Exploring Puppetry Arts in Atlanta: Shows, Classes, and Local Experiences

Atlanta has one of the richest puppetry arts communities in the country. Whether you’re a parent looking for a kid-friendly outing, a theater fan, or an artist who wants to learn puppetry yourself, the city offers year-round opportunities to see, study, and enjoy puppets in many forms.

This guide focuses on puppetry in Atlanta, Georgia—where to go, what to expect, and how to get involved.

Why Puppetry Arts Matter in Atlanta

Puppetry in Atlanta is more than children’s entertainment. Local organizations and artists use puppets for:

• Theater and storytelling for all ages
• Education in schools, libraries, and museums
• Cultural and historical storytelling, including folk traditions
• Film and TV production, especially with Atlanta’s growing media industry
• Community-building, festivals, and neighborhood events

Atlanta’s puppetry scene is anchored by major institutions but supported by many smaller groups, independent artists, and teaching programs throughout the metro area.

The Center for Puppetry Arts: Atlanta’s Puppetry Hub

The Center for Puppetry Arts is the best known puppetry destination in Atlanta and one of the most prominent puppet centers in the United States.

Location (Midtown Atlanta):
1404 Spring St NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 873-3391

What You Can Do There

The Center typically offers three main experiences:

1. Performances

   • Family series shows: Often based on classic stories, folktales, or children’s books.
   • New and experimental works: For teens and adults, sometimes with more mature themes.
   • Seasonal productions: Popular around holidays or school breaks.

2. Museum Exhibits

   • Global Collection: Puppets from different countries and traditions.
   • Well-known characters: Exhibits often highlight television and film puppets that many visitors recognize.
   • Behind-the-scenes displays: How puppets are designed, built, and operated.

3. Workshops and Classes

   • Make-a-puppet workshops for kids and families linked to current shows.
   • Occasional adult workshops focusing on performance, design, or specific puppet styles.

📝 Tip: If you live in Atlanta, look into membership or season passes, which can make repeat visits more affordable, especially for families who attend multiple shows a year.

Types of Puppetry You’ll See in Atlanta

Atlanta’s puppetry scene covers many styles. At the Center and around town, you might encounter:

• Hand and glove puppets – Common in children’s shows and library programs.
• Rod puppets – Moved by rods attached to hands or limbs; often used on stage.
• Marionettes – String-controlled puppets, sometimes shown in more traditional or elaborate productions.
• Shadow puppets – Used for storytelling with lights and screens, popular in cultural and folktale performances.
• Mask and object theater – Blending puppetry with physical theater, often in small experimental shows.
• Large-scale puppets – Giant walking puppets or parade figures that appear at festivals or special events.

This variety is especially noticeable during special programming weeks, festivals, and touring shows that come through Atlanta.

Family-Friendly Puppetry in Atlanta

Parents in Atlanta often look for kid-focused puppetry that is fun, safe, and easy to access. Here’s where to start.

1. Center for Puppetry Arts Family Performances

This is often the first stop for families:

• Shows are generally age-labeled so you can choose what fits toddlers, elementary-age kids, or older children.
• Performances usually run under an hour, which works well for shorter attention spans.
• Many family shows bundle a performance, museum admission, and a workshop into one ticket option.

2. Public Libraries and Community Centers

Fulton County, DeKalb County, and other surrounding county libraries often host puppet shows and storytelling events, especially:

• During summer reading programs
• Around holidays and school breaks
• At branch openings or community celebrations

These events are usually free or very low-cost. Check:

• Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System branches
• DeKalb County Public Library branches
• City-run recreation or arts centers within Atlanta

Program calendars are usually available at branch desks or on printed event flyers.

3. Festivals and Outdoor Events

Puppets sometimes appear at:

• Neighborhood festivals (Little Five Points, Old Fourth Ward, Grant Park, and others)
• Arts festivals around Midtown, Downtown, and the BeltLine area
• Special family days at museums and parks

These appearances may include strolling puppets, short performances, or interactive stations where kids can try basic puppetry.

Atlanta Puppetry for Teens and Adults

Puppetry in Atlanta is not limited to children’s theater. Teens and adults can find more complex or experimental work across the city.

1. Teen-Appropriate Performances

• Some shows at the Center for Puppetry Arts are designed for older youth and adults, with more sophisticated themes or technical approaches.
• Certain school theater programs in metro Atlanta incorporate puppets into high-school productions, especially in arts-focused schools.

2. Adult-Oriented Puppet Theater

Independent theater groups in Atlanta sometimes:

• Blend puppetry with live actors and multimedia
• Stage late-night or limited-run shows with mature themes
• Feature puppets in fringe and experimental theater festivals

If you’re interested, keep an eye on:

• Small theater venues in Midtown, Downtown, and East Atlanta
• Fringe-style or alternative performance spaces that host rotating companies

Where to Learn Puppetry in Atlanta

If you’d like to go beyond watching shows and actually learn how to build or perform with puppets, Atlanta offers several avenues.

