The Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival has been entertaining audiences for more than 20 years, bringing world-class puppetry and family fun to the streets of Almonte. It’s back bigger and better than ever this year on August 8th and 9th.
The festival was founded in 2004 by a group of community volunteers, inspired and led by the late Noreen Young, the acclaimed puppet creator behind Hi Diddle Day and Under the Umbrella Tree. Their goal was to showcase the creativity, diversity and cultural importance of puppetry, an art form found in virtually every culture around the world. Festival ED and chair Jane Torrance tells us what to expect.
From 2005 through 2016, the festival welcomed some of the world’s most innovative puppet performers, attracting visitors from across Canada and beyond. Audiences filled intimate theatres and lined Almonte’s historic main street to enjoy performances ranging from traditional puppetry to large-scale street theatre. Torrance says the puppeteers themselves are something else.
The festival now takes place every two years, once again drawing thousands of visitors to Almonte for a weekend of internationally recognized entertainment and community celebration.
Puppets Up! has also expanded beyond the festival itself. There will be demonstrations and hands-on workshops for both beginners and experienced performers.
Day passes range from $20 to $35 and single shows run from $15 to $25. Advance ticket sales are suggested and can be purchased at puppetsup.com. You can hear our complete conversation with Torrance below
Story by Brian Turner
