Fall in Prince William County has a way of filling the calendar fast: pumpkin patches, Halloween programs, and before long, the first holiday performances. Tucked into the last full week of October is something a little different, and families with young children will want to know about it.

From Oct. 20 to 24, the Hylton Performing Arts Center welcomes Barefoot Puppet Theatre as its 2026–27 Mason Artist-in-Residence. The Richmond-based company will spend the week in local schools and on the Hylton stage, with two public events along the way: a puppetry discussion on Thursday and two performances of Galapagos George on Saturday.

Most of the residency happens in schools and is not open to the general public. Here is the full schedule, in order, so you can see how the week builds.

Tuesday, Oct. 20

The company performs Can’t Catch Me, a puppet retelling of the classic fairy tale The Gingerbread Boy, for kindergarten students at Cougar Elementary School. This event is not open to the public.

Wednesday, Oct. 21

Barefoot Puppet Theatre leads a theater and needle felting workshop with students at Osbourn Park High School. This event is not open to the public.

Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. (open to the public)

In partnership with Manassas’s Lifelong Learning Institute, the Hylton Center hosts an introductory discussion on puppetry led by Barefoot Puppet Theatre founder and artist Heidi Rugg. It is the one daytime event of the week meant for the broader community, and a good fit for adults curious about the craft.

Friday, Oct. 23

The company offers field trip performances for Prince William County Schools and Manassas Park City Schools students. This event is not open to the public.

Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (open to the public)

The week ends with Galapagos George, part of the Hylton Family Series. Tickets are $20, and the show is recommended for ages 5–10. The 2 p.m. performance will be sensory-friendly.

The show is inspired by “Lonesome George,” the last known Pinta Island tortoise. It follows George as he meets sea lions, marine iguanas, and other residents of the Galápagos Islands, with themes of friendship, conservation, and environmental stewardship. The Smithsonian called the production an “uplifting eco-fable.”

An hour before each performance, Dabble Creative Reuse Center will lead family-friendly craft activities, so plan to arrive early if your kids like to make things.

Heidi Rugg, a builder, writer, and designer, founded the company in Richmond. Barefoot Puppet Theatre has toured nationally since 1997, performing at theaters, schools, museums, festivals, and libraries, and received a UNIMA-USA Citation for excellence in the puppetry arts in 2005. Its tour stops have included the Smithsonian Discovery Theater, the Puppet Showplace Theatre in Boston, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. The company works with cardboard, wool, handmade papers, and recycled materials, aiming to create biodegradable puppets.

“We are looking forward to welcoming Barefoot Puppet Theatre to the Hylton Center for the first time!” said Marit Majeske, education coordinator at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. She said the company will reach learners of all ages, from kindergartners to a Lifelong Learning Institute lecture.

Galapagos George | Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (2 p.m. is sensory-friendly) | $20 | Recommended for ages 5–10

Puppetry discussion | Thursday, Oct. 22, 10:30 a.m. | Hosted with Manassas’s Lifelong Learning Institute

Tickets: Available at the Hylton Performing Arts Center Ticket Office (open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and two hours before all performances), by phone at 703-993-7759, or at HyltonCenter.org.

Like what you read? Get The Gazette.

The Woodbridge Gazette is independent, hyperlocal news for Prince William County and surrounding communities, free in your inbox every Monday. Subscribe here.