May 9 (Sat) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

The town of Hamelin has a rat problem, and there's only one person who can help! This production features multiple puppetry styles, a silly hat contest, and plenty of dancing rats!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Mixed puppetry styles: hand, rod, and shadow

May 10 (Sun) 2026: 10:30am | 11:30am | 1:30pm

This Mother’s Day, the MFA teams up with Puppet Showplace Theater to bring you an art tour led by one the Museum’s knowledgeable guides — with help from a very silly puppet “assistant.”

Find the full First Night Boston schedule and details on the First Night Boston website!

May 10 (Sun) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm (PWYC)

The town of Hamelin has a rat problem, and there's only one person who can help! This production features multiple puppetry styles, a silly hat contest, and plenty of dancing rats!

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 10
Mixed puppetry styles: hand, rod, and shadow

May 16 (Sat) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Which little pig will build a house that can withstand the powerful puffs of the Big Bad Wolf — surfer Georgie, farmer Jeremiah or Amelia, the avid reader?

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 8
Glove and tabletop puppets

May 17 (Sun) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Which little pig will build a house that can withstand the powerful puffs of the Big Bad Wolf — surfer Georgie, farmer Jeremiah or Amelia, the avid reader?

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 – 8
Glove and tabletop puppets

May 25 (Monday) | 2026: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Start your summer off right at the annual Memorial Day Open House at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston — featuring a puppet takeover from Puppet Showplace Theater! For one day only, meet roving magical creatures, take a tour led by fuzzy puppets, and experience art coming to life in a whole new way.

May 30 (Sat) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Embark on a whimsical journey through the mesmerizing cycle of water in this heartwarming show featuring live baroque guitar music! To The Clouds is primarily wordless and full of color, making it especially welcoming for the very young.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 0 - 6
Object puppetry, flat puppets, and live guitar music

May 31 (Sun) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Embark on a whimsical journey through the mesmerizing cycle of water in this heartwarming show featuring live baroque guitar music! To The Clouds is primarily wordless and full of color, making it especially welcoming for the very young.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 0 - 6
Object puppetry, flat puppets, and live guitar music

June 6 (Sat) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When Jack sells the family cow for some magic beans, he launches his family on a GIANT adventure! Don’t miss this joyous and imaginative adaptation of the classic tale.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 - 9
Mixed puppetry styles: hand puppets, figures, marionettes, and masks

June 7 (Sun) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

When Jack sells the family cow for some magic beans, he launches his family on a GIANT adventure! Don’t miss this joyous and imaginative adaptation of the classic tale.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 - 9
Mixed puppetry styles: hand puppets, figures, marionettes, and masks

June 21 (Sun) 2026: 10:30 am | 1:00 pm

Fairies, field mice, and other small critters dance to the music of favorite classical composers in this dazzling display of turn-of-the-century style trick puppetry.

All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 4 - 8
Marionettes

June 22 (Mon) 2026: 7:00 pm

A Tarot-inspired mystery play full of slapstick comedy, music from the middle ages, puppetry, and whimsy to drive away fear and offer relief from impending doom — just as folly brought light to the Dark Ages. Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud fun, fit for both adults and kids!

Enjoyed by all ages, 3 - 103!
String, hybrid, and stomper marionettes

June 23 (Tue) 2026: 7:00 pm

A Tarot-inspired mystery play full of slapstick comedy, music from the middle ages, puppetry, and whimsy to drive away fear and offer relief from impending doom — just as folly brought light to the Dark Ages. Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud fun, fit for both adults and kids!

Enjoyed by all ages, 3 - 103!
String, hybrid, and stomper marionettes

Aug 17 (Mon) - Aug 21 (Fri) 2026 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Dive into one exciting style of puppetry while exploring a variety of others — shadow puppets, sock puppets, marionettes, and more! Kids will roll up their sleeves to learn hands-on techniques to build puppets, and also practice performance and storytelling skills.

Rising 2nd - 7th Graders
Rising 7th - 9th Graders can apply to be a Junior Puppet Counselor!

Aug 24 (Mon) - Aug 28 (Fri) 2026 | 9:00 am - 3:30 pm

Dive into one exciting style of puppetry while exploring a variety of others — shadow puppets, sock puppets, marionettes, and more! Kids will roll up their sleeves to learn hands-on techniques to build puppets, and also practice performance and storytelling skills.

Rising 2nd - 7th Graders
Rising 7th - 9th Graders can apply to be a Junior Puppet Counselor!

May 20 (Wed) 2026 | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Armed with a trusty glue gun, you will learn the basics of Nate Puppets’ personal puppet making techniques, including foam sculpture, fabric patching, on-the-fly changes, and "the secret crust."

Recommended for adults 18+

May 21 (Thu) 2026: 8:00 pm

What if a fuzzy hand puppet could make you face your own humanity and reconcile with a tragic and horrific past? You are cordially invited to an evening of some old-fashioned sass with class, with a splash of Broadway and jazz standards — plus some pleasant, and not-so-pleasant, surprises along the way!

Recommended for ages 16+
Hand puppets

May 22 (Fri) 2026: 8:00 pm

What if a fuzzy hand puppet could make you face your own humanity and reconcile with a tragic and horrific past? You are cordially invited to an evening of some old-fashioned sass with class, with a splash of Broadway and jazz standards — plus some pleasant, and not-so-pleasant, surprises along the way!

Recommended for ages 16+
Hand puppets

June 13 (Sat) 2026: 8:00 pm

Celebrate bold new voices in puppetry! Discover innovative works at a one-night-only finale to the 6th edition of the Creative Residency for Black Puppeteers, featuring “puppet slam”-style performances — at Boston University’s lovely Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre!

Recommended for adults & teens

June 22 (Mon) 2026: 7:00 pm

A Tarot-inspired mystery play full of slapstick comedy, music from the middle ages, puppetry, and whimsy to drive away fear and offer relief from impending doom — just as folly brought light to the Dark Ages. Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud fun, fit for both adults and kids!

Enjoyed by all ages, 3 - 103!
String, hybrid, and stomper marionettes

June 23 (Tue) 2026: 7:00 pm

A Tarot-inspired mystery play full of slapstick comedy, music from the middle ages, puppetry, and whimsy to drive away fear and offer relief from impending doom — just as folly brought light to the Dark Ages. Don’t miss the laugh-out-loud fun, fit for both adults and kids!

Enjoyed by all ages, 3 - 103!
String, hybrid, and stomper marionettes