Trolloween 2026: Halloween at the Fremont Troll

Halloween in Seattle has a specific Fremont tradition that's worth knowing about before the end of the month: Trolloween. On October 31, the Fremont Troll celebrates its birthday and Halloween at the same time, and the party runs from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The Fremont Arts Council puts the whole thing together, and it's free, open to all ages, and happens rain or shine, so the weather won't be an excuse to skip it. The one real rule is to be there on time — organizers ask everyone to meet at the Troll by 7:00 PM sharp.

Once it gets going, the celebration is more than just a gathering. There's live music at the Troll, a theatrical performance, and a high-energy samba band with skeleton dancers leading a procession through Fremont. Everyone is encouraged to come in costume, so it's the kind of event where dressing up is part of the fun rather than an extra effort. If you're not sure what to wear, the Fremont Arts Council runs a series of pre-Trolloween workshops to help you build something from scratch. Textile Tuesday on October 27 is open to beginners, the headpieces workshop follows on Wednesday the 28, and the ears and horns session on Thursday the 29 asks for a $5 donation for materials. There's also a tails and tentacles demonstration on October 1, which runs a bit more at $15.

For anyone who has never been, the Fremont Troll itself is a sight worth seeing. Also known as The Troll or The Troll Under the Bridge, it sits under the north end of the George Washington Memorial Bridge — better known as the Aurora Bridge — at N. 36th Street and Troll Avenue N. The address is 3405 Troll Ave N, 98103, or 3468-3696 Aurora Ave N, depending on which side you approach from. It was built in 1990 by artists Steve Badanes, Will Martin, Donna Walter, and Ross Whitehead, and it's a mixed-media piece made of steel rebar, wire, and concrete and ferrocement. It stands 18 feet tall and weighs 13,000 pounds, and the City of Seattle owns it. One of the best details is a real Volkswagen Beetle embedded in the concrete, complete with a California license plate. The whole idea comes from Scandinavian folklore, specifically the children's story "Three Billy Goats Gruff."

The sculpture is free to visit 24 hours a day, no tickets or reservations needed, though it's recommended to go during the day for safety. You can climb on its back, step into its giant hand, and pose next to the car. Over the years, it's been painted and patched with new layers of concrete, which has left it with a series of protrusions. You're encouraged to climb on it, but painting it is off-limits. The neighborhood has grown around it, too — in 2005, the section of Aurora Avenue North from the Troll down to North 34th Street was renamed "Troll Avenue" in its honor. The stairs leading up to the sculpture were rebuilt in September 2023 with Move Seattle levy funds, and volunteers were scheduled to plant more greenery around it the following month.

If you make the trip, the area around it is easy to explore on foot. Gas Works Park, the life-size aluminum sculpture "Waiting for the Interman," Trolls Knoll Park, and the Burke-Gilman Trail are all within walking distance. Fremont is one of the more eclectic and walkable neighborhoods in Seattle, home to the Fremont Sunday Market, the Lenin statue, and the "Center of the Universe" sign, so it's a good place to spend a few hours before or after the party.