Step into a world of wonder at our third annual PUPPET FEST—a celebration of storytelling, creativity, and hands-on fun! This exciting festival brings together guided and self-guided puppet-making experiences, interactive exhibits, and live performances that spark imagination and curiosity.
Children and families will explore puppetry from around the world, craft their own creations and engage with mesmerizing puppet performances. Witness roaming puppeteers bringing unique characters to life, marvel at the intricate artistry of wayang kulit shadow puppetry, experience the magic of the Great Big Puppet Circus, produced by our very own puppet team, as well as shows from guest puppet artists!
PUPPET FEST is more than just fun—it’s a transformative experience that nurtures self-expression, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of the arts!
2:00 pm
By Sandglass Theater
Punschi—short for “Puppentheater unter’m Schirm” (puppet theater under the umbrella)—is an imaginative nod to German fairground entertainment. Performed beneath a giant sun umbrella, this enchanting puppet show features hand puppet acts, a miniature circus, playful music and general buffoonery. Originally created by Sandglass Theater’s co-founder Ines Zeller Bass, and now performed by her daughters, this delightful performance brings international puppetry to life across generations.
10:00 am • 4:00 pm
By Basically Good Puppet Theater
Get ready for wild laughs and puppet mayhem in Fugzy and Friends–a seriously silly hand puppet variety show created by TJ Jacobs starring somethings, socks, monsters, spatulas and more! During this interactive performance, Fugzy chats about life, Poppy Pink attempts to hijack the stage with her questionable “singing,” a sock sketches your ideas live and a night wizard plots to steal the day.
11:00 am • 2:00 pm
By Break-Fast Puppets
An Hour of Clown is a hilarious, highly portable show that can be performed just about anywhere! Follow a lovable Clown who carries their world on their back and stumbles into a series of funny mishaps packed with stunts, tricks, juggling, puppetry and audience interaction. Created and performed by Anthony Sellitto-Budney, it’s clowning that travels light and lands big laughs.
1:00 pm
Puppets tall, puppets small—this is a show for all! Created by our very own Puppet Lab using a variety of recycled materials, The Great Big Puppet Circus is a whimsical spectacle bursting with puppets of every shape and size. A giraffe ballet, a juggling whale, a giant monkeying monkey—even lion dentistry—come together for a larger-than-life theatrical adventure the whole family will love.
11:00 • 2:00 pm
By Sova Dance & Puppet Theater
Step into a zany and ancient world of masks, music and movement during Feasts of Faces! In this delightful Masque Theatre experience, a wild array of animal characters come to life through hand-crafted masks, expressive gestures and vignette-style storytelling set to live music and sound effects. Created in honor of the late mask-maker Larry Hunt, this one-of-a-kind performance is part show, part living museum.
4:00 – 4:30 pm
Foam Party
4:00 – 4:30 pm
Foam Party