Behind the Accent: Why we love GARF

There is a reason that despite the muggy Georgia heat, the rain, and in general moody mother nature, we continue to return each year to the Georgia Renaissance Festival ... and that reason is the people.

Visitors get only a glimpse at the sparkling personalities behind the costumes and characters that we present in order to provide people with a memorable experience that keeps them coming back each year. To be a Rennie, as we've been dubbed, takes a certain amount of fortitude to endure the elements in full costume and often smiling despite some inevitable annoyances that come with any job concerning the general public.

Many Rennies hold an assortment of jobs and degrees that they employ during the week. That fellow putting on your elf ears has a masters in Computer Science. That scotswoman is so good with children because she is a teacher during the week. And whether this is their full time job, like some of us merchants, or just something they do on the weekends, we roll out of bed Monday morning exhausted, but we'll be back for 8 weekends, because this is a work of passion.

Part of the passion comes from the people behind the scenes. Last week, the festival lost a patron, but one so well loved by the family that is the festival, there was a wake at a local Rennie haunt in his honor. This particular Rennie haunt is long suffering and patient with the throngs that frequent its interior and exterior after the gates close on a Saturday or Sunday night. But we gather there for the company as much as the food. So when they were short staffed they barely batted an eye, and were actually thankful when we ordered a pizza on the down low to eat.

While we were there, the granddaughter of the amazing man who passed away arrived at our local haunt. She looked like a princess in her sparkling shoes and flowing white dress, complete with a crown. Her obviously grieving mother explained how her daughter had missed school because of her Opa's death on Thursday so she was not allowed to go to the formal dance for which she was dressed to attend. That was when my friend Taylor (who hawks for my booth) stood up, took her hand, and asked her for a dance. Her eyes lit up and i have to say mine teared up a bit, as this handsome fellow of 23 spun this preteen princess, transforming a dark time with one shining gesture.

So when you see that person sweating in a thick wool cloak, in layers of clothing on a hot May Day at the Georgia Renaissance Festival, give them a smile, because really THAT's why most of us are there.