitaphs, including several large and impressive monuments featuring the skilled work of both local and Philadelphia-based carvers. No doubt a sight to behold, this is a tremendous resource for history lovers near and far.
In recent months, Mercer County has transitioned the Cemetery to a greenspace, empowering community residents to take advantage of all this historic site has to offer. This invitation to explore comes from vast restoration efforts, ensuring this space will be accessible and navigable for future generations. The Fridays at the Cemetery program is the first installation of community programming, inviting both residents and visitors of Mercer County to learn more about the vast history lurking right around the corner. If you’d like to learn more about the happenings of Mercer Cemetery of Trenton, please follow them on Facebook here for additional updates: Mercer Cemetery.
If you have any questions before the event, please get in touch with Mercer Cemetery at mercercemeterytrenton@gmail.com. This one-of-a-kind event is in town for only one month, so mark your calendars today!
