Garden of Lights Character Team Member (Santa's Helper, Mascot Performer & Mascot Handler)

This is a temporary, seasonal, part-time position with multiple openings. Shifts are Wednesday through Sunday, 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., from November 18, 2026 through January 10, 2027, with a maximum of 25 hours per week. The event is closed December 24, December 25, December 31, and January 1.
Garden of Lights Character Team Members bring the holiday spirit to life for families attending Garden of Lights, one of the college’s premier community engagement events hosted at the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens. Team members serve in one of three roles: Santa’s Helper, Mascot Performer, or Mascot Handler.^[1]
Santa’s Helpers dress as elves and help create a joyful, well-organized visit with Santa. Mascot Performers wear a full mascot or character costume for extended periods and entertain guests without speaking. Mascot Handlers guide and protect the mascot, manage the crowd around the character, and do all of the talking with families on the mascot’s behalf.
This is a family event, and the focus of every role is safety and fun. Garden of Lights is a fast-paced event, with new groups of guests arriving every 30 minutes, so team members must keep lines and photo opportunities moving while still creating special moments for each family. Team members’ interactions with families are key to the success of Garden of Lights, and each team member is expected to create warm, memorable, and age-appropriate moments for guests of all ages.
Works as part of the Garden of Lights event team under the direction of the Nightly Event Manager, follows established safety and guest-service procedures, and promptly reports any incident or safety concern.
^[1] Team members may be asked to rotate between roles during a shift as needed. For example, Mascot Performers and Mascot Handlers may switch roles each hour. Santa’s Helpers will typically remain in that role for the entire shift.Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Shifts are Wednesday–Sunday, 5:00–10:30 p.m., November 18, 2026 – January 10, 2027 (closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1), with a maximum of 25 hours per week. Consistent evening and weekend availability is required throughout the season.
All Roles:

• Attend required pre-season training on character performance, mascot handling, child safety, guest service standards, and emergency procedures.
• Check in with the Nightly Event Manager at the start of each shift to receive role assignments, break times, and locations.
• Greet families warmly and create fun, memorable, and age-appropriate interactions for guests of all ages.
• Put guest safety first, especially for young children; stay alert to crowding, tripping hazards, and lost children, and follow established child-safety procedures.
• Maintain appropriate, professional behavior at all times; avoid unsupervised one-on-one situations with children and follow all college policies on interacting with minors.
• Report any incident, injury, lost child, or guest concern to the Nightly Event Manager immediately.

May include other duties as they arise assigned by the Nightly Event Manager or VP of Engagement
Santa’s Helper and Mascot Duties:

• Santa’s Helper: Dress as an elf in the provided costume and stay in character while interacting with guests.
• Santa’s Helper: Assist Santa by greeting families, managing the line, helping children feel comfortable, and keeping visits moving smoothly.
• Santa’s Helper: Take photos of families and children with Santa, using guests’ phones or cameras or event-provided equipment as directed; help pose children, capture memorable moments, and keep the photo line moving.
• Santa’s Helper: Answer guest questions and help families move safely to and from Santa’s area.
• Mascot Performer: Wear a full mascot or character costume for extended periods and stay in character at all times.
• Mascot Performer: Communicate only through gestures and body language; never speak while in costume.
• Mascot Performer: Pose for photos, wave, dance, and interact playfully and gently, taking special care with small children who may be nervous.
• Mascot Performer: Participate in holiday parades as scheduled, walking the parade route in costume and engaging with spectators without speaking.
• Mascot Handler: Guide the mascot through the event grounds, watching for obstacles, uneven ground, crowding, and other hazards the mascot cannot see.
• Mascot Handler: Do all of the talking with families on the mascot’s behalf and manage the crowd around the character.
• Mascot Handler: Organize and take photos of families with the mascot, using guests’ phones or cameras or event-provided equipment as directed, while keeping the photo line safe and moving.
• Mascot Handler: Monitor the mascot performer for signs of fatigue or overheating, enforce scheduled breaks, and escort the mascot to a private area for costume changes and breaks so the character is never seen out of costume.
• Mascot Handler: Accompany the mascot in holiday parades as scheduled, guiding the mascot safely along the parade route, keeping spectators at a safe distance, and speaking with families on the mascot’s behalf.

End of Shift:

• Mascot Performers and Mascot Handlers: Thoroughly clean and sanitize the mascot costume at the end of every shift, including the headpiece, interior, and gloves, following established cleaning procedures, and allow it to dry properly before storage.
• Return costumes and props to the designated area, and report any damage or needed repairs.
• Help reset the character areas and report any issues to the Nightly Event Manager.
• Success in this role will be measured by guest safety, guest satisfaction, positive family interactions, reliability, and adherence to procedures.

Required education and experience:
[Indicate requirements that are job-related and consistent with business necessity]

Must be at least 18 years of age. Must pass a background check in accordance with college policy, including requirements for working with minors. Willingness to dress as an elf and to wear a full mascot or character costume for extended periods. Ability to perform as a mascot without speaking and to stay in character throughout an assignment. Enthusiastic, friendly, and patient, with a genuine enjoyment of working with children and families. Strong commitment to safety and the ability to follow procedures and instructions consistently. Clear verbal communication skills for the Mascot Handler role. Comfortable taking photos with a variety of smartphones and cameras (Santa’s Helpers and Mascot Handlers). Ability to work as part of a team and switch roles during a shift. Dependable and punctual, with availability for Wednesday–Sunday evening shifts throughout the event season.

Preferred education and experience:
[Indicate requirements that are job-related and consistent with business necessity]

Previous experience as a mascot, costumed character, performer, or theme park or entertainment cast member. Experience working with children (e.g., camp, childcare, teaching, youth programs). Experience in customer service, hospitality, or event environments. Theater, improv, or performance experience. CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain).

Does this position supervise others? No