Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta: a Guide

The Center for Puppetry Arts is an Atlanta institution whose mission is to inspire imagination, education and community through the global art of puppetry.  It is the largest institution in the world dedicated to the art of puppetry. The Center regular hosts puppet productions, birthday parties, Create-a-Puppet Workshops, summer camps, and other events such as Puppets and Pints.

Puppet Shows

The Center for Puppetry Arts offers puppet shows all year to a range of audiences. Their website allows you to search shows and workshops by audience type and age ranges. Shows typically run for 3 to 6 weeks periods. Select a show on the website. It will provide you with specific information about the storyline, the puppetry style, the puppeteers, the exact Create-a-Puppet Workshop project, and the sponsor.

The Worlds of Puppetry Museum

In addition to puppet productions, the Center for Puppetry Arts houses the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. It is divided between two collections.  The first is the Global Collection, which highlights the history of puppetry across the world from native Americans, European, African, and Asian puppet traditions.  

The second gallery houses the Jim Henson Collection.  The Henson Foundation donated their Muppet collection to the Center for Puppetry Arts to share it with the world.  Jim Henson himself was an avid supporter of the Center.  He and Kermit cut the ribbon on opening day.  

The Love Family Atrium often includes rotating exhibits.  These exhibits are included with your ticket to the museum.  The “Found It! Pop-Up Exhibition” featuring puppets made of everyday objects was on display when I visited.  Upon entering the museum, note that a scavenger hunt is available for young children.  Children who complete the scavenger hunt win a small prize.

Special Exhibit for 2024!

The rotating special exhibition on display right now is: Down in Fraggle Rock! This exhibit will be on display until October 27, 2024.

Halloween at the Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center hosts an adult only Halloween spectacular every year. “The Ghastly Dreadfuls” became a Halloween tradition in 2005.  The audience often dresses in costume and many people return year after year.  Look for this performance during the month of October.

Christmas at the Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center hosts “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” based on the beloved television special annually.  This puppet show is a holiday tradition for generations of Atlanteans. Purchase tickets as early as possible.  At the end of the show, participate in a “Create-a-Puppet Workshop” to continue the fun!  Additionally, the puppets from the original 1964 stop motion television production are on long-term loan to the Center. They will likely be on special exhibit in the Worlds of Puppetry Museum.  

How to visit the Center for Puppetry Arts

Attend a Puppet Show

There are a few ways that you can visit the Center.  If you attend a puppet show, be sure to go at least an hour early. Every puppet show ticket includes admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. Add a Create-a-Puppet workshop following the show to your ticket.  Visit the museum on its own!

Birthday Parties at the Center for Puppetry Arts

The Center for Puppetry Arts is a great place for birthday parties for younger, elementary-school aged children.  Birthday parties include a party room, a puppet show with priority seating, a Create-a-Puppet Workshop, and access to the on-site playground. 

Summer Camp at the Center for Puppetry Arts

For children who enjoy the Puppetry Arts, a summer camp is available according to age ranges.  Puppet Arts Camp for 5-7-year-olds is available for multiple weeks.  Camp is also available for kids aged 8-9 and 10-12 for a single week during the summer.  Campers will design, build, write a script, and perform their own puppet show for their families on the last day of camp.  Look for camp sign-up information in February or March.  Extended care is available for working parents. 

The Benefits of a Membership at the Center for Puppetry Arts

Membership at the Center for Puppetry Arts provides financial support for the creative endeavors and education that the Center provides.  Benefits to members include member-only previews of Mainstage productions, free Online Puppet Playdates each month, unlimited, and free visits to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. Additionally, they have the opportunity to purchase advance tickets to shows – before the general public. Plus a 10% discount at the Museum Store, and more. 

How to get there

The Worlds of Puppetry Museum at the Center for Puppetry Arts is in midtown Atlanta and can be accessed by car or via MARTA.  The closest train station in the Arts Center MARTA Station.  The Center is approximately a 10 to 15-minute walk from there.  Free parking is available around the rear of the Center, where the main entrance is located.  There is additional parking past the building if the initial lot that you see is full.  The parking lot often fills up at showtime. So, be sure to come early!

Upon entering the lobby, you will find the ticket windows are to the left. Big Bird’s nest is waiting for you on the right. Jump into his nest for a photo opportunity!  You can visit Big Bird himself in the museum. The Main Stage and the Worlds of Puppetry Museum awaits just beyond the Love Family Atrium.

The Gift Shop

The gift shop next to Big Bird’s nest. It contains a variety of puppets from finger puppets to full-sizes puppets, Muppets and regular puppets, make your own puppet crafts, picture books, notebooks, t-shirts and more.  

If you have littles, I recommend engaging in a few paper bag puppet projects at home. Following your visit, they will be infatuated with puppets for a few days!

How to get a discount on shows or visit the Worlds of Puppetry Museum for free

Members of the Center for Puppetry Arts receive free admission to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. Every ticket to a puppet show includes admission to the museum. So be sure to come a little early to check out the museum!

Georgia Public Library Discount Program

The Georgia Public Library Service Partners with the Center for Puppetry Arts to offer a Family Pass. The pass can be checked out for a 7-day period.  Benefits include admission for four people to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum OR a 25% discount on an All-Inclusive Ticket.  Library patrons can pre-purchase tickets online in advance using the code LIBRARY.  The All-Inclusive ticket includes a Family Series Performance, a Create-a-Puppet Workshop, and admission to the museum.  Please visit the Georgia Public Library website for the most up to date information. To see where and when the pass is available, search the library catalog for: “Georgia Public Libraries Passport to Puppetry.”

Free Fulton County Saturdays

The Center for Puppetry Arts partners with Fulton County to offer residents free passes to the Worlds of Puppetry Museum. If there are seats available for puppet shows when you walk up, you may be able to purchase tickets at a discount. Four Saturdays in January, April, July, and October are typically scheduled each year.  Please visit the Center for Puppetry Art’s website for more about the benefits of this program.  Please note that you must print out the form on the Center’s website. Bring the completed form and your Fulton Country ID to the box office on Fulton County Saturday. 

Have you visited the Center for Puppetry Arts? Are you planning to go? Let me know what you are most excited about in the comments!

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