“It’s so rewarding to watch each show start up for the first time each year, knowing that we achieved our goal and everyone is now able to start enjoying it.” Jared Young knows of what he speaks — he’s been a volunt-hero with Puppets Up! for years and now supports Paul Potvin as Paul takes the lead and builds the on-the-ground team. Thanks, Jared!
Think you could be the next Jared? We’d love to make that happen. We do know that Puppets Up! is all about good people pulling together. It means hard work, but the rewards are everywhere: teamwork, friendships, and a festival site that seems to run seamlessly — like magic, really.
Do we call these on-the-ground volunt-heros magicians? Miracle workers? Gophers? Not quite (wink, wink) they’re our site crew. Without these hardworking folk, the festival just wouldn’t be the same — in fact, nothing would.
Days before the weekend of fun, seating, tables, sound systems, lights, information tents, decorations and signage miraculously appear. Yes, there have been (and will be) unexpected adventures, but as Jared says: “It was satisfying to see everything come together and to solve those last-minute issues.” The site crew rises to the challenge of making sure puppets and people have a great experience!
And once the last laugh rises to the sky on Sunday, when puppets take a well-earned rest and their puppeteers move on, this very same team whisks in to sort and stack and pack so that everything will be ready to go on Monday before the tent company dismantles the theatres. The team will be tired, the emotions will be high, and maybe, just maybe, before the last tent pole hits the ground, they’ll already be looking forward to doing it all over again in 2028!
Get on board with Puppets Up! on-the-ground! Email volunteers@puppetsup.com or register online.
