What signals the beginning of spring like butterflies breaking forth into the warm breeze?

While school is out, April 20 to 24, giant butterfly puppets will be hatching out of West Tisbury, as Island puppeteers April Thanhauser and Marsha Wynsrig lead a team of youngsters in a week-long puppet building workshop.

These colorful silk butterflies, wielded by their young creators, will sail down Main street this July as a part of the Martha’s Vineyard Puppet Parade, and will also take part in a performance Polly Hill Arboretum this June. The puppets will join a giant Mother Earth puppet that has been built by a collaboration of Island women this spring, as well as puppets built by Island artist Tim Larson and others.

Drawing on traditions of northern Italian puppet pageantry, as well as upon the work of Bread and Puppet of Vermont, the planners of the parade and workshop aim to combine art, education, community building and public spectacle.

The workshop-camp will be held at the Plum Hill School, Monday, April 20, to Friday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $100, for participants aged 6 to 12. Sign up by e-mail to athanhauser@comcast.net. For more information on Spindrift Marionettes, see online spindriftmarionettes.org/puppet-theater/.