Giant puppets will take over Chicago parks during REMNANTS, an eco-mythic outdoor spectacle. (Wikimedia Commons photo by Dr. Chinchu C.)
What if the spirits of Chicago’s ancient prairies, wetlands and woodlands could come back to life? This summer, they will, at least in giant puppet form. REMNANTS, an eco-mythic outdoor spectacle from Wender Collective, is coming to Chicago parks in August, transforming familiar green spaces into a theatrical journey through the city’s natural past. The free performances combine giant puppets, movement, ecology and storytelling to explore the landscapes that existed here long before Chicago became a city.
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Audiences will follow larger-than-life “spirits of the place” representing the remnant ecosystems that once covered the region, including prairies, wetlands, savannas and woodlands. The roaming performance eventually converges on a central gathering at dusk, creating what promises to be a decidedly unusual night in the park.
The experience is designed to be more than a spectacle. REMNANTS weaves together Chicago’s environmental history with questions about what can be restored and what might be possible in the future. The production uses the language of myth and puppetry to encourage audiences to think about loss, renewal and the possibility of rewilding urban spaces.
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The first Chicago performances will take place at Winnemac Park in Lincoln Square on Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22, beginning at 6 p.m. The performances are expected to continue toward dusk. Winnemac is an especially fitting location, with the park already home to approximately three acres of native prairie habitat.
The spectacle then moves to Marian R. Byrnes Park on Chicago’s Southeast Side for performances on Friday, Aug. 28, and Saturday, Aug. 29, also beginning at 6 p.m.
Presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, REMNANTS is free and open to all ages. Audiences are encouraged to bring a blanket or chair, and because the performance travels through the park before reaching its final gathering place, comfortable shoes are a good idea.
There is also a takeaway beyond the theater. Free native plants and educational materials will be available at each performance, connecting the fantastical creatures wandering through the park with real efforts to restore Chicago’s native ecosystems.
So, if you happen to spot a giant creature emerging from the prairie this August, don't panic. It may just be Chicago's natural history coming back for an encore.
REMNANTS 2026
Winnemac Park: Aug. 21-22, 6 p.m. to dusk, 5100 N. Leavitt St.
Marian Byrnes Park: Aug. 28-29, 6 p.m. to dusk, 2200 E. 103rd St.
Admission: Free
Presented by: Wender Collective and Chicago Park District Night Out in the Parks
Sources:
Chicago Park District – REMNANTS at Winnemac
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