Why bother just painting the town red when you can paint it puppet?!
Days before the August Puppets Up! festival, traipse down Almonte’s Mill Street or head out to tasty shops on the edge of town and you’ll see the festooning in full swing. A mini-parade of volunteer window painters will arrive with their paints, brushes, and sheer inspiration to transform shop windows into works of puppety art. We’re told that passersby are amazed — downright gobsmacked! They stop, they stare, they smile, and they ask questions — lots of questions!
“I really like artistic things” says Adelaide Gorman, “and I wanted to help Puppets Up!” Heck, Adelaide was so keen that her Grammy — the wonderful Joan Cox, also known as “Head Volunt-hero Wrangler” — decided to cheer her on as she transformed the Mill Street Books windows. “Such fun,” says Adelaide with a grin, “Hope you’ll ask me to paint windows again.”
Look across the street — sometimes painters take to the heights too! Keep an eye out for ladders, because Volunt-heroes are everywhere. You might spot the talented Susan Ouelette rising high above the sidewalk as she adds an artistic je ne sais quoi to the window of the Pêches & Poivre groceteria.
With the Puppets Up! festival returning to Almonte on August 8 and 9, you too can join Adelaide, Susan, and scores of other friendly folks. Come on — wield a brush! Write a script! Build the bleachers! Sell tickets! Introduce a show! No matter what sparks your creative spirit, there’s a role waiting to fit you perfectly.
Be a Volunt-hero with Puppets Up! Whatever skills you have or want to learn, you can be part of the excitement and wow everyone. Just watch out for flying paint, ladders, parades and puppets…
For more information, email volunteers@puppetsup.com or register online. The paint brushes — and the puppets — are waiting!
