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Tue–Fri, 12:00–5:00 pm
Sat–Sun, 10:00 am–5:00 pm
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Skirball Cultural Center

Skirball Puppet Festival

Sparking Imagination

Kids and Families | Special Event

Outdoor photo at the Skirball campus. A large, blue puppet is on the left, reaching out to a young child in their adult's arms and is reaching back. People can be seen behind the trio dancing.

Photo by Ben Gibbs

During this fan-favorite festival, puppets of all shapes and sizes will be walking, soaring, and stomping about ready to meet you! See puppetry performances, dance to a live band, and make your own puppet friend to join in on the fun.

This is a past program

This program took place on
Sunday, April 16, 2023

About the Festival

Wonder and merriment await at the Skirball Puppet Festival. During this fan-favorite event, puppets of all shapes and sizes will be walking, soaring, and stomping about ready to meet you! So, say hello, shake a leg, and share high fives as you move between performances from some of Southern California’s premier puppetry acts. 

See Animal Cracker Conspiracy, UCLA's ACA Lion Dancers, The Bean and Bear Show, and many more. Plus go "behind the curtain" and learn about the art of puppetry with the Rogue Artists Ensemble's Shadow Lab and a show-and-tell from the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry

View the full schedule and map 

Adding to the magic are two wildly fun puppet parties, where festivalgoers and puppeteers all meet up to enjoy live music from feel-good reggae band Upstream. While you’re here, design a puppet with imagination-sparking materials so your newly created pal can join the fun, too!

"The fun and excitement never stops! The puppeteers are always so amazing and engaging."

More to Explore

Skirball Puppet Festival: Sparking Imaginations

Puppet Festival at the Skirball

What happens when puppets hang out on our campus? Watch this short video to find out! 

  • Puppets for Purchase!

    Find finger puppets, marionettes, and soft plushies like this fun tree puppet with movable eyes, limbs, and mouth from Audrey’s Museum Store.

    SHOP NOW

    Cloth puppet in the shape of a smiling tree
Mother holding young daughter dancing and smiling outside during a festival

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