Between July 30-August 3, Stratford will come alive with stilt-walking characters, free outdoor family activities by the Avon River, and unforgettable puppet performances by acclaimed artist from around the world. Join us for a magical weekend of puppetry, music, and adventure!

PuppetWorks! 2026 Events:

- Wednesday, July 29 -

Pop Up Storybook Workshop - July 29 I 1:00pm

Learn from professional puppeteers and makers how to craft your very own Pop Up Storybook! Using craft materials and scrap paper, participants will begin creating their story and will be able to take home their creation to continue the project. Bring your grown up and your imagination for a fun time of crafting!

- Thursday, July 30 -

Make Your Own Mask Workshop - July 30 I 2:00pm

In this hands-on workshop, learn simple techniques for creating masks from cardboard boxes, featuring rich textures that will spark your imagination and reveal traits of diverse characters. Participants will leave with their own unique creations—whimsical personalities they'll have fun bringing to life for a long time, and a wealth of inspiration to tell their own stories.

Dance of Shadows - July 30 | 7:30pm

Witness hands, sand, and visual poetry in motion, as a live masterpiece unfolds before your eyes. In harmony with the music, artist Catherine Gignac creates sand paintings on an illuminated table, while her ephemeral images are projected live onto a large screen. The universe she creates is dreamlike, the drawings unfold and transform in a ballet of shadows and light. Experience this immersive, sensory experience, for one night only.

Fair Queen - July 30 | 8:45pm

In this funny and heartfelt homage to Ontario small-town life, comedian-storyteller Joanne O'Sullivan tells the story of the pivotal moment in her life when, at the age of 18, she became (much to her surprise and almost against her will) the Bolton Fall Fair Queen. This is a story for anyone who finds themselves thinking they won't ever get to become king or queen in their own life — you never know when you might find yourself sitting on a bale of hay, waving at people you've known your entire life, wearing a plastic tiara - and liking it.

Silent Dance Party! - July 30 I 10:00pm

Celebrate the opening of World in a Weekend with a night out! Participants will each be given a silent disco headset, equipped with a variety of music channels to choose from. Pick your playlist, grab a drink, and start dancing!

- Friday, July 31 -

Storytelling Workshop - July 31 | 1pm

Authentic human stories have never been more important. Learn the core skills of storytelling from acclaimed writer and performer Joanne O’Sullivan, and leave the afternoon with a story ready to share. This workshop is for anyone who would like to capture key moments from your life and learn how to share them through the art of storytelling.

Orphan Circus - July 31 | 8pm

By: Les Sages Fous

This little circus is a haven for orphaned objects and puppets born strange, evoking the life of a cabaret troupe of derelicts and misfits. The dark alley becomes an outlet for dreams, a place where glitter and ash entwine, where magic and mystery is brewed in the trash cans.

 - Saturday, August 1 -

Family Activities - Aug 1&2 | 10:00am to 5:00pm -- Aug 3 | 10:00am to 2:00pm

Spark your creativity with our by donation family activities around Stratford's Veterans Drive Park! Spill some tea at the Puppet Tea Party. Explore the Board Game Zone, filled with choices for game lovers of all ages. Express your inner artist with DIY face painting and Bubble & Chalk Art. Meet some giant puppets and take photos And so much more!

Located steps from ice cream parlours, chocolate shops and kid-friendly craft breweries, there's so much to explore in Downtown Stratford!

The Bellhop - Aug 1 | 11am

By: Hilarilar Marionetas

Welcome to the Grand Hotel! Every day here seems the same... until one day, the arrival of a demanding and exquisite hotel guest breaks the routine. Follow the clumsy string puppet Bellhop through his hilarious, extraordinary day at work!

Papa - Aug 1 | 12pm

By: Puzzle Théâtre

When you move, the whole house gets turned upside down! Who knows if everything that's happening is real or a strange dream… This theatrical adventure hilariously narrates the tender chaos of moving day, as told by a somewhat lost father, amidst a playground cardboard boxes and childhood memories.

Strolling Characters - Various Times & Locations

By: KAOSO

Two exiled travelers face the elements—winds and sudden downpours—which they’ve grown accustomed to. If you’re lucky, perhaps they will lay down their luggage and take a moment to poetically share fragments of their story. Join them on their journey!

The Bellhop - Aug 1 | 1:30pm, see above

Puppet Table Talk Roundtable - Aug 1 | 2:30pm

Join us for our first ever international puppeteer roundtable discussion, featuring the artists of World in a Weekend! Hear all about their varying puppetry techniques, cultural practices, and touring experiences over the years. There will be a Q&A portion where you are welcome to participate.

Mwana and the Turtle's Secret | Aug 1 | 4pm

By: Théâtre À l'Envers

Mwana is a brave young girl who lives in a village, deep in the forest. Every day, a giant monster comes and steals the villagers’ food. When Mwana proposes confronting the giant, the Village Chief wonders how such a little girl could defeat a monster that no one has ever been able to stop. Is there a secret that only Mwana knows?

Spun from a traditional African tale, and told by Canadian and Congolese artists, this theatrical journey of courage, love and friendship explores the French proverb “We often need someone smaller than ourselves”.

You Have Arrived - Aug 1 | 7pm

By: A Little Shadow Productions

You Have Arrived is a without words, visually stunning one-person performance that brings the realities of climate change and climate refugees to life. Using a dynamic large-scale pop-up book and captivating puppetry, the piece tells powerful stories of displacement and resilience. Inspired by traditional Iranian visual arts and music, You Have Arrived creates a space for empathy and dialogue about climate change, human migration, and our shared responsibility to one another.

Orphan Circus - Aug 1 | 8:30pm, see above

- Sunday, August 2 -

Family Activities - Aug 1&2 | 10:00am to 5:00pm -- Aug 3 | 10:00am to 2:00pm

Mwana and the Turtle's Secret | Aug 2 | 11am, see above

Strolling Characters - Various Times & Locations, see above

The Bellhop - Aug 2 | 1pm, see above

Papa - Aug 2 | 2pm, see above

Shadow Puppetry Workshop - Aug 2 I 2:00pm

Learn to use shadows as your ever-changing puppet!
Join the puppeteers of Théâtre à l'Envers and learn the stages of creating a performance using shadows and light to tell the story. The activities allow participants to develop their imagination and fine motor skills in visual arts, while also fostering teamwork and oral and written expression.

You Have Arrived - Aug 2 | 4pm, see above

Voyageurs - Aug 2 | 7:30pm

By: KAOSO
Oh no! Two travelers have been separated by a surprise chasm, and will do anything to reunite. With the audience's help and a thin wire stretched between their two suitcases, a tiny messenger embarks on a perilous crossing to bring the travelers back together.

- Monday, August 3 -

Family Activities - Aug 1&2 | 10:00am to 5:00pm -- Aug 3 | 10:00am to 2:00pm, see above

Papa - Aug 3 | 10:30am, see above

Strolling Characters - Various Times & Locations, see above

Kids & Family Silent Dance Party! - Aug 3 | 1pm, see above

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For more information visit www.springworksfestival.ca