Now that the Bellingham, Washington area has experienced its first World Puppetry Day, they’re in search of more festival presenters for 2020.

 A three-day mini-festival of puppetry brought a dozen performers to Bellingham, Washington, in March 2019 for the community's first World Puppetry Day event. Hosted by local volunteers and the Bellingham Alternative Library, the event attracted standing-room crowds, filling the venue all three nights. "When I saw that puppetry was coming to Bellingham, I had to be there," said Patricia, an attendee who bought a three-night pass.

The event was inspired by local performers and volunteers who recognized that mask/marionette/object theatre arts are expanding in innovative ways around the world and yet few shows were coming to this remote northwest town. The New York Fringe Puppet Festival in August 2018 provided the spark. Volunteers gained inspiration from local puppeteers Pappenspiel and Firefly Productions to connect with other local actors and planned what was originally going to be a one-day workshop. Instead, with donated venue space at the AltLib, performers from Portland, Seattle, and New York filled a cabaret-style line-up for each night. Performers included String and Shadow, Jawbone Puppet Theatre, Enormous Face, and many more.

Bellingham plans to expand the celebration for 2020, collaborating with the local community college and Jansen Art Center to host a wider array of performances, workshops, and presentations. Contact the organizers for information on becoming part of the festivities: Ellen Barton, ebarton7518@student.whatcom.edu.