This fall and winter, the Asheville area is about to get a whole lot more magical — and Explore Asheville is making it easy for lodging partners to be part of the story. Together with The North Carolina Arboretum, we’re thrilled to welcome the U.S. premiere of Trolls: A Field Study, a whimsical, interactive outdoor art exhibit created by Danish recycling artist Thomas Dambo.
From November 15 – February 17, visitors will encounter 12 larger-than-life troll sculptures at the Arboretum. Six of these trolls will even make special appearances during the Winter Lights event (Nov. 15 – Jan. 4).
Why Participate
- Drive overnight stays with turnkey guest packages
- Gain visibility in Explore Asheville’s fall, holiday, and winter marketing campaigns
- Tap into regional & national PR buzz surrounding a U.S. debut
- Access free, ready-to-share marketing assets
Package Options
🟢 Package 1: Troll Seekers — $50 per package
Perfect for daytime explorers and families. Includes:
- (2) NC Arboretum-branded cups
- (1) Troll-themed tea towel
- (1) Daytime vehicle pass for Trolls: A Field Study
- (1) Discount code for $5 off Winter Lights admission
🔵 Package 2: Trolls Among Winter Lights — $100 per package
Designed for holiday travelers and Troll fans. Includes:
- (2) NC Arboretum-branded cups
- (1) Wooden troll sticker
- (1) Daytime Trolls Exhibit vehicle pass
- (1) Winter Lights vehicle ticket (valid one night)
- (4) 3D Holiday Specs
How to Participate
- Select Your Package(s) – Choose one or both to best suit your guests.
- Estimate Quantity – Let the NC Arboretum team know approximately how many packages you’d like to order.
- Contact the Arboretum Now – Place your order and arrange pick-up starting November 1:
- Katy Havlik – [email protected] | 828-665-2492 ext. 235
- Personalize & Post – Add your own touches to the packages and make them live on your website.
- Submit Your Package to ExploreAsheville.com –
- Use the Partner Portal (link + tutorial)
- Email [email protected] to confirm inclusion
- Deadline Reminder – Submit packages by October 15 to fully leverage campaign efforts.
Marketing Support You’ll Receive
Explore Asheville’s fall, holiday, and winter promotions will spotlight your packages and deals across:
- Paid social media campaigns
- Editorial coverage and blogs
- Regional and national PR outreach
- Prominent placement on ExploreAsheville.com
Marketing Assets & Downloads
We’ve organized your toolkit into three easy categories:
A. General Troll Assets (ACCESS HERE: SQUARE | HORIZONTAL | VERTICAL)
- Photos of the trolls and logos in square, horizontal, and vertical formats
B. Lodging Package Upload Graphics (ACCESS HERE: SQUARE)
- Four square graphics featuring different trolls
- Customize with photos of your hotel when posting your package on ExploreAsheville.com
C. Social Media Graphics (ACCESS HERE: SQUARE)
- Ready-to-share templates featuring package details
- Editable files to add your logo, change package names, or adjust pricing
- Perfect for your website, email newsletters, and social channels
Tip: Link graphics to your Trolls package booking page or ExploreAsheville.com listing.
Key Dates to Remember
- October 15 – Deadline to submit your finalized package details to Explore Asheville for added promotion
- November 1 – Package pickup begins at the Arboretum box office
- November 15 – Trolls: A Field Study opens at the Arboretum
- January 4 – Winter Lights ends
- February 17 – Troll exhibit closes
Need Help?
Contact:
- Katy Havlik (NC Arboretum) – [email protected] | 828-665-2492 ext. 235
- Explore Asheville Partner Support – [email protected]
Final Word
With the added buzz of a U.S. debut here in Asheville and a turnkey toolkit at your fingertips, it’s never been easier to welcome visitors into Dambo’s whimsical world — and to help them discover the magic of the Blue Ridge Mountains through the eyes of the Trolls.