HOT Puppet Festival^

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Please join this artistically enriching and memorable experience for everyone with an interest in puppetry.

Perfect for educators, librarians, artists, therapists, actors, clowns, ventriloquists, families, students, seniors, and all puppetry enthusiasts.

  • Performances

  • Workshops

  • Parties

  • Puppet Store

  • Raffle

  • Exhibits

Click Here to Register

Check back for more details.

Dates^

Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, 2026

Venues^

Sawyer Yards, Sabine Street Studios^

1907 Sabine Street, Houston, Texas, 77007

Puppet Pizzazz House^

1718 Alamo Street, Houston, Texas, 77007

Pricing^

This festival is intended for everyone with an interest in exploring the world of puppetry.

Registration is available on three tracks:

Full Festival Registration^

The Full Festival registration includes 5 puppet shows, 3 workshop sessions, a puppet exhibition, and a tour of the Puppet Pizzazz House. It also includes Friday and Saturday evening parties with dinner and puppetry as well as Saturday coffee, breakfast pastries, and lunch.

Early Birth Special Registration

(May 15 - Jul 31)

$100.00

Full Festival Registration

(Jul 31 - Oct 1)

$125.00

Participants will earn a certificate for 10 professional development hours of continuing education.

Click Here to Register

Saturday (Day Only) Registration^

The Saturday (Day Only) registration includes 2 puppet shows, 3 workshop sessions, and a tour of the Puppet Pizzazz House. It also includes Saturday coffee, breakfast pastries, and lunch.

Early Bird Special Registration

(May 15 - Jul 31)

$80.00

Full Festival Registration

(July 31 - Oct 1)

$95.00

Participants will earn a certificate for 8 professional development hours of continuing education.

Click Here to Register

Friday and Saturday Parties Only^

Friday’s party 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm, includes a welcoming reception, parade, puppet show @ Sabine Street Studios, and food and puppetry entertainment @ the Puppet Pizzazz House.

Saturday’s Party includes 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm- food, drinks, and entertainment @ the Puppet Pizzazz House

Price: $25 for each party.

Click Here to Register

Schedule^

Friday, October 2: Evening^

5:30 PM

-

6:30 PM

Registration and welcome reception with drinks and appetizers at Puppet Pizzaz House

6:45 PM

-

7:00 PM

Guests led by drummers and Giant Puppets to Sabine Studios (1 block)

7:00 PM

-

7:45 PM

WORD PLAY by Honey Goodenough and Bethany Harbaugh of Good Hearted Entertainment

7:45 PM

-

10:00 PM

Party including food, puppetry entertainment, and puppet show at Puppet Pizzazz House. Performances include Cardboard Penny Arcade performed by lo-fi Puppets + stuff, Greg Cote and Alli Villines, and party animation provided by Greg Ruhe, Puppet Pizzazz

Saturday, October 3: Daytime^

Easy parking, morning coffee, light Breakfast, a box lunch, all day water supply, three workshop sessions, two puppet shows, puppetry store, puppet exhibit and a rocking puppet party at the Puppet Pizzazz House.

All workshops and daytime puppet shows are to be held in Spring Street or Sabine Street Studios.

9:00 AM

-

10:00 AM

Registration, coffee, and donuts. First workshop setup. set up.

10:00 AM

-

11:00 AM

First Workshop Sessions:

  • Puppetry in the Classroom with Edna Bland, President of Puppeteers of America

  • No Newspaper Rod Puppet make and take with Sarah Nolan, Puppets in Motion

  • Amazing Sock Puppets with Jean Pirtle, Pirtle’s Puppets

11:15 AM

-

12:15 AM

Puppet Show: Bumper Crop by Ellen Scott and Robbie Leuth, Hand to Mouth.

12:15 PM

-

1:15 PM

Lunch and Shopping

1:15 PM

-

2:15 PM

Second Workshop Session:

  • Finding Your Puppet Voice with Devona Carpenter, Carpenter Creatives

  • Cardboard Puppets make and take with Greg Cote and Alli Villines, lo-fi puppets + stuff

  • Capture the Imagination with Puppetry with Jean Kuecher, Marionette Playhouse

2:30 PM

-

3:30 PM

Third Workshop Session:

  • Puppetry in the Classroom with Edna Bland, President of Puppeteers of America

  • Dollar Store Tube Puppets make and take with Jean Pirtle, Pirtle’s Puppets

  • Jumping Jacks make and take with Honey Goodenough, Good Hearted Entertainment

3:45 PM

-

4:45 PM

Puppet Show: Judy Saves the Day by Sarah Nolan, Puppet

Raffle Drawing after the performance. Assorted puppet treasures as prizes.

4:45 PM

-

5:30PM

Exhibit at Puppet Pizzazz House

Shopping: Puppet Store open 9:00 am to 5:30 pm

Saturday, October 3: Evening^

5:30PM

-

7:00 PM

Free Time: All are welcome to tour Sawyer yards, walk through the Houston historic first ward, stroll a trail with a panoramic view of Houston Downtown, or relax at the Puppet Pizzazz House

7:00PM

-

10:00 PM

Party at Puppet Pizzazz House with super drinks, back yard puppetry performances, and a performer talk-backs.

Discounted Hotel^

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites is offering discounted group rate.

Double Queen Rooms for $149 plus 17% tax.

A code will be provided to book the group rate rooms.