Buncombe County Arboretum Launches Winter Exhibits, Thomas Dambo Trolls and Programs

The Buncombe County Arboretum has expanded its winter offerings with two new exhibits and a slate of programs designed to draw visitors into the outdoors for art, education and conservation. New Growth: Artists Respond to the Forest opened Jan. 17 and will remain on view into spring, while Trolls: A Field Study, the traveling outdoor sculpture exhibit by Thomas Dambo, is on site through February and available for daily viewing during regular park hours.

The Arboretum’s January calendar lists recurring naturalist walks, adult-education workshops, botanical drawing classes and a series titled Environmental Conservation and Thomas Dambo’s Trolls, along with a Winter Lights walk-through installation. Associated workshops and family programs were scheduled across Jan. 17–31, and the Arboretum notes expanded programming tied to the winter exhibits. The events page provides practical visitor details including hours, ticket and parking guidance and program descriptions.

Placing large-scale outdoor art and a winter residency in the Arboretum has implications beyond weekend plans. Outdoor cultural programming invites safe, physically distanced recreation during cold months and supports mental health by encouraging time in nature. For Buncombe County residents who face seasonal isolation, limited childcare options or transportation barriers, free or low-barrier access to outdoor exhibits can provide low-cost recreation and learning without the constraints of indoor venues.

The exhibits also create opportunities for environmental education. Naturalist-led walks and conservation-focused programming give families and adults context for the sculptures within forest ecology and local stewardship. Botanical drawing classes and adult workshops tie artistic practice to observation, helping visitors translate a walk into hands-on learning. For teachers and community groups seeking curriculum-aligned outings, the Arboretum’s extended schedule through February and into spring offers flexibility to plan field trips and afterschool activities.

Logistics can shape who benefits from these offerings. The Arboretum published dates and times for daily troll viewing and offered ticket and parking guidance to manage capacity and accessibility during peak periods. Those operational details matter for older adults, people with mobility needs and families with young children who rely on predictable hours, parking and clear program descriptions to participate.

There are economic and social ripple effects for the county. Exhibits like Thomas Dambo’s trolls attract regional visitors, supporting nearby businesses that serve residents and tourists. Locally produced programming and artist residencies can spotlight Buncombe County creatives and forest-focused stewardship efforts, centering community voices in how public green spaces are used and interpreted.

Check the Arboretum’s events page for the most current hours, program descriptions and visitor guidance before planning a visit. The winter exhibits and programming represent a push to use public green space as cultural and health infrastructure for Buncombe County, with opportunities to deepen nature-based learning, expand outdoor access and keep community members engaged through the colder months.