People from all over come to celebrate the annual event, which marks both "Pi Day" - 3.14 or March 14 - and Einstein's birthday
PRINCETON - Pi Day - or March 14 - passes without note in most towns. But, for the place Albert Einstein once called home, it's a hard day to miss.
"We're in the right place for people who appreciate education," Mimi Omiecinski, owner of The Princeton Tour Company said Saturday
This weekend marks the eighth year that The Princeton Tour Company has celebrated a town-wide "Pi Day" event, marking both the numeric equivalent of Pi - 3.14 or March 14 - and Einstein's birthday.
Though the day itself is Monday, it's the weekend beforehand that regularly draws people from all over the country with events like a pie eating contest, an Einstein look alike contest, a pie throwing booth, a bike ride and a special Einstein birthday party.
"It's become a really sweet community event," Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert said, fresh off of her annual job judging one of the most popular events of the day - the look a-like contest.
An energetic 9-year-old named Andrew won this year and hopped back and forth on his toes excitedly as he was handed a $300 check.
He had taken the prize by wearing a grey wig, a large fake moustache and an oversized lab coat. When asked why he admired Einstein, Andrew replied that the physicist had, "so many theories."
"Thinking about that amazes me," he told the judges.
The contest - which saw children of all ages competing - was largely emblematic of the Pi Day focus - inspiring a love of education in a younger generation.
Barb Fitzgerald, who traveled from New Orleans and helped her grandchildren toss plates of whipped cream in the pie-throwing contest, said the day is especially significant for her 4-year-old granddaughter.
"She is interested in learning about Einstein," Fitzgerald said. She laughed and added, "Really!"
Shortly after the look a-like contest, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra brought young aspiring violinists around 5-years-old to play in front of and with Pulitzer Prize winning composer Caroline Shaw.
"It's all about encouraging a love of the violin," Orchestra representative Caroline Dwyer said. The event makes sense, she added - Einstein was known for playing the violin.
For Omiecinski, who first came up with the idea of Pi Day after hearing about another town's similar event, the day is about bringing people together.
She said ever since 2009, when she hosted the first Pi Day festivities, businesses lined up to participate.
"I could not believe the response," she said.
Over the past eight years, that has been the most impressive thing, she said.
"I'm proud of the way the town gets behind this."
Anna Merriman may be reached at amerriman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @anna_merriman Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.