Fargo - Joni Hubrig of Fargo wanted to take her 5-year-old daughter’s “Frozen”-themed birthday party to the next level.

She asked a local parents’ Facebook group if anyone knew someone who’d dress up as the movie’s Elsa, queen of Arendelle, for the Oct. 18 party.

That’s how she connected with 21-year-old Signe Swanson, a Fargo cosplayer who made an appearance at Barnes & Noble in full Elsa regalia in August.

Before the bookstore’s “Frozen” event, Swanson had little acting experience, let alone one-on-one improv experience.

Regardless, “I said yes because I’ll take any excuse to dress up in public,” she says with a laugh.

The popularity of “Frozen,” and, particularly, Elsa, has changed cosplay, the practice of dressing up as fictional characters, usually from movies, TV, anime, fantasy/sci-fi, comic books and video games.

“Disney cosplay is becoming more popular,” Swanson says. “Elsa has been one of the biggest cosplay characters this year.”

Elsas have been spotted at all the major conventions over the past year. She ranks as Google’s No. 1 costume this year, joined by two other “Frozen” characters, Olaf (No. 2) and Anna (No. 5).

Before creating her Elsa costume, which she patterned and styled herself, Swanson preferred to cosplay lesser-known characters, like “Care Bears” villains or a character from “The Great Mouse Detective.”

She made an exception for the mainstream Elsa.

“I felt a real attachment to her that I haven’t experienced with other characters,” she says.

At the Barnes & Noble event, Swanson read from “Frozen”-related books, signed books and took photos with kids. She expected an audience of, say, 30, but by the end of the day, she’d seen hundreds.

“It felt like I was working at Disney World,” she says.

Her appearance went so well, a handful of parents asked if she’d do private parties. Hubrig’s was her first.

“She was in character from the moment she walked in the door,” says Hubrig, adding that she was impressed with her commitment to the role.

Hubrig says Swanson asked who the birthday girl was, got right down to Grace’s level, made eye contact with her and said, “Thank you for inviting me to your birthday party.”

“It was really sweet,” she says.

Swanson (as Elsa) colored “Frozen” pictures with the party girls, danced with them to the “Frozen” soundtrack, read from “Frozen” books, spun them around for “Pin the Carrot Nose on Olaf” and handed out Elsa souvenir cards she designed herself.

At the end, she had a Q-and-A with the girls, who were eager to learn more about the snow queen.

“It was fun and lively,” Swanson says.

The movie’s popular single “Let It Go” became Hubrig’s theme song while the busy mother of two was planning the party.

“When I did let it go, it was really cool. I enjoyed being a part of it with them. It was adventurous,” she says.