I could just hug them to pieces! There are so many people to thank for the success of this year’s puppet festival in Almonte.

The 2010 Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival was a huge success for a whole bunch of reasons. First, the puppet talent was spectacular and kids and their parents couldn’t help but have a fantastic time in our tented and storefront theatres. The kids were either rolling in the aisles or silently entranced by performances that ranged from the hilarious to the mystical. So, thank you to all of the puppeteers who travelled to Almonte to share their special kind of magic once again this year. Extra thanks goes out to all those who brought a bit of Taiwan to small town Almonte, including Dr. David Tawei, Taiwan’s representative to Canada, and his charming wife, Ms. Lin Chih. Both were great sports and participated in the festival parade along with our other special guests.

Puppets Up! sends out a huge thank you to our corporate and media sponsors listed below. Without your financial and in-kind support we just couldn’t have mounted this festival. It was so great to have you at our backs. You are certainly very much in our hearts.

And then there were our festival “angels”. You know who you are and we are absolutely smitten with you. You are the truest friends to the festival. Lots and lots of people from Ottawa, Lanark County and across Canada provided personal financial contributions that add up to big time backing for the festival.

And then there were all of the people who came to see the shows. You came in record numbers this year and we were so glad to welcome you. Thank you for bringing your kids and your spirit of adventure to Almonte.

And last, but not least, the festival owes a huge debt to its many, many volunteers. There they were, in their red or gray shirts, greeting people, providing directions, running theatres, helping in the craft tent, selling tickets, directing traffic – you name it, they were out in the sun and in the rain to make Puppets Up! the best-darned puppet festival in Canada.

It is one thing to be proud, it is another to be grateful right now to the bottom of your puppet heart. As the festival mascot, I am both. Thanks to all of our supporters and thanks to everyone who came to Almonte for the 2010 Puppets Up! International Puppet Festival! Consider yourself hugged.