Planning a grand opening or ribbon cutting ceremony? A mascot can help turn a traditional ribbon cutting into a more energetic, photo-friendly event. Whether you’re opening a business, school, community facility, or nonprofit location, mascots can greet guests, take photos, interact with families, and even help with the big ribbon-cutting moment.

Make Your Ribbon Cutting More Than a Photo Op

Ribbon cutting ceremonies are great for celebrating a new business or organization, but the actual ribbon cutting only lasts a few seconds.

Adding a mascot gives guests something to interact with before and after the ceremony.

A mascot can:

• Welcome guests as they arrive
• Pose for photos
• Interact with families and children
• Visit with employees and community leaders
• Help draw attention to the event
• Appear in the official ribbon-cutting photo
• Create fun content for social media
• Celebrate when the ribbon is cut

And yes, handing the mascot a giant pair of scissors can make for a pretty great picture. ✂️

What Types of Ribbon Cuttings Can Have a Mascot?

Mascots can work especially well for:

Business Grand Openings

Opening a restaurant, store, office, gym, entertainment venue, or other local business? A mascot can help attract attention and make the opening feel like an actual celebration.

Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cuttings

Chamber ribbon cuttings often bring together business owners, chamber members, employees, local leaders, and community members.

Adding a mascot gives everyone another reason to take—and share—photos from the event.

School & Education Openings

Mascots are a natural fit for ribbon cuttings celebrating new schools, athletic facilities, playgrounds, classrooms, additions, and other education projects.

Nonprofit & Community Facilities

Opening a community center, nonprofit office, park, recreation facility, or public space? A mascot can help make the ceremony more welcoming for families.

Sports & Entertainment Facilities

For a new stadium, field, court, training facility, or entertainment venue, a mascot can fit right into the celebration.

Can I Hire a Local Sports Mascot for a Grand Opening?

Possibly!

Professional teams, minor-league teams, colleges, universities, independent mascots, and other organizations may allow their mascots to make community or business appearances.

Availability depends on the individual mascot’s policies, schedule, location, and the type of event.

If your first choice isn’t available, don’t stop there. There may be several other mascots near your business that you haven’t considered.

How Much Does a Mascot Cost for a Ribbon Cutting?

Mascot appearance fees can range from under $100 to $500+, depending on the mascot.

Factors that can affect pricing include:

Factor	Why It Matters
Appearance length	Longer appearances may cost more
Travel distance	Mileage or travel fees may apply
Mascot type	Professional, collegiate, and independent rates vary
Event type	Businesses and nonprofits may have different rates
Special requests	Additional activities can affect pricing

You may not need a mascot for several hours, either.

For a ribbon cutting, a shorter appearance surrounding the ceremony may provide everything you need.

How Can a Mascot Help Promote a Grand Opening?

This may be one of the biggest benefits.

Mascots are naturally visual and shareable.

Instead of posting another photo of people standing behind a ribbon, you can capture the mascot greeting customers, posing with employees, celebrating with community leaders, interacting with children, and joining the official ribbon-cutting photo.

Those photos can later be used for:

Instagram • Facebook • LinkedIn • Google Business Profile • Newsletters • Websites • Press Releases

That gives the appearance value beyond the event itself.

Use the Mascot to Attract Attention

If your ribbon cutting is happening at a storefront or other visible location, a mascot can also help get the attention of people passing by.

Have the mascot greet guests near the entrance, wave to traffic where appropriate, or interact with attendees outside.

Someone driving past may have no idea why a crowd is gathering.

A giant mascot standing outside?

Now they’re curious. 👀

Invite the Mascot Into the Official Ribbon-Cutting Photo

Don’t forget the main event!

Have the mascot stand with the business owners, chamber representatives, employees, sponsors, or community leaders during the ribbon cutting.

You could even let the mascot hold the ribbon, celebrate in the background, or pose with the oversized scissors afterward.

It creates a much more distinctive photo for your social media and local press coverage.

How Far in Advance Should You Book?

Try to request your mascot several weeks before your ribbon cutting, especially if you want a professional sports or university mascot.

These mascots may have games, practices, school commitments, community appearances, and other events already scheduled.

The earlier you submit your request, the more options you’ll likely have.

What Information Should You Include in Your Request?

Have the following information ready:

• Date and time
• Business or organization name
• Event address
• Expected attendance
• Requested appearance length
• Indoor or outdoor location
• Type of audience
• Planned activities
• Desired role during the ribbon cutting

If you’re working with a local Chamber of Commerce, mention that too.

Find a Mascot for Your Ribbon Cutting

Your business only gets one grand opening.

So instead of cutting the ribbon, taking a picture, and calling it a day, make the ceremony something customers, employees, and community members actually remember.

🐯 Get My Mascot helps businesses and organizations discover mascots for ribbon cuttings, grand openings, community celebrations, and other special events.

Visit GetMyMascot.com to find a mascot near your ribbon cutting ceremony.