Princeton, WV – The vibrant Mercer Street Grassroots District in Downtown Princeton will ring in 2025 with the return of the 12th Annual Downtown Countdown, a family-friendly winter festival showcasing Princeton’s colorful and thriving community. This year’s celebration offers an exciting lineup of live indoor and outdoor entertainment, concluding with the iconic ball drop and fireworks at midnight.
From 8:30 p.m. to midnight (with an Early Bird Countdown at 6-8 p.m.), the festival will feature seven indoor stages of live music, circus performances, ice sculptors, kids’ activities, a gaming theater, dance party, and much more. Food, crafts, and games will fill the street, with highlights including:
- Rave in the New Year dance party at 801 Mercer Street.
- Live performances across seven venues with five requiring an All Access Entertainment Pass ($20 adults / $15 seniors & students).
- A special Pokémon Scavenger Hunt hosted by Daydream Games.
- “It’s Midnight Somewhere Piñata Party,” an Early Bird Countdown at Princeton Public Library, Daydream Games, and Hatter’s Bookshop, including snacks, crafts, and an 8 p.m. piñata smashing, followed by a parade to Town Square to kick off the main event.
Mercer Street will be closed to traffic for the evening, with the celebration centered around Dick Copeland Town Square. Food and drink options will be available from Jimmies Restaurant, Boc-Hord Brewery and Bakehouse, The Dream Bean Coffeehouse, Hidalgo’s Kitchen Mexican Food Truck, and Lou Lou’s Lil Orbit Mini-Donuts.
Featured Entertainment
- The Room Upstairs: West Virginia’s Grace Campbell brings her acclaimed songwriting and captivating presence, fresh off the release of her debut album Bloom.
- Back Room of The Dream Bean: The Allen Smith Band will brings their smooth jazz sound, transforming the coffeehouse into a buzzing jazz club experience.
- Stages Music School: The Shoats present an Appalachian-inspired alt-folk performance, reimagining regional sounds through haunting originals and beloved covers.
- Outdoors: Internationally acclaimed ice sculptor Aaron Costic will showcase his stunning artistry in ice, and the Fluidity Performance Troupe will dazzle with high-energy fire and acrobatics displays.
- The Listening Room: Poetry and acoustic music performances featuring Alan Kade, Crystal Good, Jon Bolt, Jermaine Jay Lane, Dave Glenn Alley, James Hart, and Samuel James.
- RiffRaff Art Boutique: Live music from Tim & Maggie, featuring a range of popular and classic tunes on flute and banjo.
- Monarch at 801 Mercer: DJ John Baldwin hosts a dance party to rave in the new year.
Event Details
Free Activities:
- Rave in the New Year Dance Party
- Gaming Theater featuring top video game systems
- Ice Sculpting & Circus Performances
- Kids’ Craft Activities at Hammer & Stain
- Live Music at RiffRaff Art Boutique
- Pokémon Scavenger Hunt
- Early Bird Countdown, Crafts and Piñata Party at Hatters Bookshop, Daydream Games and Princeton Public Library
- Spectacular Ball Drop and Fireworks
Ticketed Venues (All Access Pass Required):
- The Room Upstairs: Grace Campbell
- Boc-Hord Brewery & Bakehouse: Trad Warlords
- Stages Music School: The Shoats
- The Back Room of The Dream Bean: Allen Smith Band
- The Listening Room at The RiffRaff: James Hart, Samuel James, Alan Kade, Crystal Good, Jon Bolt, Jermaine Jay Lane, Dave Glenn Alley
Community Collaboration
RiffRaff Arts Collective teams up with several area organizations and individuals to make the event possible. The Princeton Fire Department will once again lower the ball, with Chief Charlie Croy playing an instrumental role in orchestrating logistics. RiffRaff provides event production, including sound, lighting, and logistics. Fireworks are made possible by The City of Princeton and executed by Pyrotechnica. Special appreciation goes to Mercer County Schools and First Christian Church for their cooperation.
Big thanks to City of Princeton, Mercer County Commission and sponsors, including WVU Medicine/Princeton Community Hospital, Ramey Toyota, The Denver Foundation, Princeton Health Care Center, Fairfield Inn, Country Inn & Suites, Grants Supermarket, WVVA, Star-95, and a host of program advertisers.
Special thanks also to the downtown venues for hosting activities and to the cooperation of The City of Princeton, Public Works, Princeton PD, Princeton Renaissance Theater, and Mercer County CVB. Artist Stefani Slaughter-Burchfield designed and created the ball for the inaugural celebration with volunteers from the local group JumpStart. In 2017, the ball was revamped for long-term sustainability, courtesy of New River Community and Technical College and several volunteers.
The honorary button pusher who will begin the 60 second countdown into the new year is Alan Kade, a dedicated patron of the arts and beloved community leader.
Tickets: All Access Entertainment Passes are $20 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. Veterans and kids 10 & under are free. Passes can be purchased in advance at downtowncountdown.org, in person at the RiffRaff Arts Collective (869 Mercer Street), or at the ticket booth on-site.
Everyone is welcome to join in this annual tradition to celebrate the spirit of the community and the start of 2025.
For more information, interviews, or event media coverage, contact:
Lori McKinney
304-320-8833 / llynium@gmail.com
