Georgia Renaissance Festival FAQ

GARF offers three distinct Festival experiences during the year:

• Royal Spring — spring season, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM on operating days
• Fall Fling — select fall dates, 1:00 to 9:00 PM
• GARF After Dark — a separate 21+ experience on select fall nights, 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM

Current operating dates are listed on our Tickets page.

Parking opens about 90 minutes before gates for every Festival:

• Royal Spring — parking 8:30 AM, gates 10:00 AM
• Fall Fling — parking 11:30 AM, gates 1:00 PM
• GARF After Dark — parking 5:30 PM, gates 7:00 PM

Any Festival day may open with a short ceremony at the gate about 15 minutes before the published opening time, so arriving a little early is worth it.

Royal Spring and Fall Fling are family-friendly Festival experiences. GARF After Dark is a separate 21+ event and requires valid government-issued identification for entry.

GARF tickets are sold online. Visit our Tickets page to see the Festivals and ticket products currently available. We do not sell general admission tickets at the gate.

Ticket prices vary by Festival, date, ticket type, and availability. Visit our Tickets page for current pricing and products.

General admission includes scheduled public entertainment, character experiences, and Festival activities unless otherwise noted. Food, beverages, artisan merchandise, games, and premium or add-on experiences are available separately.

Yes. General-admission tickets are valid only for the date selected at purchase. The only exceptions are Any Day tickets and Season Passes, where those products are offered.

GARF may offer a limited number of Any Day or other flexible ticket products for certain Festivals. Availability varies by season and may sell out.

Eligible Date-Specific Admission tickets may be exchanged one time, subject to availability and the deadlines and fees listed in our Ticket Terms. Premium products, add-ons, Any Day tickets, and Season Passes are not exchangeable.

No. Ticket sales are final except where GARF specifically provides otherwise under our Ticket Terms.

Children ages 5 and under are admitted free. Children ages 6 to 12 require a child ticket unless a particular event states otherwise.

Admission is controlled by the ticket's unique barcode. The first valid scan is accepted, so never share a barcode with anyone you do not intend to use the ticket.

Once an operating date is sold out, additional general-admission tickets are not available for that date unless GARF specifically announces otherwise. Tickets are not held for gate sales.

GARF generally does not offer routine military, senior, group, or other admission discounts. From time to time we may offer a specific promotion or appreciation program. Any current offers are published through official GARF channels.

Yes. If you plan to return the same day, have your hand stamped at the Exit Gate before leaving.

No. They are separate ticketed Festival experiences unless a ticket or bundle specifically states that it includes more than one event.

GARF is located in Fairburn, Georgia, just south of Atlanta. Our street address is 6905 Virlyn B. Smith Rd., Fairburn, GA 30213.

The public parking lot does not have its own street address. Google Maps may identify the Main Parking Entrance near 6731 Virlyn B. Smith Rd., while Apple Maps may route to 6905. Follow GARF parking signs and staff directions as you approach the property.

See our Directions & Parking page for full details.

Yes. General guest parking is free.

VIP Parking may be offered as a limited add-on for certain Festivals. When available, it must be purchased in advance. Enter through the regular guest parking entrance and follow VIP signage.

Yes. Rideshare drop-off and pickup are available through the designated area — follow onsite signage. Bus and charter parking are also available. Overnight guest parking is not permitted.

Outside food and beverages are generally not permitted. Exceptions may be made for medical or dietary needs, food allergies or sensitivities, infant feeding, and similar needs.

Yes. Each guest may bring one sealed plastic water bottle and one refillable water bottle. Refillable bottles must be empty or contain ice only when entering.

Necessary food or liquids for allergies, medical needs, infants, or young children may be brought in. Gate staff may review the items at entry. Baby food and infant formula are permitted.

No. Outside alcohol is prohibited.

Yes. Valid identification is required for alcohol service. GARF may refuse or discontinue alcohol service when appropriate.

GARF-operated major food and beverage locations are cashless. Artisan payment methods vary by shoppe — many accept both cash and card, while some may have different payment options.

Yes, some options are available. Offerings vary by Festival and location, so check the current Food & Drink information when planning your visit.

Yes. Water refill stations are available throughout the Festival grounds and are identified on current guest information and maps.

Dress for a full day outdoors and wear comfortable shoes for walking on natural terrain. Costumes are welcome but never required. Shoes and appropriate clothing are required at all times.

Absolutely. Historical garb, fantasy looks, cosplay, corsets, bodices, kilts, armor, and creative costumes are all welcome. Revealing or low-cut costumes are permitted as long as minimum coverage requirements are met.

Guests in costume remain guests, and may not solicit tips, charge for photos or performances, or represent themselves as official GARF cast or staff.

