After a year of waiting the time has finally come!

World in a Weekend IS BACK!

Between August 1-4, Stratford will come alive as we partner with Stratford Summer Music to bring you the third annual

World in a Weekend Festival: International Puppet & Music Festival!

This year’s lineup will be as breathtaking as the past two years - and we are so excited to share with you all the delight we have in store…

Join us for our wide range of family-friendly free activities located at Veterans Drive Park, spontaneous surprises from fantastical friendly visitors, and unforgettable performances by world-class puppet artists performing a captivating selection of ticketed programming. Don’t forget to try your hand at creation by joining our visiting artists in their carefully crafted workshops. There is so much to do at this year's World in a Weekend - offering you and yours lots of opportunities for curiosity and adventure. Make sure to plan ahead and experience it ALL by scheduling your visit to Stratford, Ontario.

Explore….Dance…. And Play!

We are thrilled to be hosting world-renowned artists from across Canada, the USA, Mexico and Spain. You can come and experience their marvellous works, get to know them by learning at their workshops, or even volunteer as a unique opportunity to engage with our artists and help behind the scenes!

The programme includes:

 • Cuckoo •

Nancy Cambell (indoor) 

Event type: Ages 4+

Eloi Cousineau and Graham Soul

Poor little cuckoo bird, between his hourly cuckoo duties, singing lessons, and chores, there’s no time left for fun and play. But one day, a mischievous intruder creates chaos and Cuckoo chases after it and discovers a magical world beyond time. Can Cuckoo find a way home and fix the clock?

 • Don’t Make Me Get Dressed •

City Hall Auditorium (indoor) 

Event type: Ages 3+ All Ages

For every child who has struggled to get into their clothes first thing in the morning (and for every parent who has fought valiantly in the battleground of the morning routine), comes Don’t Make Me Get Dressed — a gloriously silly and inventive ode to the feelings we have when we choose our clothes… and to what happens when our clothes come to life and choose us. Don’t Make Me Get Dressed features The Gottabees’ trademark mix of puppetry, joyously absurd silliness, physical theater, live music, and surprising poignancy. Plus the voices of over 20 children!

 • Garden for Little Souls Interactive Playground •

Veteran’s Drive Park (outdoor) 

Back by popular demand, a playful and sensory garden in the city is what the Théâtre des Petites Âmes offers with its interactive installation “Le Jardin des Petites Âmes”. At child height, the garden offers different situations that the little ones can manipulate, bring to life, and resonate. The garden is to be explored at your own pace with all your little ones from 12 months to 7 years old!

 • Gregory Oh: Lessons in Failure •

Factory 163 (indoor) 

Lessons in Failure embraces the taboos of classical music with delight and vulnerability. Part recital, part tell-all confessional, veteran pianist and award-winning music director Gregory Oh dishes on the shortcomings, shameful moments and catastrophic failures that have defined his career. With great humour and bittersweet introspection, this is a meditation on a life spent in the performing arts and trying to find meaning within it.

 • Latin Dance Party •

Factory 163 (indoor) 

Event type: Ages 16+

Details: Interactive Dance Demonstrations | Latin and Freestyle Dance

Folks of all experience levels are invited to learn basic salsa and Latin moves, led by dance professional Mateo Torres and Stratford Dance Co.

Dance the night away! Try out some new moves in a fun and casual environment... enjoy some drinks and freestyle dance until late into the evening.

Tickets are Pay-What-You-Wish with a suggested price of $20. All are also welcome to select the free ticket option. Come as you are or bring a donation!

 • Les Kakous •

Surprise Stratford Downtown Stroll (outdoor) | Friday Aug 2, 11:30am- noon pm, Friday Aug 2, 1:15pm - 1:45 pm, Saturday Aug 3, 11:30am - noon FREE

Presented by: Imagicario

Encounter the spellbinding fictional creatures. Say hi, take a photo with them, and dance through the streets!

 • Make Your Own Song/Book •

Factory 163 (indoor) 

Event type: Ages 10+

Details: Art Workshop | Storytelling | Multidisciplinary

This workshop is for anyone interested in exploring connections between books and other art forms. Bring a favourite song, poem, or story to transform into your very own Song/Book!

No previous art experience is required! Everyone is welcome to bring their inspiration and creativity.

