The 2016 PUPPETS UP! INTERNATIONAL PUPPET FESTIVAL was a great success in so many ways.
The weather was perfect, the streets were crowded, and the entertainment was enjoyed by all. Our amazing volunteers put in hours and hours of work and many were still smiling at the end of the 3-day festival weekend.
Puppets Upl has become a signature annual event for Almonte in Mississippi Mills. It draws thousands of visitors and attracts media attention from far and wide which not only promotes Puppets Up! itself, but our beautiful and vibrant community as well. It’s definitely become an economic boost to the town.
The cost of presenting Puppets Up is $150,000 a year. This money comes from sponsors, grants, ticket sales, individual patrons of the festival and donors from Mississippi Mills. The funds raised go to our puppeteer/performers, a part time festival coordinator and the rental of equipment and space. The rest of the festival is run solely by volunteers.
For this year’s festival, we applied for our usual grants and three of our larger ones came up short. Because of this, we are for the first time in 12 years in a deficit position with a shortfall. We have approached those to whom we owe money and are working to develop a realistic timeline and payment plan to ensure they all receive what they are owed as quickly as possible.
We are now looking to our donors, our sponsors, our friends, and any of our local business which benefit from the estimated 15,000 festival attendees to consider helping Puppets Up! through this financial difficulty. (Puppets Up! is a registered charity and tax receipts will be issued for contributions.)
Every little bit will help us to end the year in the black so that we don’t start our 2017 festival under a cloud. 2017 is also Canada’s 150th birthday and Puppets Up! wants to celebrate this milestone as part of the festival. Grants will again be applied for and the money we receive along with your generous support, will ensure that we can have a special festival next year.
If you believe that Puppets Up! should continue to be part of the colourful fabric of our town, please show your support.
To make a donation on-line, go to the Puppets Up website.
To make a donation by mail, send it to Puppets Up! Box 1297, Almonte, Ontario, K0A 1A0.
Thank you.
Board of Directors,
Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival
