Troll or Treat
October 31, 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm
Get ready for a Halloween day filled with trolls, wildlife, and hands-on fun at The Wild Center! Explore the curious world of trolls through stories, creative activities, animal encounters, and nature-inspired adventures across campus.
Collect troll tokens as you visit activity stations, weave spider webs, investigate curious creatures, and discover the science behind scales, skulls, fur, and more. Visitors and staff can also show off their creativity in our Troll or Treat Costume Parade!
Come dressed as your favorite troll, woodland creature, or wild creation and celebrate Halloween with a day of nature, discovery, and imagination.
Schedule:
- Troll or Treat 11 AM - 2 PM, as supplies last
- 11:00 AM Creature Feature: Snake
- 12:00 PM Otter Program
- 1:00 PM Costume Parade
- 2:00 PM Creature Feature: Screech Owl
- 3:00 PM Tour of the Tanks
- 4:00 PM Otter Program
- All Day: Explore Bats in the Naturalist Cabinet
- All Day: Weave Spider Webs in the Tinkering Studio
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Troll or Treat Costume Parade
Celebrate your creativity! Whether you're inspired by our giant wooden trolls, Adirondack wildlife, the forest, or your own imagination, we want to see your nature-inspired look. Handmade and upcycled costumes are encouraged!
Parade Guidelines
- Who can participate: The parade is open to Troll or Treat visitors of all ages. Tickets can be purchased at wildcenter.org/tickets (tickets are subject to sell out).
- Costume theme: Costumes should be troll-themed, nature-inspired, or connected to the spirit of Troll or Treat. We'll be on the lookout for exceptional costumes that capture the theme, with prizes awarded to the most creative visitors!
- Get creative: Handmade and upcycled costumes are encouraged. Reuse, repurpose, and reimagine materials to create your look!
- Keep it family-friendly: Costumes must be appropriate for a family audience. Gore, fake blood, graphic injuries, and other gruesome elements are not permitted.
- Safety first: Weapons and realistic weapon props are not permitted. Costumes and accessories must not pose a safety risk to other visitors, staff, or animals. Avoid loose pieces that may fall off, shed, or become litter.
- Parade lineup: Participants should gather between 12:45pm - 1pm at the Great Hall
- Have fun! Bring your imagination, your creativity, and your best troll spirit.
The Wild Center reserves the right to determine whether a costume meets parade guidelines and can ask participants to sit out of the parade that do not comply with these guidelines.
Photo by Carl Heilman II