Craig Wilson is the editor of the Hill & Lake Press. He lives in Lowry Hill.
Now settled into their new home on Hennepin Avenue, HOBT’s puppets will once again anchor community life — with space for workshops, creativity, and new traditions. (Image: Elina Kotlyar)
On Sept. 27, community members gathered at the Avalon Theatre for a puppet caravan — a joyful procession that moved the theater’s beloved collection of puppets to their new home. Dozens of volunteers arrived with trucks, vans and helping hands to carry this legacy forward. At 11 a.m., the caravan set off, marking both continuity and renewal for one of Minneapolis’ most treasured community arts institutions.
Founded in 1973, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre, also known as HOTB, has long been a cornerstone of Minneapolis’ cultural life. Best known for its spectacular larger than life puppets, the theater has created unforgettable puppetry that merges artistry with activism, weaving together environmental, social and spiritual themes. Generations of artists and neighbors have built, carried and performed with these larger-than-life puppets, which have come to embody community storytelling itself.
The caravan brought these puppets — symbols of decades of collective creativity — to a new home at 2441 Hennepin Avenue S. across the street from Spyhouse Coffee, infusing fresh energy into the Hill & Lake community. The move reflected the theater’s ongoing evolution as it adapts to changing times while holding fast to its mission to nurture creative empowerment through the joy and magic of puppetry performance and education.
The relocation also coincided with other creative momentum on Hennepin. AWH Architects, a firm long committed to community-centered design, moved into offices on the second floor of the former Fifth Element building. Its arrival, together with the puppets, signaled a renewed spirit for the corridor — a stretch of Hennepin that has endured years of struggle. Between the pandemic, social unrest and two long years of construction, many businesses faced daunting challenges. Neighbors described the puppet caravan as more than just a move — it was a celebration of resilience, creativity and the rebirth of a community artery that has long defined Minneapolis.
“The street has been through so much,” said architect Alex Haecker, owner of AWH Architects. “To see these puppets — such symbols of joy and imagination — coming down Hennepin, it felt like hope returning.”
Organizers echoed that sense of renewal, calling the event a resounding success. “We were overwhelmed by the support,” Executive Director Elina Kotlyar shared afterward. “Volunteers showed up to honor decades of art and ensure these puppets keep inspiring future generations.”
For nearly 50 years, these puppets have brought magic to Minneapolis. The recent caravan offered a chance to create new memories alongside the figures that mean so much to the city. Now settled into their new home, the puppets’ journey forward continues, hand in hand with Hennepin Avenue’s revival.
Once the new space is fully established, HOBT will open the next chapter of community programming. Veteran artist Gustavo Boada, together with a team of HOBT teaching artists, will lead a series of large puppet–making workshops focused on Alebrijes, brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. Everyone is welcome — with details coming soon on hobt.org and HOBT’s social media channels.
