Workshops + events
20+ free workshops a year
Hands-on classes taught by our specialists + invited experts. Repair clinics, gardening basics, DIY skills, kids’ events. Free; pre-registration recommended (limited capacity).
Upcoming workshops — Spring 2026
Pre-registration recommended
Spring Garden Prep — Saturday May 17, 10am (South Minneapolis)
Free. Cool-climate gardening for Twin Cities. Soil prep, when to plant what, perennial choices for Zone 4. Janelle Park teaching. ~30 attendees expected.
Furniture Refinishing 101 — Saturday May 24, 1pm (Edina)
Free. Stripping, sanding, staining, finishing. Bring a small project to work on. David Chen teaching. Limited to 12 attendees (hands-on).
Knife Sharpening Demonstration — Tuesday June 3, 6pm (St. Paul)
Free. How to sharpen + maintain kitchen + outdoor knives. Bring your knives (we’ll demo on yours). Tom Holloway Sr. teaching (yes, the founder’s son). ~20 attendees.
Plumbing Basics — Saturday June 14, 10am (South Minneapolis)
Free. When to DIY, when to call. Pipe repair, drain unclogging, simple fixture replacement. Janelle Park teaching. Q&A heavy. ~30 attendees expected.
Edible Garden Workshop — Saturday June 21, 10am (St. Paul)
Free. Container gardening, raised beds, vertical growing for small spaces. Tomatoes + herbs + lettuce focus. Garden specialist teaching. ~25 attendees.
Kids’ Birdhouse Build — Saturday July 12, 11am (Edina)
Free. Ages 6-12 with adult helper. Build + paint a birdhouse to take home. Materials + tools provided. Limited to 20 kids. Pre-registration required.
Workshop categories
What we teach
Home repair + maintenance
Plumbing basics, electrical safety, roofing maintenance, gutter cleaning + repair, weatherization for Minnesota winters. Practical skills that save callout fees.
Furniture + woodworking
Refinishing antiques, simple builds (shelves, planters, benches), tool maintenance, finishing techniques. Beginner to intermediate.
Gardening + outdoor
Cool-climate gardening, raised beds, vegetables, perennials, snow removal equipment maintenance. Twin Cities-specific.
Kids + family
Birdhouse builds, kids’ tool basics (with adult), simple wood projects. Birthday party hosting available (small group, free workshop space).
Restoration + vintage
Restoring vintage hardware, period-appropriate paint colors, restoration plumbing, antique furniture. For Twin Cities historic homes (we have a lot of them).
Repair clinics (free)
Bring your broken thing. We’ll diagnose + suggest repair (sometimes do simple repairs on the spot). Saturdays at South Minneapolis store, 1-3pm. No appointment needed.
Annual signature events
What happens every year
Spring Garden Festival (May, all 3 stores)
Annual outdoor event. Local plant nurseries set up tables. Holloway provides pots + soil + tools. Garden tours of staff member backyards. ~500 attendees across 3 stores.
Father’s Day BBQ + Tools Sale (June, South Mpls)
Annual community event. Free BBQ. Tool sales (10-30% off). Tom Sr. + Tom Jr. flip burgers. ~200 attendees. Family-tradition event since 1995.
Backyard BBQ Festival (July 4, all 3 stores)
Independence Day event. Free BBQ at all 3 locations. Demos of grilling tools + accessories. Family-friendly. ~300 attendees per store.
Fall Cleanup Workshop Series (October)
4-week workshop series at each store. Gutter cleaning, weatherization, tool maintenance, snow blower prep. Free; pre-registration recommended.
Holiday Lights Setup Workshop (Late November, all 3 stores)
Free workshop on safe + efficient holiday lights. Outdoor displays, indoor displays, energy efficiency, fire safety. ~100 attendees per store.
Kids’ Holiday Build + Paint (December, Edina)
Annual kids’ event. Build + paint a small wooden ornament or holiday decoration. Free. Pre-register; limited to 30 kids per session.
Custom + private events
Beyond the public schedule
Birthday parties
Small group (8-12 kids) wood-project birthday parties. ~$25/kid covers materials + facilitation. Available at Edina + South Minneapolis (most workshop space). Schedule via store.
Scout troop projects
Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts. We host troop project workshops 4-6 weekends/year. Free for troops with approved project. Schedule via store manager.
School field trips
Local elementary + middle schools. We host field trips with hands-on workshop component. Free; pre-arrange with Sarah Holloway. ~3-5 schools/year participate.
Corporate team-building
Some companies bring teams for woodworking team-builds. ~$45/person for 90-minute facilitated project. Build something useful (planters, shelving, signs). 8-25 people per session.
Private restoration consultations
If you’re restoring a historic home, we offer private 90-minute consultations ($150 flat fee) with our restoration specialists. They’ll review your project + recommend products + provide hands-on advice.
Senior + accessibility programs
We host workshops in partnership with senior centers + accessibility-focused community groups. Universal design workshops, accessibility products, simple home modifications. Always free for community partners.
Workshop questions
What attendees ask
- Yes — 100% free. Materials provided by Holloway. Some specialized workshops (kids’ build) request you purchase materials in-store on day-of. Workshops aren’t designed to generate revenue; they’re designed to build community + DIY skill.