Exploring Atlanta’s Center for Puppetry Arts: What to Know Before You Go

The Center for Puppetry Arts is one of Atlanta’s most distinctive cultural destinations. Located in Midtown, it blends art center, museum, and live theater into one space focused entirely on puppetry. Whether you live in Atlanta or are visiting for a few days, it’s a place where kids, teens, and adults can all find something genuinely memorable.

Where It Is and How to Get There

The Center for Puppetry Arts is located at:

Center for Puppetry Arts
1404 Spring Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 873-3391

Getting there in Atlanta

By car:

• Located near 14th Street in Midtown, just west of Peachtree Street.
• It’s close to the I-75/85 connector; many visitors exit at 14th Street or 10th Street.
• Paid parking is typically available in nearby lots and garages; fees and availability can vary, especially during busy showtimes or Midtown events.

By MARTA:

• Take the Red or Gold line to Arts Center Station.
• From there, it’s roughly a 10–15 minute walk or a short ride-share trip north along West Peachtree or Spring Street.
• If you’re already visiting nearby spots like the High Museum of Art or the Woodruff Arts Center, the Center for Puppetry Arts is an easy add-on to your day.

What the Center for Puppetry Arts Offers

The Center is more than a place to watch kids’ shows. It typically has three main components:

1. Performances
2. Museum & Exhibits
3. Workshops & Educational Programs

1. Live Puppet Performances

The Center is best known for its puppet theater productions, which often include:

• Family shows: Popular with local families, school field trips, and visitors with children. These often feature classic stories, fairy tales, or original works.
• Adult and teen-friendly shows: Some productions are aimed at older audiences, exploring more complex themes or using styles like marionettes, shadow puppets, or object theater.
• Seasonal productions: Around holidays or school breaks, you may see themed performances that become annual traditions for Atlanta families.

Most performance tickets at the Center also include museum admission and often a create-a-puppet workshop for children, but it depends on the specific event and ticket type.

🔎 Local tip: For Atlanta residents, shows often sell out on weekends and during school breaks. Booking ahead is common, especially for well-known stories or holiday runs.

2. Museum & Permanent Exhibits

The Center for Puppetry Arts also houses a museum dedicated to the art, history, and global traditions of puppetry.

Typical highlights include:

• Global collection: Puppets from around the world, showcasing different cultural traditions and storytelling styles.
• Jim Henson exhibits: The Center is widely known for its connection to Jim Henson and characters from The Muppets, Sesame Street, and related productions. Visitors often see beloved characters and behind-the-scenes artifacts.
• Hands-on elements: Some sections allow visitors to interact with puppets, try simple mechanisms, or see how puppets are constructed.

For many visitors in Atlanta, the museum alone can fill an hour or more, especially if you enjoy TV history, design, or global culture.

3. Workshops and Educational Programs

The Center functions as an art center as much as it does a theater, offering:

• Create-a-puppet workshops: Frequently bundled with show tickets; children (and sometimes adults) can build a themed puppet to take home.
• Classes and camps: Occasional or seasonal programming for kids and teens, focusing on puppetry, storytelling, performance, and visual arts.
• School and group programs: Many Atlanta-area schools, homeschool groups, and community organizations arrange field trips or special workshops.

If you live in the metro area, these programs can be a recurring activity; if you’re visiting, the basic workshop options are usually structured so you can participate in just a single-day visit.

What to Expect: Typical Visit Experience

Here’s what a standard visit for a family or small group in Atlanta might look like.

Typical Visit Flow

1. Arrive 20–30 minutes before showtime

   • Time to park, check in, and use restrooms.
   • Explore the lobby displays or gift area briefly.

2. Watch the performance

   • Most shows last under 1 hour, which works well for younger children and keeps the day flexible for other Atlanta plans.

3. Do the workshop (if included)

   • Guided craft time where kids make a puppet related to the show.
   • Expect glue, scissors, and hands-on materials; dress children accordingly.

4. Visit the museum exhibits

   • Can be done before or after the show depending on ticket time and your schedule.
   • Adults and older kids tend to spend more time in the museum; younger kids usually enjoy the interactive bits most.

How long should you plan?

Approximate time at the Center:

This makes the Center easy to combine with other Midtown Atlanta attractions like Piedmont Park, the Atlanta Botanical Garden, or the High Museum of Art in a single day.

Who Will Enjoy the Center for Puppetry Arts?

Families with Children

For Atlanta families, the Center for Puppetry Arts is often treated as a regular outing spot, similar to the Georgia Aquarium or Zoo Atlanta, but with a stronger focus on arts and storytelling.

