You can truly appreciate what a creative and surprising art form puppetry is when you see the National Puppetry Conference performances at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford.

This year's shows are Friday and Saturday, and they'll highlight the kind of exceptional and diverse work that has been done over the course of the eight-day conference. Guest artists and artists-in-residence all get into the act.

In short, both nights will be a celebration of puppetry and its eclectic performance styles.

The puppetry conference has been happening each June for 26 years at the O'Neill, and participants have ended up working on such Broadway shows as "Big Fish" and "Little Shop of Horrors" and such TV shows as "Sesame Street" and "Blue's Clues."

National Puppetry Conference performances, 7 p.m. Fri. and Sat., Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, 305 Great Neck Road, Waterford; $30; (860) 443-1238, theoneill.org.