What to Know”Hooray LA!”Bob Baker Marionette TheaterHighland ParkJan. 24-May 3; select dates$28; lap-sitting children ages 2 and under are admitted freeThe show, which debuted in 1981 and received a recent refresh, celebrates the “diversity and uniqueness” of Los Angeles

You’ll never find a mic-wielding marionette giving a play-by-play to a movie-loving group along Sunset Boulevard by bus, and spying a puppet at the lead of a Pasadena history walk, the kind that covers all sorts of stately sites?

That’s probably not in the cards, unfortunately.

But quite fortunately for us there is a cute collective of local-loving marionettes heading up a Southern California-centered spectacular.

You won’t need to board a tour shuttle nor lace up your strolling sneakers: “Hooray LA!” is shimmering, like the stars of Tinseltown, at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater over several winter and early spring weeks.

The return engagement of the beloved, oh-so-regional show begins Jan. 24, with an early May conclusion. Nope, the vibrant production doesn’t run on every date, as puppets do need their all-important downtime, but you’ll find a few festive shows festooning the adorable Highland Park venue each weekend.

Some of the Los Angeles icons set to have their marvelous moment in the floodlights? A fish from the Los Angeles River will wriggle and charm its way around the Bob Baker stage, for starters, while a mountain lion marionette will also make a charming appearance.

“Hooray LA!” first debuted at the original Bob Baker Marionette Theater near downtown in 1981. It’s had a fresh rethink in the last few years, and the updated production brims with admiration for our dynamic and diverse metropolis.

“For the 2026 presentation, the show focuses on celebrating the city as it is today, and wonderful people and puppets who make it up,” said the theater team.

“Additional elements, including BBMT’s puppet mariachi band, have been added to the show, showcasing LA’s rich culture.”

A ticket is $28 — there are chairs as well as stage-adjacent pillows that give audience members the chance to sit “criss-cross apple sauce” — and ice cream, as always, will be served after the show.

A sweet benefit? A puppet or two always ventures out after the curtain drops for photos with audience members, a core memory in the making.