Address: 2411 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55405
Upcoming Events: Jump to In The Heart of the Beast Puppet Theatre Events
Phone 612-721-2535
Website In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre
In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre (HOBT) offers a variety of family friendly events and shows throughout the year, including Saturday Shows for Kids, free shows around town and a puppet lending library.
After decades of maintaining the historic Avalon Theatre, HOBT found a new home in Lowry Hill East Neighborhood. HOBT continues to host community workshops, camps, artist gatherings, performances, storytime, and the puppet library at the new location.
Puppet and Mask Lending Library
The Twin Cities first Puppet Lending Library is operated by IHOB volunteers and is open to the public on select Saturdays. It includes a collection of puppets and masks available for people to borrow like a library book. Available items include hand puppets, backpack puppets and masks. HOBT suggests puppets and masks can be used for protests, community events, school plays, and personal celebrations. Puppets and masks may also make great inspiration for storytelling and imaginative play.
- Loans are for a two-week period.
- Patrons will need to fill out a log with contact information and sign a pledge to care for the puppet to the best of their ability.
- A staff person will give borrowers a mini lesson on how to use the puppets and/or masks prior to check out.
- Puppeteers and transportation are available (and sometimes required) with any puppet loan for a fee that covers the puppeteers time and the cost of transporting.
However, keep in mind that these puppets are artist-made originals and require age-appropriate supervision. At this time, HOBT does not have age limitations but, as these are not toys, I would not be surprised to see them added in the future.
The puppet library is currently open first and third Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm. These hours are subject to change and we recommend checking the website. We have a link at the bottom of this page to the puppet library page.
Summer camp at Heart of the Beast
HOBT offers summer camps for kids ages 8 through 13 to learn a variety of puppetry and puppet-making techniques. Learn more about this year’s program in our Twin Cities Summer Camp Guide.
May Day Parade & Festival
Each spring HOBT had been the organizer of the Powderhorn MayDay Festival and Parade from 1975 through 2019. When it stepped back from leadership of that event, several community organizations jumped in to keep it going. Learn more here: MayDay Parade & Festival: HOBT’s Annual Spring Greeting.
More information
- Buy tickets for shows
- HOBT performance calendar
- Learn more about the Puppet & Mask Library
- Register for summer camp
Related content
- Find up-to-date listings on our Calendar of Kid-Friendly Theater, Music and Performing Arts in the Twin Cities.
- Historic Avalon Theater
- Twin Cities Summer Camps: Art Camps
Upcoming Family-Friendly Events
- In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Library Open - 04/04/2026 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
- Puppet Story Time with Chelly Beaver (FREE) - 04/04/2026 - 10:30 am - 11:30 am
- IHOB Puppet & Mask Theatre Camp - 06/22/2026 - 09/04/2026 - SEE TIMES
Fun Past Events We Hope to See Again
- Finger Puppet Follies: A Valentine's Day Puppet Slam! - 02/14/2026 - 7:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Please Note: FamilyFunTwinCities.com is an independent website run by Twin Cities families for Twin Cities families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we are not employed by or connected to this venue, and information sometimes changes without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website for up-to-date information.
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