The opening ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. local time in the open-air area of the Tehran City Theater complex, where festival secretary Poupak Azimpour Tabrizi has invited artists, students, academics, puppeteers and families to take part.
The invitation encourages visitors to become active participants rather than spectators, bringing their handmade or favorite puppets to a celebration of Iran’s rich puppetry traditions.
Outdoor performances will begin after the opening ceremony and continue through Oct. 22. The program also includes a performance of Yarali on Tuesday, Oct. 20, in the open-air area of Tehran’s Mofatteh Street.
The festival, running from Oct. 17 to 22, takes its name from Mobarak, the mischievous comic character of Kheimeh Shab-Bazi, a traditional form of Iranian puppet theater. Recognized for his humor and lively exchanges with other characters, Mobarak remains a beloved figure in the country’s performing arts heritage.
The festival will conclude on Thursday, Oct. 22, with a ceremony at 6 p.m. in the main hall of the Tehran City Theater complex.
