Every small town has stories worth parading — and this spring, Main Street Studio is building giant square-dancing puppets, a fiddler, strawberries, and even a two-person buffalo to celebrate the community of Harmony Corners. We need your hands to make it happen!
Save the Dates!
🎉 Cast Party · Friday, June 5 · 5–8 pm Meet the puppets, make a banner & enjoy refreshments with your neighbors. Free and open to all!
🦬 Founders' Day Parade · Sunday, June 7 Meet at the studio at 1 pm · Parade steps off at 2 pm Everyone welcome — just show up!
What kind of puppets?!
In a series of build sessions hosted at Main Street Studio, community members will work together to create an entourage of large puppets and small props representing Harmony Corners, a hamlet in the northeastern corner of Charlton, just south of Saratoga Springs.
To this day, Harmony Hall, the meeting house erected in the late 1800s, still hosts barn dances and a strawberry festival that brings neighbors together. Harmony Corners Volunteer Fire Department celebrates its 100th anniversary this year and continues to play a critical role for this still-rural community and as first responders along the stretch of Rte 67 between Amsterdam and Ballston Spa.
To represent this community, we need help making four “backpack” style puppets that can square-dance and play the fiddle all the way down the parade route! These “square-dancing” puppets will be constructed from foam, PVC pipes, fabric and paper-mâché and will be "worn" on parade day just like a large backpack! We also have plans for large and small strawberries and… a two-person buffalo!
Why a buffalo?
The buffalo became Harmony Corners VFD mascot when they bought a 1929 Buffalo fire truck from the Alplaus fire department, completely overhauled the engine and pump and started entering firematic competitions! That small farm community went on to win the much coveted first place championship of the Central NYS Firematic Drill Team Association.
Many of us in the area are somewhat familiar with Harmony Corners, but how many people know why their firetrucks have a buffalo painted on them? Creating these big parade puppets is our way of helping to preserve those types of stories and celebrate the accomplishments of everyone who makes this community special. Go Buffalo!
Come cut, glue, sew, and paint with us this spring — whether you have two hours or the whole season, there's a place for you in this project. No experience needed, all ages welcome.
All sessions held at Main Street Studio · 786 Charlton Road, Charlton NY
🗓️ Saturday Community Builds - Help us cut, glue, paint and create paper-mâché puppets!
- April 18 · 1 pm –3 pm
- April 25 · 11 am–1 pm
- May 2 · 11 am–1 pm
- May 16 · 11 am–1 pm
- May 30 · 2pm–4pm
🗓️ Tuesday Evening Sessions - Help us design and sew the puppet costumes!
- April 28 · 6–8 pm · Fabric printing with Maria DeAngelo
- May 5 · 6–8 pm · Costume making with Renee Johnson
- May 12 · 6–8 pm · Costume making with Renee Johnson
- May 19 · 6–8 pm · Costume making with Renee Johnson
➡️ Click here to reserve your free spot and come make with us!
There is no charge to participate, but donations at the door to support Main Street Studio's community programming are always appreciated.
This program has been made possible by Saratoga Arts through the Community Arts Regrant Program, funded by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
When is parade day?
Join us for a preview at Charlton's Party in the Park on Saturday, June 6th — then march with us in the 2026 Founders' Day Parade on Sunday, June 7th! Meet at the studio. It's a fun day for the whole family.