The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater

09/16/2026

No shows September 19-20 due to technical issues

09/12/2026

The Heat is finally over!!!

This Weekend!

FreddyToons!
September 12-13

Shows 11am, 1 & 3 pm Saturday and Sunday!

Freddy is back with a new concept.... Puppets and Cartoons! Freddy is an Influencer, as well as a Star of several short movies... but did you know he loves Cartoons and has starred in several? 
Come see what the hoopla is all about!
This show has flashing lights and loud sounds!

Tickets at balboaparkpuppets.com or at the box office 15 minutes before showtime!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...

08/29/2026

This weekend!

Freddy's Adventure!!!!

August 29- 30

11am, 1 and 3 pm weather permitting!

Freddy is the Man! Hes got new adventures to go in this installment of the popular "The Freddy Show" series! We are not sure what he's going to do, but it always involves smoke, flashing lights and mayhem!!!

Tickets online at balboaparkpuppets.com, or 15 minutes before showtime.

Be aware, if the heat gets too much outside, we may have to shut down to protect the puppets and puppeteers! We will post on the website and in our box office window if we close!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...

08/29/2026

If temps are very high, the Theater may close due to the heat.

08/21/2026

This Weekend!

Kitty City

Saturday and Sunday,
August 22-23

Play and learn with cats in this fun show for all ages. Hear the classic story, "County Mouse/City Mouse" told with cats, and find out how the cat got its purr! You can even meet the kitties after the show!

Booth show with hand puppets, for all ages, especially the younger set!

Times are 11am, 1 and 3 pm, Admission $5 General, $4 Senior and Military with ID, and under two Free!

Tickets online at balboaparkpuppets.,com or 15 minutes before showtime!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...

08/15/2026

This Weekend!

Shadow puppets take over space!

Blast Off!

Two best friends, Kat and Bun, go on an unscheduled adventure to outer space! What will they see? Will they make it back? Will their friendship survive after being in outer space? Come find out!

Saturday and Sunday, 11am. 1 & 3 pm! Tickets $7, Senior and Military w/ID $5, and under two free!

Tickets at Balboaparkpuppets.com or 15 minutes before showtime at the Box Office!

If you buy tickets online, please come to the Box Office to let us know you are here!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...

07/31/2026

The Origin of Clowns
August 1-2, 8-9

Tickets at balboaparkpuppets.com or 15 minutes before showtime!

Prices $7 General Admission, $5 Senior/MIlitary w/ID, Under 2 years free!

Where did clowns come from? Which country? How many types of clown are there? What is a clown, exactly?
Some people think these questions are very hard to answer, but history nerds and clown enthusiasts like Paige Turner have done the hard work for you and present it in a way that will be fascinating whether you've ever looked in the direction of a circus or not. The history of clowns spans the entire world, thousands of years, and shows a constant in human evolution - a professional sense of humor!
Pantomime, marionettes, even silly sound effects. Follow Petrix the Clown and her living poppets who witness the transition of the European caravan circus to the great American railway three rings at the turn of the nineteenth century. See elaborate cut-out cartoons improvise Italian comedy about poor servants stealing food from their morally bankrupt masters. And best of all, watch the fall of that pesky rival clown of ours, Dasani The Great, and his Army of Imitators! We'll show them - for the show must go on!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...

07/17/2026

This Saturday and Sunday!

The Freddy Review!

Freddy is back again!.... But what will he do next? He's saved a damsel in distress from a train, went on safari, and won some dance offs.... Come see what's next for Freddy!
Flashing lights may be used during the show

Tickets at balboaparkpuppets.com, or 15 minutes before showtime...

We are aware it may be difficult for parking as it is summer and Pride weekend... Please allow 1.5 hours to get into the Park and find a parking place! And don't go 6th Avenue or University Avenue!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...

07/03/2026

There will be no shows the weekend of July 4th

Enjoy Celebrating 250 Years!

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LAST FRIDAY!
3-4 pm MICHELOB STAGE
See Us at the Del Mar Fair!

On Kid's Free Fridays,

The Legend of Perlina

A Princess. A Knight, and of course a Dragon! As well as some well known fairy tale characters help Princess Perlina on her quest to find Sir Reginald.. but who is he really?
Come find out!

Labor Day weekend.. come see the new Legend of Perlina! Find out what happens next!

Tickets coming soon!

06/25/2026

The July 4th Show Spectacular that isn't on July 4th

June 27-28

11am, 1 & 3 pm

The Theater Puppets have joined together to do a simple, but edutainment, one of kind 50 star show as they do a Americana musical review where each one, or together, sing a series of classic songs and in the end, saving the best for last, a Grand Finale!
Flashing lights will be used in this production.

Tickets at balboaparkpuppets.com or 15 minutes before showtime!

The Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater is celebrating 79 years! It was established as a puppet theater in 1947. We are located in Balboa Park, San Diego, California. The Puppet Theater, originally called the Hollywood Building, then the Palisades Building, was one of the buildings constructed for the Ca...