Puppets Up

✨ A fairy tale is coming to life in Almonte… and it’s absolutely MARIONETTE MAGIC.

👠 Cinderella (Ages 4+)
Presented by Tanglewood Marionettes (Massachusetts, USA)

Picture this:
A giant storybook opens…
Lavishly costumed 30” marionettes step into the spotlight…
A magnificent ballroom appears…
And suddenly you’re swept into an 18th century fairy tale full of wonder, whimsy, and a few delightful surprises.

Yes, Cinderella still goes to the ball…
But let’s just say her ride is a little less “pumpkin carriage” and a little more “wait WHAT?!” 👀

And when things seem lost? A clever little bluebird may just flutter in to save the day. 🐦✨

Founded in 1993, Tanglewood Marionettes are internationally celebrated masters of the craft, known for their breathtaking hand-crafted puppets, immersive storytelling, and award-winning performances. (Seriously. They’ve won TWO UNIMA awards. That’s basically the puppet equivalent of taking home Olympic gold medals while balancing on strings.)

This is classic storytelling with heart, humour, artistry, and enough theatrical magic to delight kids, grandparents, puppet lovers, and anyone who’s ever secretly wished mice could help with household chores.

🎭 Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival
📍 Almonte, Ontario
📅 August 8 & 9, 2026

More lineup announcements coming soon, puppet pals!
Ottawa Tourism Ottawa Festivals

🎭 HOLY SMOKES, puppet pals… have you SEEN this lineup?!

The world-class wonder, whimsy, weirdness, music, mayhem, marionettes, pirates, fleas, raccoons, chameleons, Shakespearean nonsense, and zucchini-based drama are already rolling into Almonte for Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival 2026 and we are VERY NORMAL ABOUT IT. (We are not normal about it.)

Here are just SOME of the incredible performances already confirmed for August 8 & 9, 2026:

✨ Animal Adventure - Rock the Arts Puppets
✨ Buster Canfield’s Circus of Industrious Fleas - Eldritch Theatre
✨ Cinderella - Tanglewood Marionettes
✨ Emilio’s a Million Chameleons - Adam Francis Proulx
✨ Everybody Loves Pirates - Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers
✨ Felt Up! The After-Hours Cabaret sponsored by Joanne Beaton - Sales Representative, eXp Realty
✨ MacBeth: A Tale Told by an Idiot! - Eldritch Theatre
✨ Papa - Puzzle Théâtre
✨ Puss Sing Boots - Théâtre des Deux Mains
✨ Rabbit and Bear Paws — Little Spirit Bear Productions
✨ The Zucchini Club — Alexander Mantia

And that’s not all! More performances, schedule details, workshops, outdoor spectacles, and puppet-powered chaos are still to come. 👀 Check back here: https://puppetsup.com/plan-your-visit/

If you love giant puppets, tiny puppets, musical puppets, pirate puppets, Shakespeare puppets, educational puppets, slightly unhinged puppets, or puppets that may or may not yell at vegetables… there's something magical waiting for you in Downtown Almonte.

Mark your calendars, gather your puppet-loving pals, and prepare yourselves for a weekend packed with world-class artistry, community joy, and glorious nonsense.

🎪 Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival
📍 Almonte, Ontario
📅 August 8 & 9, 2026

Check back soon for the full schedule and show details!
Ottawa Festivals Ottawa Tourism

Hold onto your zucchinis, puppet pals… things are about to get gloriously weird. 🥒✨

Please welcome Alexander Mantia to the 2026 PuppetsUp! International Puppet Festival lineup!

A puppeteer and theatre creator from Toronto, Alexander always knew he wanted to grow up to be a puppeteer, and now he’s living the dream in the most delightfully chaotic way possible. Mentored by legendary puppeteer Ronnie Burkett , Alexander has brought his unique puppet magic to stages and festivals across Canada.

And now… he’s bringing The Zucchini Club (ages 13+) to Almonte! 🎭

Join Pasquale Provolone as he wages an epic battle to defend his beloved zucchini garden from a cast of outrageous creatures including:
🦝 magician raccoons
🦨 singing skunks
🦄 unicorns
…and more vaudevillian nonsense than you can shake a giant squash at.

This firsthand puppet spectacular has already wowed audiences at WTF (2024), Toronto Fringe (2025), Winnipeg Fringe (2026), and beyond and now it’s headed to downtown Almonte for one wildly entertaining weekend.

Trust us, pals… you’ve never looked at a zucchini the same way after this show.

🎟️ Puppets Up! returns August 8 & 9, 2026.

Calling all businesses, community champions, and lovers of whimsy! 🎪✨

The 2026 PuppetsUp! International Puppet Festival is looking for sponsors to help bring the magic to life!

Every giant puppet, every gasp of wonder, every parade moment, every laugh from a tiny human clutching a puppet snack in one hand and cotton candy in the other… it all happens because amazing community partners step up to support the festival.

Sponsoring Puppets Up! is a chance to:
🎭 Connect with thousands of festival-goers🎭 Support arts and culture in our community🎭 Showcase your business in a joyful, family-friendly event
🎭 Be part of something truly unforgettable

There are many ways to get involved, and we’d love to find the perfect fit for your business.

Ready to help create a little puppet-powered magic? Visit Puppets Up! or send us a message! Email [email protected] to discuss how we can showcase your business.

Sponsors – Puppets Up! Become a Puppets Up! Sponsor The Puppet’s Up International Puppet Festival offers local companies a unique opportunity to showcase their businesses while contri

Hey everyone - look what our very own Kris Riendeau does in her spare time!

Meet our Director!... Kris Riendeau has been in love with the theatre for as long as she can remember, and in fact met her husband Rob during a production of A Chorus Line in Kingston. Early roles with The Valley Players and the Almonte Social Action Players led her to shows written by local celebrity Fern Martin. Thanks to encouragement from Fern and Noreen Young, Kris transitioned to directing just over a decade ago and has since been involved in many amazing productions. Highlights include Roddy Ellias's Sleeping Rough (part of Ottawa's Music and Beyond festival), Fern's Spinning Yarns, and Humm Team Production shows like The Wizard is… Odd?!. What's special about The Perfect Time? "I think the level of talent in this show is going to knock the socks clean off our audiences, so play it safe and wear sandals to this one," enthuses Kris.

Get your tickets today and experience how Kris has brought "The Perfect Time" to life!
🎟️ https://the20bureau.ticketsplease.ca/events/the-perfect-time/
🗓️ May 22-24, May 29-31
⏰ Friday and Saturday at 7:30; Sunday 2:00 matinees
📍Almonte Old Town Hall, Almonte, Ontario
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