A prelude to World in a Weekend is on the horizon for this month.
On June 24, the SpringWorks Festival is hosting a PuppetWorks! Playtime Party at the Stratford Perth Museum, ahead of their World in a Weekend festival this August.
The children’s event will feature workshops, DIY face painting stations, a tea party zone, and a pop-up puppet stage where everyone can show off their hand-made puppets.
Eileen Smith, founder of SpringWorks, said that the Saturday event will have enough activities for everyone.
“Artists will be facilitating all-day long workshops,” Smith said. “You can drop in and you and your small humans can make your own puppets – they can vary from being the rather immediate or the deeply elaborate – as you feel inclined. And then we'll have lots of other activities.”
Children of all ages are welcome, though Smith said that the Playtime is primarily for younger children. It takes place at the museum so that may be of interest to any older children.
Smith describes working with the museum as “delightful.”
“They're offering to include their workshops and hands-on activities and exhibitions as part of this package for the day,” she explained. “To support us as a partner and invite families to come and enjoy themselves at the museum.”
The Playtime features puppeteer Robin Polfuss, who previously worked with SpringWorks at last year’s World in a Weekend.
This event is a fundraiser for this year’s World in a Weekend, which is a completely free event that takes place in August. The summer festival is an international event with many components that take place across Stratford.
Smith highlighted just how important fundraisers like this Playtime are to making World in a Weekend accessible and affordable to the families attending and the presenters as well.
“Any version of help is deeply appreciated,” Smith said. “We want everyone to feel welcome and have the possibility of attending our free programming.”
More information about World in a Weekend will be available in the coming months.
The Playtime takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Tickets are $25 per person or $50 for a family of up-to five. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the door.
