The City Parks Foundation’s beloved PuppetMobile will return to Rego Park this June with a free outdoor performance of Pippi Longstocking, rescheduled after a weather-related postponement earlier this spring. State Senator Joseph Addabbo announced that the marionette show will take place on Thursday, June 12, from 11 a.m. to noon at Painters Playground, located next to P.S. 174 at 65-30 Dieterle Crescent.
The PuppetMobile, operated by the CityParks PuppetMobile program under the City Parks Foundation, is New York City’s only traveling marionette theater and one of the oldest in the country. Since its inception more than 60 years ago, the PuppetMobile has introduced generations of New Yorkers to live puppet theater in parks and playgrounds throughout the five boroughs. Each year, its productions bring classic children’s stories to life using handcrafted marionettes and original scripts designed to engage young audiences in public spaces.
This year’s featured performance celebrates the 80th anniversary of Pippi Longstocking, the iconic children’s book by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. The PuppetMobile’s adaptation tells the story of Pippi, a fiercely independent and strong young girl who lives by her own rules and often upends conventional expectations with wit and courage. Since its publication in 1945, the book has been translated into more than 70 languages and remains a touchstone of feminist literature for children.
“This event is a wonderful opportunity for children and families to experience the magic of storytelling and celebrate a timeless character who inspires independence and confidence,” Addabbo said. “Programs like the PuppetMobile help bring the arts directly to our neighborhoods and provide valuable cultural enrichment for local youth.”
The show at Painters Playground is one of dozens scheduled across the city during the summer season as part of the City Parks Foundation’s broader mission to provide free arts, sports, and education programs to communities with limited access to cultural offerings. Past PuppetMobile performances have included adaptations of The Princess and the Pea, Peter and the Wolf, and Cinderella Samba.
Thursday’s performance is open to the public, and attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure space and enjoy the open-air setting. The program is especially geared toward families with young children, school groups, and daycare centers.
More information about the PuppetMobile, including upcoming tour stops, can be found at cityparksfoundation.org/puppetmobile.
