Bluey, Bingo, Zuma… and YOU! Visit us at the Parent & Child Expo
Parents, clear your calendars! On April 18 and 19, the Nepean Sportsplex is transforming into the ultimate family wonderland for the Ottawa Parent & Child Expo. It’s the capital’s longest-running parenting event, and the Puppets Up! – Presented by Minto team is packing our bags (and our humanettes) to join the party. If you’ve been […]
Spotlight on: Volunt-heroes wielding brushes!
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, […]
From a Spark to a Movement: Celebrating World Puppetry Day
March 21st is World Puppetry Day, a global standing ovation for the artists, storytellers, and dreamers who breathe life into the inanimate. Established in 2003 by UNIMA (Union Internationale de la Marionnette), this day reminds us that whether you are in a theatre in Paris or on the streets of Almonte, puppets speak a universal […]
Sláinte, Almonte!
🍀 If there’s one thing we know how to do in this town, it’s celebrate. Whether it’s a giant puppet dancing down Mill Street or a fiddle tune echoing through Gemmill Park, the community spirit here is as thick as a pint of Guinness. This March 17th, as we’re all donning our best greens and […]
Early Bird Tickets are Flying Away!
Stop what you are doing! Put down that cup of tea! Gently set aside whatever puppet you are currently embroidering! We have reached a critical juncture in the space-time-puppet continuum! The calendar—that relentless march of squares—is telling us that March 31st is fast approaching. And do you know what happens when the clock strikes midnight […]
Close Your Eyes and Think Summer :)
It may be winter out there but if you close your eyes for a second or two and think summer – there be puppets! Have you already marked your calendar for August 8 & 9, 2026? If not, do it now as the Puppets Up! festival is only eight months down the road. That may […]
Puppets Up! 2026 Festival Ticket Flash Sale Starts Today!
The Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival returns to magical downtown Almonte on August 8 and 9, 2026. This beloved two-day celebration brings together master puppeteers, emerging artists, and families from across Ontario and beyond. With seven stages across indoor and outdoor venues, Puppets Up!, sponsored in 2026 by Minto, continues to grow as one of […]
Congratulations Jenny!
We nominated our Artistic Director, Jenny Sheffield, for Volunteer of the Year through Ottawa Festivals. She won a consolation prize of a Visa gift card, and was part of a talented group of nominees! Bravo, Jenny.
Chautauqua Full Meal Deal !
What could I, a 69-year-old retired public relations practitioner (who can’t carry a tune in a bucket), and 17-year-old student Maggie (who has the voice of an angel) possibly have in common? Well, we both live in Almonte, for one. And we’ll both take to the stage for two shows (2 pm and 7:30 pm) […]
Zach and the RollerBabes Go Nuts
These three charming ‘nutters’ (L – R: Kristen Ritchie, Zach Brown, Kathy Duncan) are well-known fixtures in our local community theatre scene. They’re putting together a seven-minute comedic skit for our Chautauqua on November 15. The ‘Babes’ promised to be hilarious when they first auditioned in September… And with Zach's help, they're well on […]