• Younger children (preschool to early elementary):

  • Generally love the performances, characters, and hands-on workshop.
  • The museum can be explored in shorter passes between more interactive activities.

• Older children and preteens:

  • May appreciate more complex shows and behind-the-scenes exhibits.
  • Craft workshops become more detailed and creative.

Local parents often use the Center as:

• A rainy-day option when outdoor Atlanta activities aren’t ideal.
• A birthday or celebration activity if aligned with existing performances and group ticketing.
• An educational outing, especially when kids are interested in acting, art, or design.

Adults, Teens, and Arts Lovers

You don’t need kids to enjoy the Center:

• The museum collection appeals to fans of television history, design, and pop culture.
• Adult-oriented performances are periodically offered, making it a potential date night or group outing in Midtown.
• Art students, theater fans, and creatives often find the construction and mechanics of puppets particularly interesting.

If you’re visiting Atlanta without children and want an arts-focused day, you can easily pair the Center for Puppetry Arts with nearby art institutions and restaurants in Midtown.

Practical Planning Tips for Atlanta Visitors and Locals

Tickets and Scheduling

• Advance booking is common for popular shows, weekends, and holidays.
• Many people choose “packages” that combine performance, workshop, and museum entry, as this can be more convenient than piecing activities together separately.
• For Atlanta residents, it can be helpful to check for local discounts, weekday matinees, or membership options that may be offered from time to time.

📌 Tip: If you’re coordinating with school schedules, look for weekday morning or early afternoon performances that are often geared toward field trips but may allow individual ticket purchases on certain dates.

Best Times to Go

• Weekday mornings/early afternoons:

  • Quieter, but may have multiple school groups.
  • Good for homeschoolers, preschoolers, and flexible schedules.

• Weekends:

  • Popular with local families; seat availability can go quickly.
  • Often the best choice if you’re visiting Atlanta on a short trip.

• School breaks and holidays:

  • Expect higher demand; planning ahead is useful.
  • Seasonal or special shows are more common.

What to Bring (and Plan For)

• Comfortable clothing: You may be sitting on theater-style seats and doing crafts.
• Snacks and meals:
  • On-site concessions, if available, may be limited.
  • Many visitors eat at one of the nearby Midtown restaurants before or after the visit.
• Stroller considerations:
  • Families with young children often bring compact strollers; consider the logistics of theater seating, elevators, and storage areas.

Nearby Atlanta Activities to Combine With Your Visit

The Center for Puppetry Arts is in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, so you can easily build a full-day itinerary. Nearby options include:

• High Museum of Art (1280 Peachtree St NE):
  Art museum with rotating exhibitions; good for older kids, teens, and adults.

• Piedmont Park (various entrances, including 10th St & Charles Allen Dr):
  Large urban park for walking, picnics, and playground time.

• Atlanta Botanical Garden (1345 Piedmont Ave NE):
  Garden paths, seasonal exhibits, and children’s garden areas.

• Colony Square and Peachtree Street corridor:
  Restaurants, casual dining, and coffee shops that work well before or after a show.

This clustering of attractions makes the Center for Puppetry Arts an easy anchor for a Midtown day trip, especially if you’re staying at a nearby hotel or can easily access the Arts Center MARTA Station.

Accessibility and Visitor Support

The Center for Puppetry Arts generally aims to accommodate a wide range of visitors. While specific details can change, many visitors look for:

• Wheelchair-accessible entrances and seating in performance spaces.
• Elevators for accessing multiple levels.
• Restroom access designed with families and groups in mind.

If you or someone in your group has mobility or sensory needs, it’s often helpful to:

• Call ahead at (404) 873-3391 to ask about current accessibility options.
• Ask about sensory-friendly performances or adjusted showtimes that may be offered on select dates.

Atlanta residents who plan frequent visits may find it useful to discuss ongoing needs with staff so they can plan ahead for future performances or workshops.

Is the Center for Puppetry Arts Worth a Visit in Atlanta?

For many locals and visitors, the Center for Puppetry Arts is a standout among Atlanta’s arts and family attractions. It offers:

• A specialized focus on puppetry you won’t find in most cities.
• Engaging options for kids, teens, and adults.
• A convenient Midtown location near other major Atlanta museums, parks, and transit.

If you’re looking for things to do in Atlanta that blend art, theater, and hands-on creativity, the Center for Puppetry Arts is one of the city’s most distinctive choices.