Looking to hire a costumed character for a birthday party or event? At GigSalad, we’ve connected thousands of people with the best entertainers in their area. Choose a city below to browse costumed characters for hire near you. We also have answers to your most frequently asked questions about booking local characters for parties. Let us help you plan something unforgettable!
On average, professional characters cost $150-$200 per hour. Pricing often depends on your location, the type of character requested, and what specific services you want them to provide. Some party characters have a higher demand than others, which can often increase the cost. Many costumed professionals offer different packages with various activities and pricing so you can find an option that fits your budget.
There are all kinds of options available to you when searching for birthday characters or party mascots. Princess and superhero are the most common costume characters for birthday parties and children’s events. But many companies offer everything from generic characters like pirates and mermaids to popular characters from books, movies, TV shows, and cartoons. Browse local companies on GigSalad to find party characters for hire near you!
Characters are most commonly booked for one-hour appearances. When determining how long to book a character for a party, consider the size of your event and the number of children that will be present. When planning larger, longer events, you might consider hiring multiple party characters to mingle and interact with your guests.
Many companies that provide characters for parties are flexible and offer packages with different services included. If you want a quick appearance for the children to meet and take photos with their favorite character, that can be easily done. If you’d like the character to host other activities, the company might offer face painting, balloon twisting, or storytelling.
The costumes are often worn by professional actors, so you can expect them to embody the character in question from the moment they arrive at your event until the second they leave. This commitment creates an amazing experience for all the guests in attendance!
The first thing you need to know before you begin your search is what character you want most. It’s also good to have some backup options in case you can't find your number one choice. As you browse company profiles, look through photos and videos to look for high-quality costumes and performances. Reading reviews from past clients can also be helpful in knowing which companies will be best to work with.
As you begin talking to companies with costume characters for parties, there are a few questions to ask before booking. It's important to learn more about the actor that will be appearing and the activities that will be included, as well as details about cancellations, background checks, and insurance.
Costumed characters are most popular at children’s parties. You can find a birthday party character that matches almost any theme. Throwing a Marvel or DC party? Book a superhero character to save the day. Does your kiddo want to be a part of Disney royalty? Hire a princess who can show them the way. Seeing their favorite characters brought to life is guaranteed to put a smile on every child’s face!
Characters are great for more than kids’ parties and birthdays — they really fit at any event where little ones will be present. Consider booking a popular party character to mingle with guests and pose for photos at any family-friendly event like a school fair, festival, or community gathering.
Centerburg, OH 
Santa Claus / Costumed Character
10 Verified Bookings Seth H. said “Santa gave us such an outstanding experience and was very caring to our son who doesn’t always do so great in social settings. His attention to detail…”
Columbus, OH
Costumed Character
305 Verified Bookings Melanie S. said “Very amazing I Definitely would give 10 stars if I could I had batman today and loved every minute of it”
Circleville, OH
Santa Claus / Costumed Character
38 Verified Bookings Tresa B. said “Santa Craig was on time and very professional. He had a great costume and was a very realistic Santa. When we had less than expected kids show up to the…”
Columbus, OH
Party Rentals / Costumed Character
The M. said “Josh did such an amazing job at our party and it was an absolute blast!!! Not only is he talented but professional and entertaining! Thank you so much…”
Put a smile on every little face by hiring costume characters for birthday parties, school events, fundraisers, and any other gathering where kids are involved. From princesses to superheroes to popular cartoons, you can book a costumed entertainer to bring your child’s favorite character to life. Party characters can be hired for photo ops, leading games and other activities, storytelling, sing-alongs, and more.
When booking costumed characters for parties, take the time to browse profiles for photos and videos to find the perfect character for your event. Read reviews from past clients to learn more about the services offered and ensure they match what you envision. Once you find a party character you want to hire, get all the details in writing with a contract or booking agreement. When you book on GigSalad, your payments are secure and protected by our Worry-Free Guarantee.
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