Nashville Public Library celebrates the magic and fun of the art of puppetry by hosting the Fourth Annual Nashville International Puppet Festival June 17 – 19.
The free extravaganza features 14 puppet troupes and performers from six countries — USA, Japan, Russia, Belgium, Argentina and Italy.
In addition to 30-plus seated puppet performances, the festival also includes an array of free puppet crafts and workshops for kids of all ages, a music stage featuring local children’s entertainers and other activities.
The Dolly Parton marionette from “String City” at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
The international puppet parade takes place down Capitol Boulevard to the library at 615 Church St. on Saturday, June 18 at 9 a.m.
In addition to all the activity and performances at the library, two special performances of String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry (a collaboration between the library’s Wishing Chair Productions and the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum) takes place at 5:30 p.m. June 16 – 17 at the Hall’s Ford Theater (tickets must be reserved at the website — no walk-up tickets available for these two performances).
Tickets for all seated shows are available in advance at the website for a $2.50 processing fee per ticket; you can also pick up tickets without the fee on the day of each performance (while supplies last).
You can secure advance tickets now at the website. It’s the best way to guarantee seats, especially for the shows you and your kids are most interested in experiencing like String City. Last year, advance reservations sold out well before the festival.
For more info and the complete lineup of all activities, visit nashvillepubliclibrary.org/puppetfestival.
