Bring your imagination to life and become part of one of Hillsborough's most beloved traditions! In preparation for the Spring 2027 Handmade Parade, the Hillsborough Arts Council invites teens and adults to From Frame to Face: Puppet Foundations, the first in a series of hands-on puppet-making workshops.
Led by Sol Ramirez, founder of 1,2,3 Puppetry, participants will learn the essential techniques needed to begin building a parade puppet. During this workshop, you'll:
- Design and build your puppet's armature (skeleton)
- Sculpt a unique puppet face
- Add details using papier-mâché
- Take home a DIY puppet manual to continue your creation
This workshop is perfect for aspiring artists, makers, theater enthusiasts, and anyone interested in participating in the Handmade Parade. Future workshops will cover additional puppet-building techniques to help complete your creation before the parade.
Meet the Instructor
Sol Ramirez is the founder and artistic director of 1,2,3 Puppetry, a Chapel Hill-based puppet theater company that combines puppetry, acting, music, and movement to promote social justice and amplify underrepresented voices. A lifelong puppeteer who began creating puppets at age three, Sol earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Puppet Arts from the University of Connecticut and now helps lead Hillsborough's annual Handmade Parade.
Workshop Details
📅 Saturday, July 18, 2026 & Saturday, August 15, 2026
🕓 4:00–6:00 PM
📍 Snow Approach Foundation
129 E. King Street, Hillsborough, NC
Registration Fee: $25 per person
Child/adult pairs only require one ticket to attend (if collaborating on one puppet).
Ages 12 and up. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Space is limited, and first-come, first-serve!
Register Here: https://www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org/workshops
Business Review
Build your own Handmade Parade puppet with artist Sol Ramirez! Learn armature construction, sculpting, and papier-mâché in this hands-on workshop for ages 12 and up.
