Free Neighborhood Tour
The Free Neighborhood Tour fosters an appreciation for puppetry throughout the city by bringing free, family-friendly performances to locations outside of Chicago’s theaters. The tour offers a range of high-quality puppetry styles in order to create opportunities of community enjoyment while expanding the base of puppet enthusiasts.
and counting!
Don't miss the Free Neighborhood Tour at the next Festival:
January 16-26, 2025
TWO free, family-friendly puppet shows from Puerto Rico and Vermont at venues and community spaces all over the city.!
Performances
Tears by the River
KENYA – Krystal Puppeteers
Festival 2024
My Night in the Planetarium
BOSTON – Little Uprisings
Festival 2023
Eagle Dance
FIRST NATIONS – Ty Defoe
Festival 2022
I Am the Bear
CHICAGO – Jerrell Henderson
Festival 2022
The Joshua Show
BROOKLYN – Joshua Holden & Jeb Colwell
Festival 2022
The Beginning on Nothing
PUERTO RICO – Poncili Creación
Festival 2019
Pulcinella
ITALY – Gaspare Nasuto
Festival 2019
Jeghetto
NORTH CAROLINA – Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins
Spring 2018
BROOKLYN – Joshua Holden
Spring 2018
CANADA – Magali Chouinard
Festival 2017
DETROIT – Interstate Arts
Festival 2017
BALTIMORE – Schroeder Cherry
Festival 2017
CHICAGO – Blair Thomas & Michael Smith
Winter 2017
The Free Neighborhood Tour has been supported by: Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks, Navy Pier, UChicago, The Marshall Frankel Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, and The Chicago Community Trust. Special thanks to One Lawndale Youth Advisory Council for support in 2023.
Partnering Venues
345 Art Gallery
345 N. Kedzie Ave.
East Garfield Park
American Indian Center Chicago
3401 W Ainslie St
Albany Park
Berger Park Coachhouse
6205 N. Sheridan Rd.
Edgewater
Calumet Park
9801 S. Ave. G
East Side
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St.
The Loop
ETA Creative Arts Foundation
7558 S. South Chicago Ave.
Grand Crossing
Experimental Station
6100 S. Blackstone Ave.
Woodlawn
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave.
Garfield Park
Hamilton Park
513 W. 72nd St.
Englewood
La Villita Community Church
2300 S. Millard Ave.
North Lawndale
Mandrake Park
3858 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Bronzeville
Marshall Field Garden Apartments/
Art on Sedgwick
1408 N. Sedgwick St.
Old Town
Marquette Park
6743 S. Kedzie Ave
Marquette Park
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th St.
Pilsen
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
Downtown Chicago
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts,
The University of Chicago
915 E. 60th St.
Hyde Park
Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center
4046 W. Armitage Ave.
Hermosa
South Shore Cultural Center Paul Robeson Theatre
7059 S. South Shore Dr.
South Shore
Southside Occupational Academy
7342 S Hoyne Ave.
Southside
Think Do House/Sweet Water Foundation
5749 S. Perry Ave.
Washington Park
Supported by:
