Children’s Fairyland celebrates its 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater with the kickoff puppet show “The Three Little Pigs” by Children’s Fairyland puppet theater director Randal Metz, who said he started at age 10 and has been a puppeteer for 57 years.
Kids and adults enjoyed the weekend Puppet Fair, which featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, an open-air display of historic puppets, and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets and other activities. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. `
The event continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $20 for adults and $18 for ages 17 and under. For information, check its website fairyland.org/fairyland-calendar
Children’s Fairyland puppet theater director Randal Metz speaks before visitors before “The Three Little Pigs” puppet show during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Historic puppets on display during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
King Fuddle, created in the 1950s by children’s television host Bruce Sedley—who also invented Children’s Fairyland’s Magic Key—is among the historic puppets on display during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppetry Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Children’s Fairyland puppet theater director Randal Metz, right, and Tasha La, perform “The Three Little Pigs” puppet show during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Families enjoy “The Three Little Pigs” puppet show by Children’s Fairyland puppet theater director Randal Metz during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Children’s Fairyland puppet theater director Randal Metz, and Tasha La, perform “The Three Little Pigs” puppet show during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Families enjoy “The Three Little Pigs” puppet show by Children’s Fairyland puppet theater director Randal Metz during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
A child takes a closer look at historic puppets on display during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Puppeteer Tom Jensen, of San Diego, performs with his puppet Timothy Teapot during the 70th anniversary of the Storybook Puppet Theater at Children’s Fairyland in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. Jensen said he has been a puppeteer for about 60 years. The weekend Puppet Fair featured performances on multiple stages by the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and other artists, a display of historic puppets and hands-on workshops where children made rod puppets. “It’s like Coachella for people who love puppets, puppet shows and puppeteers,” organizers said. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)