8th Annual Summer Puppetry Festival kicks off on June 9

On Monday, June 9, 2025 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm, the Menlo Park Library’s 8th Annual Summer Puppetry Festival kicks off with a look at California’s history of puppets

Meet the authors of A Century of California Puppetry: How the West was Strung, a book sharing the fascinating history of puppetry and puppeteers in California since the late 1800’s.

Randal J. Metz and Kevin Menegus, each well-established puppetry artists themselves, dove into California’s century-plus of puppetry—from rustic performances during the Gold Rush, to large touring companies playing in vaudeville houses, to small troupes during and after the Depression, to television, theme parks, and beyond.

The talk takes place at 800 Alma St. This free program received funding support from the Friends of the Menlo Park Library.