Twelve giant trolls are getting ready to take over two wildlife attractions in Washington state this fall, giving families a new reason to explore the outdoors.

The larger than life sculptures will arrive at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville beginning Oct. 15 as part of Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s traveling outdoor art experience, Trolls: A Field Study. The exhibition will remain on display through Jan. 24, 2027.

Twelve Trolls Will Hide Among the Northwest Landscape

The exhibition will be split between the two Pierce County attractions.

Northwest Trek will feature eight trolls, while Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will have four. Each sculpture stands roughly 7 to 9 feet tall and has its own personality and story.

The sculptures are made primarily from reclaimed materials, including fallen branches, scrap wood, pallets and twigs. The project turns materials that might otherwise become waste into large outdoor works of art.

Dambo’s work is designed to encourage people to slow down, get outside and explore nature rather than simply viewing the sculptures as traditional artwork.

Northwest Trek Trolls Will Share Space With Wildlife

One of the more unusual parts of the exhibition will be found at Northwest Trek.

A troll named Valle will be located inside the park’s 435 acre Free Roaming Area, where visitors can see native Northwest animals including bison, mountain goats, moose, deer, elk, caribou and bighorn sheep.

Visitors can look for Valle from the park’s electric tram. The troll can also be viewed more closely through options such as the Wild Drive or Keeper Adventure Tour.

The unusual setup means visitors could encounter a giant recycled sculpture while also watching animals move through the surrounding habitat.

Each Troll Has Its Own Personality

The sculptures are not simply oversized decorations.

At Northwest Trek, visitors can meet characters including Taks, Anja, Wilde, Bignut, Lilnut, Hasse, Kirse and Valle. Each one represents a different way of observing human behavior or interacting with the natural world.

Taks, described as the fearless leader, organizes the trolls’ field study after noticing signs of human waste and environmental damage.

Another troll, Anja, focuses on acts of kindness such as recycling, planting trees and helping animals.

At Point Defiance, the four trolls are Boge, Larke, Poppy and Birch. Their stories explore themes involving human behavior, nature, creativity and the way people interact with their surroundings.

The Exhibition Has a Halloween Connection

The timing of the installation makes it particularly well suited for fall and Halloween activities.

At Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, visitors will be able to see the trolls during Zoo Boo on Oct. 17 and 18, when the zoo will host costumes, candy and seasonal activities.

Northwest Trek will also feature five of its eight trolls during Hoot ‘n’ Howl, its nighttime Halloween event. The event is scheduled for Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

That gives visitors a chance to see some of the enormous sculptures after dark while taking part in a traditional fall event.

Families Can Search for All 12 Trolls

Visitors who want to see the complete collection will need to visit both locations.

Eight trolls are located at Northwest Trek and four are at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. The parks are offering a $10 discount on daytime admission at the second location for qualifying visitors who pay full price at the first park and receive a coupon at the front gate.

The trolls are included with general admission or membership at each park, so visitors do not need to purchase a separate ticket specifically for the art installation.

A First for Northwest Trek

The installation also marks a notable moment for Northwest Trek.

The wildlife park said it has never hosted a traveling exhibit in its 50 year history, making Trolls: A Field Study a first for the Eatonville attraction.

Officials expect the international following surrounding Dambo’s work to bring new visitors to the park.

The artist has created more than 180 giant troll sculptures around the world, according to Axios, giving the Washington exhibition a connection to a much larger outdoor art project.

The Trolls Are Designed to Get People Outside

Dambo’s work is built around the idea that art can encourage people to explore natural spaces.

The Washington installation takes that concept a step further by placing the sculptures among forests, gardens, wildlife habitats and walking paths.

Visitors can photograph the trolls, search for them throughout the parks and explore the surrounding landscapes while following the field study theme. The parks also offer a map to help guests locate all 12 sculptures.

For families looking for an unusual fall outing, the combination of giant recycled artwork, wildlife and Halloween events gives the exhibition a distinctly different feel from a traditional museum visit.