 • Migraciones/Migrations •

Factory 163 (indoor) 

Event type: Ages 10+

MIGRACIONES / MIGRATIONS follows the journey of migrating refugees in a unique performance that combines life-sized puppets, sand drawings, shadow puppetry projections, live music, and poetry in English and Spanish.

Presented by Paradox Teatro

 • Sand Drawing Projections and Shadow Puppetry for Multimedia Arts 

Factory 163 (indoor) 

Event type: Ages 10+

Learn innovative shadow puppetry and projection techniques for multimedia art in a hands-on workshop with Paradox Teatro Artistic Co-Directors Sofía Padilla of Mexico and Davey T Steinman of the USA.

Paradox Teatro is interested in responding to the unique interests and questions of each participant by supporting participants of all ages ranging from beginners to experts.

 • Makin Puppet Work •

Factory 163 (indoor) 

Event type: All Ages 5+ This workshop is designed for children and their adult. Be sure to purchase a ticket for yourself and your workshop partner(s). Space is limited.

Details: Child & Adult Workshop | Puppet Manipulation | Interactive

What is a puppet and why are they so endearing? Learn how to bring these odd little creatures to life with your very own hands!

In this one hour puppet manipulation workshop designed for duos of one adult and one child, we will work on the basics of any puppet manipulation…looking, breathing, thinking. Work together with your loved one to bring your characters to life. Only time will tell who will have more fun!

Hosted by Isabelle Payant, artistic director of Theatre des Petites Âmes

 • Mr Mark •

Veteran’s Drive Park Bandshell (outdoor) 

His real name is Mark Cameron but he's been known to countless kids and their families as Mr. Mark, creator of wild and wonderful music for kids to sing and dance to. Armed with a truckload of enthusiasm and a truckload of instruments, his shows are always lively and engaging!

His high energy one man show have been thoroughly enjoyed at many festivals including; The Winnipeg International Children's Festival, The Banff Centre For The Arts, St. Alberts International Children’s Festival, Alianait Festival in Iqaluit, The Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, The Hillside Festival, and many more festivals across Canada.

So whether you're singing the praises of Macaroni and Cheese or going on an adventure with the symphony orchestra....... you'll wind up wigglin' and gigglin' and wantin’ more..... Mr Mark !

 • Pete & Anna •

Veteran’s Drive Park Bandshell (outdoor)  FREE

Pete & Anna started playing music together in 2016. Since then, they’ve played togeher in various Toronto bands and gigs. They perform a blend of originals and popular cover songs at diverse venues around Southern Ontario: street & seasonal festivals, cafes, farmers’ markets, private birthday parties, and other events.

Over the past 3 years, Pete & Anna have combined their experience, passion for music, and love of song-writing with their backgrounds in education and wildlife conservation to develop inspiring shows

 • PIPA •

Veterans Park Drive (outdoor) |

FREE

PIPA does not want a quiet and peaceful life. He wants to play, have fun, fall in love, live life … but he will find a world of surprising characters: Mister Tofol and his selfie stick, Nina and her ice cream, the Banker and his machine

Presented by La Puntual

 • Song/Book •

Factory 163 (indoor) 

An unforgettable musical journey through Hebrew, Yiddish and American folk songs exploring the complexities and richness of family.

Hear the tapestry of live vocals, piano, and recorded voices layered into a choir, as you witness small handmade paper-puppets and crankie scrolls manipulated on stage and projected, creating a show that is both intimate and immersive.

 • Tio Chirinho •

Stratford Perth Museum (outdoor) 

Choro (pronounced SHOH-roh) is a primarily instrumental style originating in Rio de Janeiro in the late-19th century. Choro is the original Brazilian soul music, combining popular and classical European styles with Afro-Brazilian influences. It is the foundation of many modern Brazilian music styles, and is often described as “the New Orleans jazz of Brazil.” Exciting, energetic, soulful, intimate, nostalgic and virtuosic, choro is an infectious popular style whose universal appeal belies its musical complexity.

 • Viva Mexico Mariachi •

Factory 163 (indoor)

A unique multicultural phenomenon of professional, talented and enthusiastic musicians from very diverse ethnic backgrounds. Since year 2000 Viva Mexico Mariachi is proudly, the most successful and prestigious mariachi band in Toronto, performing a worldwide known, appreciated and praised Mexican tradition in the world.

For the full schedule visit www.worldinaweekend.ca.