[Issa Van Dyk]

New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival

17:30 April 20, 2023
By: Staff

The 9th Annual New Orleans Giant Puppet Festival returned to save a rainy Saturday of entertainment during French Quarter festival rain-out.

At multiple venues throughout the Marigny-Bywater area including the Happyland Theater and The Backyard Ballroom, the 5-day celebration of the mysterious, ancient, and wildly varying art form of Puppetry. Kid-friendly shows were primarily int he afternoons, while adult-only performances went late into the night.

"This has been the most successful year so far," said Pandora Gastelum, festival organizer and head of the Mudlark Public Theatre on Port Street which served as home base for the festival. "We are excited about the momentum going into year ten."

The celebration was also complemented with the Ginormous Puppet Parade following the daily performances beginning in Bywater' Homer Plessy and Dauphine streets—rescheduled from Saturday to Sunday evening due to weather concerns.

"I'm not taking the chance my folks are out in the rain,' said Gastelum, referring to her puppets. "they're papier-mâché, and don;t like getting wet."

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