By Andra Moss

The magic was swirling as the Greenwoods Puppet Festival returned to Norfolk Library on Oct. 13-14 with local and international puppet artists, live music and the Big Puppet Parade, led by Mark Alexander’s 10-foot-tall “Flock of Doves.” Sponsored by the Norfolk Library and the Battell Arts Foundation, festival events featured hand-crafted marionettes as well as hand puppetry.

Puppeteer Robin Cahill remarked that “It was a wonder-filled event. One child at the parade said to me (after being chased by the dragon) that ‘maybe next year the kids can do a parade and the grown-ups can watch.’ What a fun idea!”

Heather Henson, a leader in the puppet arts, not only attended the festival but donned a costume for the parade. “I love how there is so much puppetry in Norfolk,” she said. “I want to support that in any way I can.”

Creator of the festival, Eileen Fitzgibbons, said that “I keep hearing how much fun everyone had! Some of the puppeteers said they loved to discuss the differences in the styles of puppetry, some appreciated the tent where they could rest a bit, some even mentioned how delicious the homemade muffins were, and all were enchanted by the Big Puppet Parade on the Green.”