Thomas Dambo Trolls: A Field Study at South Coast Botanic Garden
June 26 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm PDT
12 of Thomas Dambo’s Trolls Are Coming to Study Us Humans!
Prepare for a GIANT dose of wonder! General Garden Admission will include Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study, a whimsical expedition featuring 12 large Trolls crafted entirely from reclaimed wood. These gentle, globe-trotting giants have ventured to our corner of the world on an important mission: to observe humankind’s delightful quirks—what makes you wonderfully, uniquely you? The Garden is open seven days a week from 8am to 5pm.
Their visit to the Garden will transform our 87 acres into a playful, storybook landscape, where guests can wander beside these charismatic creatures and discover them tucked into immersive locations across the grounds. Step into their world, see the Garden through their curious eyes, and let the Trolls add you to their ongoing study of humanity!
Troll Treks
Grab your walking stick and join us for a Troll Trek – a whimsical and wonderful walking tour! This ticket includes an exclusive guided tour of Thomas Dambo’s TROLLS: A Field Study as well as General Admission. On this 40-minute romp through the wilder side of our Garden, you’ll follow your Tour Guide to discover and meet the Twelvelings as they collect data for their Field Study.
This is an exclusive event only happening on Saturdays and Sundays at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the Troll Trek are $12 for Members and upto $33 for non-members.
Troll Trek Mobility Ride
While the Troll Trek requires guests to be able to walk the distance of the exhibit and through rugged terrain, we are also hosting a Troll Trek Mobility Ride on Thursdays and Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. for those with limited mobility. Tickets for the Troll Trek Mobility Ride are $12 for Members and up to $33 for non-members. To reserve your ride, please call 424-452-0920.
Exhibit runs daily through October 4, 2026.
Included with your Garden General Admission Tickets! Click here for tickets.
