The International Puppet Fringe Festival boasts more than 30 performances from acclaimed puppet troupes hailing from across the globe, artist symposiums, puppet cabaret, kids and family days, and much more. The 2023 Puppet Fringe Festival theme is “Halloween in August,” featuring spooky and silly puppets that celebrate this beloved holiday.

Kick-off is on August 9th at the Clemente Soto Vélez Center in the Lower East Side of Manhattan (107 Suffolk Street, NYC). Puppeteers take to the streets with their favorite fun and spooky puppets to emulate the famous Village Halloween parade.

Local and national companies present indoor performances with limited seating or outdoor performances at La Plaza of El Clemente. Many events and exhibits are free. Some show tickets cost $20.

Full Schedule:

Wednesday, August 9
4:30pm – 10pm - Myths, Legends, & Spectacle: Masks and Puppets of Ralph Lee @ Abrazo Interno
4:30pm – 10pm -ART EXHIBITION @ LES Gallery
4:30pm – 10pm –Puppetry around the World @ Tamayo Gallery
6pm -Halloween in August Theatrical Procession Honoring Ralph Lee and Village Halloween Parade from Suffolk St. to Norfolk St.
6:30pm -Red Carpet @ Suffolk St. to La Plaza
7pm -Máscara Viva + Opening Remarks & Award Ceremony @ La Plaza
8pm -Puppet Beings Theater: The Paper Play @ La Plaza

Thursday, August 10
11am – 10pm - Myths, Legends, & Spectacle: Masks and Puppets of Ralph Lee @ Abrazo Interno
11am – 10pm -ART EXHIBITION @ LES Gallery
11am – 10pm –Puppetry around the World @ Tamayo Gallery
11am -1pm –Mask & Puppet Workshop (Lucrecia and Dimitri) @ Room 203
3pm –Titeres en el Caribe Hispano: (Ep.2) Dominican Republic (52 min.) @ SEA
4pm – Screening: Handmade Puppet Dreams @ SEA
5pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hipano: (Ep.1) Cuba @ SEA
6pm -Claudia Orenstein: Japanese puppetry @ Abrazo Interno
6pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hipano: (Ep.2) Puerto Rico (70 min.) @ SEA
6pm -Nappy’s Puppets: Jim Napolitano: Spooky Silly Sing-A-Long @ Flamboyán
6pm -Boxcutter Collective: The Possession of Judy @ Los Kabayitos
6:30pm -Máscara Viva + Opening Remarks
7pm -Puppet Beings Theater: The Paper Play @ La Plaza
8pm -Treasure Chest Theatre: The Trip @ LATEA
8pm -Lumiato teatro de formas animadas: Iara the waters’ charm @ Flamboyán
9pm -Teatro SEA: The Crazy Adventures of Don Quixote @ SEA
9pm -Yael Rasooly: Paper Cut @ LATEA

Friday, August 11
11am – 10pm - Myths, Legends, & Spectacle: Masks and Puppets of Ralph Lee @ Abrazo Interno
11am – 10pm -ART EXHIBITION @ LES Gallery
11am – 10pm -Puppetry around the World @ Tamayo Gallery
11am – 1pm -Mask & Puppet Workshop (Lucrecia and Dimitri) @ Room 203
3pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hispano: (Ep.3) Dominican Republic (52 min.) @ SEA
4pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hispano: (Ep.2) Puerto Rico (70 min.) @ SEA
4pm -Tholpavakoothu & Puppet Centre: Ramayana @ Flamboyán
4:30pm -Fernán Cardama: Con un kilo de harina @ Los Kabayitos
4pm – 8pm -Puppet Lounge @ La Esquinita
5pm -JunkTown Duende: Como Cucaracha en Baile de Gallina @ LATEA
5pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hispano: (Ep.1) Cuba (42 min.) @ SEA
6pm –Contemporary Cuban Puppetry in Spanish @ SEA
6pm -Scapegoat Carnivale: Sapientia @ Flamboyán
6:30pm -Máscara Viva + Opening Remarks
7pm -Puppet Beings Theater: The Paper Play @ La Plaza
8pm -Deborah Hunt / Maskhunt Motions: Road of Useless Splendor @ LATEA
8:30pm -Teatro SEA: The Crazy Adventures of Don Quixote @ SEA
8:30pm -Great Small Works Spaghetti Dinner @ La Plaza
9pm -Great Small Works Spaghetti Dinner Puppet Cabaret @ Flamboyán 1

