The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation invites the public to participate in a special ‘Giant Puppet-Making Workshops’ led by artists from the internationally acclaimed Processional Arts. The workshops take place from August 14 through August 19 at Bergen Makerspace located at 284 Hackensack Avenue in Hackensack, New Jersey. The puppets created in the workshop series will be featured in a giant puppet parade marching down Main Street in Hackensack in Illumination 250. This all-day regional arts festival occurs on October 3, 2026 to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
Volunteers participate in a puppet-making workshop led by Processional Arts Workshop. Photo Credit: Processional Arts Workshop
The ‘Giant Puppet-Making Workshops’ series’ sessions are free and open to adults, seniors, teenagers, tweens, and also ages 12 and up. Youngsters, ages 12 and under, 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.Participants may sign up for one, more, or all the sessions in the workshop series. Reserve your spot today and register for each session separately here.
Giant Puppet-Making Workshops Dates and Times
The workshop sessions will be held on the following dates and times:
- Friday, August 14: 2:00-5:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, August 15: 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- Sunday, August 16: 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 3:00-6:00 p.m.
- Monday, August 17: 2:00-5:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, August 18: 2:00-5:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, August 19: 2:00-5:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m
Sign Up to March or Become a Puppet Master
You can also be part of this once-in-a-generation celebration by marching in the parade or becoming a puppet master. Walk alongside the giant puppets, musicians, artists, and neighbors in this joyful community procession. Learn how to operate one of the spectacular giant puppets and become a puppet master. No experience is necessary. Free training will be provided to teach you how to manipulate these incredible creations before the parade. Sign up here and learn more about this once in a lifetime opportunity.
Illumination 250 Celebration: A Collaboration
Building around the Main Street Business Alliance’s popular HACKENSACKtoberfest, the initiative introduces a series of new arts, cultural, and community events across downtown Hackensack. This will creates the largest public art festival experience in the region. Illumination 250 festivities also include Family Fun Day, Hackensackotoberfest, a flash mob, and a spectacular light show on the Green in the evening. In addition, opportunities will be available for local artists to contribute their talent to the planned arts experiences.
The celebration expands beyond the annual HACKENSACKtoberfest from Atlantic Street Park to multiple downtown locations. These locations include Anderson Street Park, Banta Place, and Demarest Place, as well as the Courthouse Green. The celebration features live performances, cultural programming, and also interactive art installations to celebrate the City of Hackensack’s diverse communities.
Illumination 250 is a collaborative, regional celebration developed by several organizations. These include Hackensack Performing Arts Center (HACPAC), Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF), Main Street Business Alliance (MSBA), Greater Bergen Community Action (GBCA), and also the City of Hackensack. The celebration is supported by funding through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) A.R.T. Phase II program, which leverages the arts to transform public spaces into vibrant, engaging community hubs, stimulating economic activity, and expanding public cultural art programing.
Public Art: A Powerful Engine
Public art and creative placemaking projects like Illumination 250 demonstrate how the arts can be powerful engines for economic development, as well as community vitality. They bring people into public spaces and also business districts. These public projects increase foot traffic for local restaurants and shops. Furthermore, the arts create a stronger sense of place. They foster civic pride, connection, and also investment in the life of a place. The collaboration’s long-term goal is to develop an annual event that draws larger investments into the downtown and builds greater audience numbers over time.
Contact Us About Giant Puppet-Making Workshops
For further information about the Illumination 250 celebration, contact Danielle DeLaurentis, Associate Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation. Check for updates about the celebration on the partners’ social media accounts. These updates include MSBA on Instagram at @DowntownHackensack and on Facebook at @DowntownHackensack. In addition, view announcements on HACPAC on Instagram at @HACPAC_arts and on Facebook at @Hackensack Performing Arts Center. More importantly, check the celebration’s website for news.