1. Workshops at the Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center is a primary training resource:

• Introductory workshops tied to current shows (family-focused)
• Periodic adult or teen workshops on building, manipulation, or particular puppet forms
• Occasional multi-session classes or special programs during school breaks

These are especially helpful if you’re just starting and want a guided introduction.

2. Local Arts Schools and Programs

Some Atlanta-area organizations may incorporate puppetry into their offerings:

• Visual arts centers and community art schools sometimes include puppet-building as part of sculpture or mixed-media classes.
• Theater schools and kids’ drama programs occasionally add puppetry modules or summer-camp segments.

When comparing programs, look for:

• Whether puppetry is clearly mentioned in course descriptions
• Class age ranges and experience level
• Whether you’ll focus on building, performance, or both

3. College and University Connections

While not every local college has a dedicated puppetry program, theater and art departments in the Atlanta area sometimes:

• Offer special topics courses that include puppetry
• Host guest artists or residencies related to puppets and object theater
• Encourage students to use puppets in student productions or film projects

If you’re a current student, check with your theater or fine arts department about performance and design opportunities that incorporate puppets.

Getting Involved as an Atlanta Puppetry Artist

If you already build or perform with puppets—or you’re serious about starting—Atlanta provides ways to connect with the broader scene.

1. Volunteer Opportunities

Many arts organizations look for volunteers to help with:

• Ushers and event support at performances
• Workshop assistants for children’s programs (often for experienced or trained volunteers)
• Shop and build support for sets, props, and sometimes puppets

Volunteering can be a practical way to:

• See how productions run behind the scenes
• Meet local puppeteers, designers, and directors
• Learn if puppetry work suits your interests long-term

2. Networking With Local Artists

Ways to connect include:

• Attending talkback sessions or Q&As after shows
• Joining Atlanta-area theater and arts groups that welcome puppet artists
• Participating in local maker spaces or creative co-ops where you can build puppets and collaborate

Many independent puppet artists in Atlanta also cross over into film, animation, prop design, or cosplay, so multidisciplinary communities can be useful networking hubs.

Puppetry Arts in Schools and Education

Many Atlanta-area schools and educational programs use puppetry as a teaching tool.

How Puppetry Shows Up in Education

You may see puppetry used:

• In elementary classrooms to support reading, storytelling, and social-emotional learning
• As part of school assemblies, with touring puppet companies visiting campuses
• In after-school clubs or enrichment programs at private and charter schools
• In special education settings, where puppets can support communication and engagement

If you’re a parent or educator, you can:

• Ask your school if they partner with the Center for Puppetry Arts or other local groups for in-school programs
• Look into field trips to Midtown for a show and museum visit
• Explore simple classroom puppet projects using accessible materials

Planning Your Visit: What to Expect

When you’re arranging a puppetry outing in Atlanta, a little planning helps you get the most from the experience.

Typical Visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts

A common outing might look like this:

⏱️ Time-saving tip: For weekend or holiday visits, consider arriving early to allow for parking, ticket pickup, and restroom breaks before the show.

Practical Tips for Atlanta Visitors

• Traffic and timing: Midtown traffic can be heavy, especially on weekdays around rush hour and during large events. Build in extra travel time.
• Parking: Check for nearby parking decks or surface lots. Some visitors also use MARTA to reach Midtown and walk from nearby stations.
• Accessibility: The Center and most major arts venues in Atlanta aim to be accessible; if you have specific accessibility needs, call ahead to confirm accommodations.
• Weather: If you’re combining your visit with nearby Midtown attractions or a walk, remember that Atlanta summers can be very hot and humid; plan indoor breaks and hydration.

How to Choose the Right Puppetry Experience in Atlanta

With multiple options, it helps to match events to your needs:

For local families:

• Look for family series performances in Midtown and free or low-cost puppet events at local libraries and community centers.

For tourists and short-term visitors:

• Plan at least one visit to the Center for Puppetry Arts for a performance plus museum time, and consider spending the rest of the day exploring Midtown.

For teens and adults interested in theater:

• Watch for evening or experimental puppet shows, both at the Center and in smaller theaters, and attend post-show discussions when available.

For aspiring puppet artists:

• Start with workshops or volunteer roles, then connect with local theater groups and makers’ communities to build skills and relationships.

Key Takeaways for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta

• Atlanta is a major U.S. hub for puppetry arts, anchored by the Center for Puppetry Arts in Midtown.
• The city offers performances, museum exhibits, and hands-on workshops suitable for all ages.
• Families, tourists, students, and working artists can all find entry points into puppetry, from casual visits to deeper involvement.
• Beyond Midtown, puppetry appears across libraries, schools, festivals, and independent theaters throughout the metro area.

If you’re in or visiting Atlanta and curious about puppetry, you can choose anything from a simple one-time show to an ongoing creative practice in the city’s vibrant puppetry community.