Walking Around the Mall in a Dinosaur Costume...For Science!

You know it’s going to be a good day when you put on a full dinosaur costume… and people start cheering before you even leave the store.

Last weekend at C3 Auburn, we hosted our first-ever Rock and Fossil Class, and to promote it, I did what any normal, responsible adult would do: dressed up like a giant T-Rex and took a stroll through the mall.

And let me tell you… the reactions were priceless.

Adults Waving, Nike Inviting, and Random High Fives

It started with the kids. Little faces lighting up, pointing, laughing, and running over for high-fives. But then something unexpected happened… the adults joined in too.

Store employees waved. Shoppers pulled out their phones for photos. Even the team at the Nike store yelled for me to come inside and meet their team of dino fans. Not one to disappoint, I stomped my way through racks of sneakers, arms flailing T-Rex style, as everyone laughed. One store employee even came over and gave me a full hug (10/10 would recommend dino hugs—surprisingly wholesome).

One Tiny Customer… Not a Fan - Sorry Kid!

Now, to keep it real: there was one toddler who was not feeling the dinosaur vibes. Tears. Hiding behind mom. Total Jurassic meltdown. (We get it—dinosaurs can be a little extra.) But after a few waves and a quick exit, we were back to bringing smiles.

Why We Do It

This is what C3 Auburn is all about: mixing fun, fandom, learning, and a little bit of ridiculousness to make shopping and community events something special.

The Rock and Fossil Class? It was a hit. Kids and grown-ups alike dug into real geology, touched real fossils and valuable rocks, took home free give-aways, and got to meet a dinosaur (sort of).

The mall walk? A reminder that sometimes a little silliness brings people together in the best way.

So next time you see a dinosaur roaming the Outlet Collection… just know: it’s probably us. And we’ll definitely be down for a high five.