2026 Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival
The Hudson Valley Puppetry Festival returns for its third year, celebrating the vibrant creativity of the region with a lively lineup of performances and special events for kids and adults alike. Showcasing the artistry and imagination of Hudson Valley puppeteers, the festival brings together inventive storytelling, handcrafted characters, and unforgettable theatrical experiences. Join us as we highlight the rich tradition, and exciting future, of puppetry right here in the Hudson Valley.
March 21 - April 25 2026
A Day of Puppetry
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Keepsake at the Academy | 33 Academy St, Poughkeepsie, NY
A Day of Puppetry is a lively, hands-on open house celebrating the art of puppetry across our region. Puppeteers and theaters will host tables where families can meet artists, see a wide range of puppet styles up close, and learn how productions come to life. Throughout the day, there will be demonstrations and simple make-and-take activities so kids (and grown-ups!) can try puppetry themselves.
Audience: All Ages | Cost: FREE
The Cardboard Kingdom
Sunday, March 22, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
This hybrid workshop and show is the best of both worlds! In the first half, students build their own simple puppet characters. Then our expert puppeteer leads them in a guided improvised performance using all of their characters in a totally new story!
Howland Cultural Center | 477 Main St, Beacon, NY
Audience: All Ages | Cost: FREE
Uncanny Valley Puppet Slam
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:00 p.m
Safe Harbors Lobby at the Ritz | 107 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550
Back by popular demand, Uncanny Valley Puppet Slam is returning to the Lobby at the Ritz with a fabulous array of new works! Join us on March 28th at 7pm for the next iteration of short-form puppetry performances… for grown-ups. Uncanny Valley is Newburgh’s first-ever puppet slam, presenting an eclectic mix of puppetry styles and performances featuring puppeteers from the Hudson Valley, NYC, and beyond.
Audience: Adult | Cost: $20
Out of the Mist a Dragon
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 5:00 p.m.
The Stissing Center | 2950 Church St, Pine Plains, NY 12567
Using elegant reproductions of the classic Bunraku puppets of Japan, a romantic poignant drama unfolds that reaches into the world of myth and legend to portray a young man’s journey of self-discovery. His encounters with traditional folk puppets from North America, England and Indonesia give exotic glimpses of different puppetry styles.
Audience: All Ages | Cost: $25
The Doubtful Sprout
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 10:00 a.m.
Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum | 75 N Water St, Poughkeepsie, NY
Get ready to explore the world under your feet in this underground puppet adventure. Tunnel down with Worm and Sprout as they discover the mysterious life found inside soil. Along the way, kids help figure out the secrets that help Sprout grow. Award-winning puppeteer, Liz Joyce, brings this ecological wonderland to life with multiple puppetry styles, projections and song.
Audience: All Ages | Cost: $5 for members and $18 for non-members
Gallery Exhibit: William PK Carter
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
CONVEY/er/or Gallery | 297 Main St, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
William’s work consists of Illustrative quilts and fabric puppets that coalesce into fantasy-inspired musical vignettes. Featuring human-faced creatures, stitched together with golden thread and adorned with glitter tulle, my quilts and puppet performances theatricalize the many aspects of his experience as a queer person of color in this country.
Audience: Teens and Adults | Cost: FREE
Waffle and Friends
Saturday, April 4, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.
Gardiner Library | 133 Farmer's Turnpike, Gardiner, NY
Waffle & Friends is an entertaining puppet variety show for any age! With a fun, modern twist on a classic tale, catchy original music, and adorable puppets, you're sure to have a blast! Waffle, the lovable dog emcee, introduces his friends: a fuzzy creature, some musical bugs, a witty owl who loves to tell jokes, and even an energetic chicken who loves to exercise! They all come along to ignite your imagination. This special puppet show includes a demonstration and Question and Answers for your family to enjoy!
Audience: All Ages | Cost: FREE
Error Code: Bolts, Bytes & Betrayal
Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 2:00 p.m.
It’s a mystery! In this noir inspired, retrofuturist caper, a robot factory is plagued by a dastardly criminal making bots explode. But who is it? Enter a world of robots, aliens and intrigue, where no one is quite who they seem to be. The audience must put on their decoder glasses, look for clues and find out who dunnit before it’s too late!
Howland Cultural Center | 477 Main St, Beacon, NY
Audience: Ages 10+ | Cost: FREE
Monster Intelligence
Saturday, April 18, 2026 | 11:00 a.m.
The CENTER for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck | 661 NY-308, Rhinebeck, NY
Melvin the Monster is another year older, but he's still not old enough to earn his license to scream. Determined to change that, Melvin makes a birthday wish that sets him off on a quest, joined by his loyal friend, Red the Rat. Along the way, he encounters a vibrant cast of friendly and colorful monsters. With original songs spanning rock, classical, jazz, pop, and Broadway standards, this unforgettable adventure promises to delight audiences of all ages. Presented by Hudson Valley's own Up In Arms puppet company, this one-of-a-kind family musical is packed with humor, heart, and inspiration.
Audience: All Ages | Cost: $10
Hudson Valley Puppet Slam
Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
The Stissing Center | 2950 Church St, Pine Plains, NY 12567
The Hudson Valley is home to a remarkably rich and diverse puppetry community, made up of artists working across traditions, styles, and scales. The Puppet Slam brings these artists together on one stage, creating space for experimentation, collaboration, and discovery. It’s a reflection of the Valley itself: creative, curious, generous, and unafraid to try something new, inviting audiences to see puppetry as both playful and deeply expressive.