From 2005 until 2016, the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival brought some of the best and most innovative puppetry from around the world to the streets of Almonte.

Puppets Up! was started in 2004 by a group of fun people in Almonte (inspired and led by Noreen Young, the visionary puppet creator behind “Hi Diddle Day” and “Under The Umbrella Tree”) who wanted to entertain and inform people about the varied and vibrant art of puppetry, something common to virtually all cultures.

During its initial run, the festival drew crowds from across the country and around the world to see puppeteers and street formers perform in intimate theatres and against the backdrop of Almonte’s historic main street.

And now we’re back, and better than ever.

Starting in 2022 and running every two years, the Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival is the flagship event in the Puppets Up! brand, bringing thousands of puppet fans to the streets of Almonte to enjoy world-class entertainment.

In 2023, PuppetCon gave folks a peak behind the curtains of the puppet arts industry, with engaging panel discussions and hands-on workshops for novices and puppet performers alike.

In 2025, we held ‘Noreen’s Night of Nonsense,’ a cabaret dedicated to the memory of our founder Noreen Young.

The festival will return bigger and better than ever in 2026. Find ticket information here.