The Puppet Zoo — A Zoo Like No Other

A young girl meets the tiger puppet up close

What Is The Puppet Zoo?

Where Art, Storytelling & Natural Science Collide

This is a zoo like no other. Explore life-sized & whimsical puppets up close while learning about real animals. Step into a world where every creature is made of strings, fabric, and recycled materials.

Unlike a traditional stage performance or zoo, this hands-on experience allows you to meet these creatures up close. Interact, learn, and build with the puppeteers — as this realm is filled not only with puppets, but face painting and puppet-building workshops too.

From the tiniest critters to larger-than-life beasts, the Puppet Zoo blends art, storytelling, and natural science into one unforgettable adventure. Perfect for families, kids of all ages, and anyone curious about the wild world of puppetry and the animals that inspire them.

What to Expect

Our Mission

Empathy for Creatures Who Have No Say

We believe in full-circle thinking — autonomous beings over objects to be viewed. Over half of our puppets are built entirely from recycled and pre-owned materials, proving that waste can become wonder.

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100% Recycled

Every animal in the zoo is built from pre-owned materials, single-use items given new life, and salvaged art supplies.

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Animal Empathy

We create an alternative to captivity — a space where humans can connect deeply with animal life without any creature being harmed.

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Living Art

Puppeteers bring each animal fully to life. There are no stages or distant concepts — only direct, personal encounters.

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Open to All

Workshops, face painting, and hands-on learning make the Puppet Zoo accessible and inclusive for every age and background.

From the Zoo

Meet the Creatures

Every puppet you see was built from recycled materials by our team of artists, biologists, and fabricators — then brought fully to life by our performers.

Lola

Tiger

Delilah

Cheetah

Snowy

Polar Bear

Penelope

Rabbit

Ginger

Bat

Giant ant puppet at floor level — dramatic close-up

Tiger puppet standing among a crowd of visitors

Young child reaching out to touch the cheetah puppet

Woman and child meeting the polar bear puppet

Marionette ant puppet being operated among visitors

Raccoon puppet — detailed needle-felted face, held by an artist

A young girl carries the sturgeon puppet through the event space

Tiger puppet close-up, looming over visitors

What We Offer

More Than a Show

The Menagerie

Wander among hyperrealistic and whimsical puppet animals — some life-sized, some larger than life. Each creature has a story and a puppeteer ready to share it. Every animal roams freely among the crowd.

Puppet Workshops

Learn to build your own puppet creature using simple materials from the trash. Our artists teach fabrication skills while sharing resources for more conscientious, sustainable living.

Face Painting

Become the animal you wish to be. Our face painting stations let visitors transform and deepen their sense of connection with the natural world around them.

The People Behind the Puppets

Our Team

A small collective of artists, biologists, teachers, performers, and makers united by a love for animals and a belief in the power of play.

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Emilie Wingate

Founder & Puppet Fabricator

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Ronan

Props Fabrication Lead, Triton Trouper Circus

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Anna

Animal Specialist, formerly Disney's Animal Kingdom

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Nicole

Art Teacher & Workshop Lead

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Rob

Taxidermist & Workshop Teacher

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Averly

Puppet Fabricator

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Kevin

Puppet Performer, Advisor & Director

Get Involved

Come Find Us

Whether you're a visitor, a fellow artist, a partner organization, or just someone who loves animals — we'd love to hear from you. The Puppet Zoo grows with every connection it makes.

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