The Ards Puppet Festival rolls into Newtownards this May Bank Holiday Weekend!
Taking place from Saturday 26 May – Monday 28 May, the Ards and North Down Borough Council festival will be bigger and better than ever before, offering a jam-packed programme filled with puppet fun!
Over the three days, Conway Square will be transformed into a pop-up puppet village, featuring an eclectic mix of scheduled performances, street theatre, free puppet workshops and plenty of madcap puppet shenanigans! Look out for puppets in all shapes and sizes, from socks to shadows and strings, there’ll be lots of quirky characters to meet!
One of the programme highlights will be The Elephant Extravaganza which will take place on Sunday and Monday afternoon. Prepare to be amazed by ‘Harminder,’ Festive Road’s impressive, larger-than-life mechanical Asian elephant. Pedal-power brings her to life, with her ear, head and trunk movements adding to the spectacle as she perambulates. Standing at 4.5 metres, she is sure to be an impressive sight as she wows the crowds!
The festival Big Top in Conway Square will be buzzing with an impressive programme of high-quality shows scheduled over the three days. On Saturday, Banyan Theatre Company’s Red Riding Hood and The DaSilva Marionette Circus Troupe will perform, on Sunday visitors can catch The Cardboard Carnival and on Monday, A Strange New Space, Winner of the Edinburgh Fringe Primary Times Children’s Choice Award 2017 and The Dinosaur Detectives will take to the stage. Admission to the Big Top shows is £2 per person.
Outside in Conway Square, there’s plenty happening too. Have tea with The Big Bad Wolf, laugh at The Alchemist’s failed attempts to make gold, join Dr Frankenstein as he creates new life, or seek out Aloisuous Ginderbalm, the 700-year-old Swedish Troll! Dangerous Dave and The Boggarts will also entertain the crowds with their antics and look out for the delightful puppet walkabouts who will animate the area over the whole weekend.
The Craft Tent will offer free interactive workshops where children can build their very own puppets, guided by local artists. Or there’s a Puppet Scavenger Hunt throughout Newtownards Town Centre on Saturday and Monday. Follow the clues to find puppets hidden in shop windows! Pop-up puppet shows will take place in Wardens on Saturday and Monday at 1pm and 3pm.
Admission to the festival is free. Big Top Shows cost £2 per person. All other performances and activities are free of charge.
Ards Puppet Festival takes place from 26 – 28 May in Conway Square Newtownards. For more information go to: www.visitardsandnorthdown.com or www.ardsarts.com