Calendar of Events
Our programming includes many art classes and events both free and paid for anyone who is passionate about puppetry! Events are typically hosted at different venues around Minneapolis, and include offerings that are all ages, family friendly, as well as programs for kids, tweens and teens. You can subscribe to our enewsletter and stay up to date on all we have to offer.
Puppet Toddler Music Time
Join Chelly and her sidekick Turnip the Dog for 8 weeks of music, movement, stories and puppets!
We will engage in exploring puppets, singing familiar songs, finger play and more.
Suggested ages: Toddlers and Pre-K
Beaver Woman: A Tale of Curiosity
Beaver Woman: A Tale of Curiosity is a shadow puppet show inspired by Beaversprite: My Years Building an Animal Sanctuary, the memoir of Dorothy Richards.
Following the performance, stick around to learn about local beaver ecology, meet the artists, and try your hand at making shadow puppets!
Created by: Kim Boustead and Jessie Merriam
Music by: Alex Griffin and Bozena Scheidel
Narrated by: Beth Homa Kraus
History of Puppetry in the Twin Cities & Behind-the-Scenes Tour (SOLD OUT!)
Jennings Mergenthal, a puppeteer and historian will share from their ongoing research project, exploring oral histories and archival sources to uncover the origins of this community. We'll explore the park pageants, department store window shows and government funded public service announcements that captivated generations of Minnesotans.
🎃 Halloween Stories with Chelly & Turnip at Mueller Park!
Join Chelly & Turnip the Dog at Mueller Park for Halloween stories from 1–2 PM, then stick around for an afternoon of Halloween fun!
Open Streets Hennepin 2026
Come find HOBT at Hennepin Open Streets (27th & Hennepin Ave — NW corner)
🎨✂️ Make something with us at our Make & Take table
📚✨ Gather ’round for Storytime with Chelly!
⏰ Storytime times TBA — stay tuned!
FULL - Bread and Puppet Puppetry in Performance Workshop
Bread and Puppet
Puppetry in Performance Workshop
Join Bread & Puppet for a workshop that leads to a participatory performance! The Upside Down World Circus features diverse puppetry and street theater performance styles to tell vital stories of the moment. Through the lens of a rehearsal process, participants in the Puppetry in Performance Workshop will be introduced to these performance styles and methods. The workshop culminates with participants performing alongside Bread & Puppet company members in a performance of Our Domestic Resurrection Circus.
Free. Registration is required to participate
Beaver Day Puppet Making Workshop
🎉🦦The Beaver Day Parade is coming, and HoBT is helping get the puppet population ready!
Join us for one, two or both FREE puppet-building workshops and create a large beaver puppet — or another marvelous wetland friend — to bring to the parade. 🐸🦆🐟🌿
Experienced puppet makers will be there to help you work from a template or dream up a creature of your own. You'll also learn about beavers and their ecosystems from experts and researchers who'll be building right alongside us! 💡
HOBT Summer Puppet Camp: August Session
HOBT Puppet Camp will take place June 22-26, 2026 and August 31-September 4, 2026! Your child will be able to explore the materials and create with others.
Trees Are Cool!
Trees Are Cool
Trees are Cool introduces its young audience to a Grandmother Squirrel who teaches us to plant trees for the benefit of future generations. The simple narrative of a grandmother and her tree climbing grandchild is packed with educational information about our specific ecosystem here in the city, the importance of trees, and the magnificence of the interconnection of all living things. Told through puppetry, song, and even some tree jokes, Trees are Cool is a delightful and educational show that illuminates just how cool trees are.
First Saturday Storytime CLOSED JULY 4th
HoBT will be closed July 4th. Storytime this Saturday is cancelled.
HOBT Summer Puppet Camp: June Session
HOBT Puppet Camp will take place June 22-26, 2026 and August 31-September 4, 2026! Your child will be able to explore the materials and create with others.
Let Them Eat Melon - SOLD OUT
The Ow WOW mEoW puppet troupe presents “Let Them Eat Melon: A puppet show inside a watermelon, inside a stomach, inside of a anti folk music
Puppets in Progress
"Puppets in Progress" a gathering space for artists and puppet enthusiasts.
A space to connect in time and space A space to share and witness
- Are you looking for an accountability group?
- Would you like a cohort to brainstorm with, to showcase your work and get feedback?
lightly led/coordinated by Felicia Cooper and Steve Ackerman
* Free
Mother's Day Brunch and Puppet
Calling all Familes! Come celebrate your cregivers: moms, aunts, grandmas, sisters, dads and anyone else who is special in your life! Open to all! we will make simple hand puppets and enjoy some brunchy snacks and beverages.
