North Pole Experience Elf and Costume Characters

United Parks & Resorts; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 18,000 - 25,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free park admission

Discounts on park admission tickets

Park discounts on food, merchandise

Scholarship opportunities

Exclusive employee events and freebies

Job summary

United Parks & Resorts in Tampa is seeking a seasonal North Pole Elf/character performer for Busch Gardens Christmas Town. You will bring joy to families, dress in costume, and deliver a magical meet-and-greet experience.

Hours are 1:00 PM to 12:00 AM on event nights with rehearsals. The season ends December 24, 2026. Park benefits include free admission, ticket discounts, and exclusive events.

Qualifications

• At least 18 years of age.
• Ability to stand and move quickly for extended periods.
• Available 1:00 PM–12:00 AM on event nights.
• Audition process required.
• Previous North Pole elf/character performance preferred.
• Costumes provided by Busch Gardens.

Responsibilities

• Create a North Pole Elf or Rudolph character experience for families at Busch Gardens Christmas Town.
• Perform high-energy experiences repetitively during the event night to create magical meets and greets.
• Engage with guests to create a realistic Christmas experience.
• Take direction from Production Team.
• Maintain a professional, in-character demeanor with guests and staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on business need.

Skills

Guest service

Customer interaction

Job description

SEASONAL POSITION Busch Gardens is a place of thrills, fun and positive, lasting memories. And that's just what its like to work here! As a key member of our team, you'll play a major role in bringing happiness and excitement to people from around the world. If you're dedicated, dependable and driven to deliver exceptional guest service, this is a place for you!

3605 E Bougainvillea Ave Tampa, FL 33612

Compensation: base of $15.50/hour

What you get to do:

• Create a realistic North Pole Elf experience or Rudolph and Friends Character experience for families at Busch Gardens Christmas Town
• Consistently perform the same high energy experience repetitively throughout the night of the event to create a magical Christmas meet and greet for guests
• Engage in extensive guest interactions to create a realistic Christmas experience
• Take and implement direction from Production Team
• Maintain a professional, in character demeanor while working with a diverse group of customers, leadership and co-workers
• Perform other duties as assigned based on business need

This is a seasonal position that ends on December 24th, 2026

What it takes to succeed:

• At least 18 years of age
• Maintaining a tidy and safe work area
• Responsible for clocking in and out at the beginning and end of assigned shifts
• Available for shifts between the times of 1:00 PM to 12:00 AM on event nights and during some rehearsals (Shifts will vary and some start later in the day)
• Available for rehearsals, to include weekend days which occur on select nights prior to the event openings
• Able to disclose accurate availability for all event/rehearsal dates during the audition process
• Previous performance experience as a North Pole elf character preferred
• Talent must have the ability to stand and move quickly for extended periods of time in varying weather conditions to include outside elements
• Costumes will be provided by Busch Gardens and will remain the property of Busch Gardens
• Based on needs and availability some positions will not work every night of the event
• Develops skills/knowledge to maintain excellent quality show/appearance
• Follows through on show notes to ensure progress in specific areas and adhere to creative vision of the Production Team
• Maintain personal appearance by meeting and adhering to costume and make-up requirements

The perks of the position:

• Ambassadors will enjoy a fun, fast-paced environment, and great teammates, as well as:
• FREE park admission
• Discounts on park admission tickets and passes for family and friends
• Park discounts on food, merchandise, etc.
• Scholarship opportunities
• Exclusive employee events and giveaways

EEO Employer: SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.

United Parks & Resorts is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. We’re also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We’re always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals for a variety of roles throughout our organization.