Free Workshops Offered To Create Puppets For Bergen County Parade

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A giant puppet parade will wind through Hackensack in October to celebrate America's 250th birthday, and adults and older kids can sign up to participate.

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation has invited to the public to take free classes in the "Giant Puppets Workshop Series" led by artists from the internationally acclaimed Processional Arts.

The puppets created in the workshop series from this Friday through next Tuesday will be featured in the giant puppet parade marching down Main Street in Hackensack as part of Illumination 250, an all-day regional arts festival.

Illumination 250

The arts festival is taking place Oct. 3 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.

Illumination 250 will also include Family Fun Day, Hackensackotoberfest, a flash mob, and an evening light show on the Green.

The puppet workshops are free and open to adults, seniors, teenagers, and tweens, and ages 12 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Scouting troops, arts groups, student clubs, community groups, and other organizations are also welcome to participate. No skills are needed.

Many workshop times and dates are being offered. The sessions will take place at Bergen Marketplace at 284 Hackensack Ave.

Register for each session separately or learn other ways to get involved in the parade here: https://tinyurl.com/AugustPuppetTraining

The event is supported through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s ART Phase II program. Registration and updates are available on the Illumination 250 Hackensack website here.