Saturday, August 12
11am – 10pm - Myths, Legends, & Spectacle: Masks and Puppets of Ralph Lee @ Abrazo Interno
11am – 10pm -ART EXHIBITION @ LES Gallery
11am – 10pm -Puppetry around the World @ Tamayo Gallery
11am – 1pm -Mask & Puppet Workshop (Lucrecia and Dimitri) @ Room 203
11am -Swedish Cottage Theatre Mobile: Little Red Riding Hood @ La Plaza (ENGLISH)
11am -Fernán Cardama: Con un kilo de harina @ Los Kabayitos
11:30am -Yael Rasooly Master Class Choose the path of Creation– a masterclass for the independent theater maker 90min. @SEA
12pm -SEA: Teatro SEA: Juan Bobo @ La Esquinita
12pm -Lumiato teatro de formas animadas: Iara the waters’ charm @ Flamboyán
1pm -Swedish Cottage Theatre Mobile: Little Red Riding Hood @ La Plaza (SPANISH)
1:30pm -JunkTown Duende: Como Cucaracha en Baile de Gallina @ La Esquinita
2pm -Ralph Lee & Mettawee River Theatre Company Round Table @ Abrazo Interno
2pm -Nappy’s Puppets: Jim Napolitano: Spooky Silly Sing-A-Long @ Flamboyán
2pm -WonderSpark Puppets: The Not-So-Spooky Ghost @ Los Kabayitos
2pm -Screening: Handmade Puppet Dreams TBD @ SEA
3pm -Teatro SEA: The Galapagos Animal Convention @ La Esquinita
3pm -Treasure Chest Theatre: The Trip @ LATEA
3pm -THE PEOPLE’S BUS WorkShop @ La Plaza
3pm – 9:30pm -Puppet Lounge @ La Esquinita
3:30pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hispano: (Ep.2) Puerto Rico @ SEA
4pm -Boxcutter Collective: The Possession of Judy @ Los Kabayitos
5pm -Tholpavakoothu & Puppet Centre: Ramayana @ Flamboyán
5:30pm -Screening: Títeres en el Caribe Hispano: Ep.1 Cuba @ SEA
6pm -WonderSpark Puppets: The Not-So-Spooky Ghost @ Los Kabayitos
6pm -Deborah Hunt / Maskhunt Motions: Road of Useless Splendor @ LATEA
6:30pm -Máscara Viva + Opening Remarks
7pm -Puppet Beings Theater: The Paper Play @ La Plaza
8pm -Scapegoat Carnivale: Sapientia @ Flamboyán
8pm -Teatro SEA: The Crazy Adventures of Don Quixote @ SEA
8pm -Yael Rasooly: Paper Cut @ LATEA

Sunday, August 13
10am -Lumiato teatro de formas animadas: Iara the waters’ charm @ Flamboyán
11am – 10pm - Myths, Legends, & Spectacle: Masks and Puppets of Ralph Lee @ Abrazo Interno
11am – 10pm -ART EXHIBITION @ LES Gallery
11am – 10pm - Puppetry around the World @ Tamayo Gallery
11am  -Swedish Cottage Theatre Mobile: Little Red Riding Hood @ La Plaza (Mandarin)
11am –Handmade Puppet Dreams TBD @ Los Kabayitos
12pm -THE PEOPLE’S BUS WorkShop @ La Plaza
12pm –Títeres en el Caribe Hispano: Ep.1 Cuba @ Los Kabayitos
12pm -Teatro SEA: The Galapagos Animal Convention @ La Esquinita
1pm -Swedish Cottage Theatre Mobile: Little Red Riding Hood @ La Plaza (Spanish)
1pm -Nappy’s Puppets: Jim Napolitano: Spooky Silly Sing-A-Long @ Flamboyán
1pm -International & National Artists Talk
2pm -Teatro SEA: Pedro Animal Falls in Love @ La Esquinita
2pm -Yael Rasooly: Paper Cut @ LATEA
2pm -Fernán Cardama: Con un kilo de harina @ Los Kabayitos
2:30pm -Mascot Gathering & Mask & Puppet Workshop (Lucrecia and Dimitri Presentation) @ Norfolk St.
3pm – 9:30pm -Puppet Lounge @ La Esquinita
3pm -Scapegoat Carnivale: Sapientia @ Flamboyán
3:30pm -Teatro SEA: César Chávez and the Migrants @ SEA
4pm -Deborah Hunt / Maskhunt Motions: Road of Useless Splendor @ LATEA
4pm -Boxcutter Collective: The Possession of Judy @ Los Kabayitos
5pm -Tholpavakoothu & Puppet Centre: Ramayana @ Flamboyán
5:30pm -Máscara Viva + CLOSING REMARKS @ La Plaza
6:30pm -Salsa Party @ La Plaza
7pm -Open Mic @ Punto SEA