Yes. GARF is a family-friendly public event. Nipples, buttocks, and groin must remain covered with opaque clothing.

Thong-only bottoms, exposed buttocks, see-through coverage of intimate areas, and pasties used as the only top are not permitted. Sexually explicit imagery, explicit sexual language, and hate symbols are also prohibited.

Bags and backpacks are welcome. GARF does not require clear bags and does not currently publish a general bag-size limit. Bags and personal belongings may be inspected at entry.

No. Outside chairs and blankets are not permitted.

Yes. Personal strollers and wagons are welcome and may be inspected along with other belongings at entry. Please keep pathways, exits, entrances, and show areas clear.

General-use coolers are not permitted. Necessary medical or infant-feeding items may be accommodated.

No. Drones are not permitted on Festival property.

Costume weapons and elaborate props are welcome when they can be safely carried and controlled. Foam, EVA, cardboard, and similar lightweight builds are generally fine — including large fantasy pieces.

Real firearms are prohibited. Metal and realistic-looking costume weapons must be presented at the Front Gate for inspection and peace-tying.

See our Weapons, Costume Props & Prohibited Items Policy for the full rules.

GARF welcomes guests using mobility devices, but it is a large outdoor village built across natural terrain. Expect grass, packed dirt, gravel, slopes, and some concrete.

Major Festival areas and experiences are generally accessible, although some routes and individual historic-style structures may be more challenging. See Terrain & Mobility for a fuller picture.

Yes. Wheelchairs, power wheelchairs, mobility scooters, walkers, and other mobility devices appropriate for pedestrian use are welcome.

GARF offers basic wheelchair and wagon rentals onsite. See Guest Services for current rental information. GARF does not rent mobility scooters.

ADA parking is available through the main guest entrance. Follow posted ADA signage and display a valid accessible parking placard or license plate. Accessible drop-off may be made at the designated rideshare and drop-off area.

See ADA Parking & Drop-Off for details.

Yes. GARF welcomes service animals in accordance with applicable disability-access laws. For complete rules, including the questions staff may ask at entry and onsite requirements, see Accessibility & Service Animals.

Pets are not permitted unless the particular operating date is specifically designated as pet-friendly. On those dates, only dogs and cats are permitted, and additional requirements apply — check the event details for that date before you come.

Service animals are permitted on any operating day in accordance with GARF's Accessibility & Service Animals policy.

No. Tipping is always optional, and no guest should feel pressured to tip.

GARF pays the entertainers we employ and contract to perform at the Festival. Passing the hat is a traditional way for performers to invite additional appreciation from guests, but tipping is always optional. Applause, participation, and kind words are always welcome.

No. When a gratuity prompt is offered, a skip or no-tip option is available. Service is not affected by your decision.

No. Guests may not solicit money, accept tips, charge for photos or performances, or conduct unauthorized commercial activity on Festival grounds.

Yes. Guest-to-guest trinket trading is welcome when it is voluntary, free, safe, and does not interfere with Festival operations or artisan businesses. See our Trinket Trading Policy for the complete guidelines.

Smoking and vaping are permitted outdoors, but please stay away from lines, seating areas, show crowds, food-service areas, entrances, and other high-traffic guest areas. Be considerate of those around you.

Guests 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older while on Festival grounds. Guests ages 14 to 17 may attend without an adult, subject to the rules and age requirements of the specific event.

GARF After Dark is 21+.

Yes. Casual personal photography and video are welcome as long as you do not block pathways, interfere with performances or businesses, enter restricted areas, or harass other guests or participants.

You may photograph public performances, but performers may decline posed photos or end an interaction. See Personal Photography & Video.

Ordinary social-media and creator content does not require approval simply because someone has a following.

Professional, staged, commercial, sponsored, or coordinated productions involving substantial equipment, special access, pathway obstruction, or Festival coordination may require advance written authorization. See Professional & Commercial Filming.

GARF operates rain or shine. Outdoor entertainment and activities may be adjusted when weather conditions require it, so dress for the forecast.

GARF monitors conditions and may delay, modify, suspend, or cancel programming when necessary for safety. If GARF cancels an entire operating day, instructions for affected ticket holders are communicated through official GARF channels.

First Aid is available onsite and identified on the current Festival map. Any GARF staff member can also help contact First Aid or emergency personnel.

Notify the nearest GARF employee, security officer, or Guest Services location immediately. Staff with radios can quickly alert the appropriate team.

These guest services are available onsite. Locations are identified on the current Festival map, and radio-equipped GARF staff can direct you to the nearest appropriate location. ATMs are available onsite.

See Guest Services for more.

Offerings vary by Festival and may include experiences such as reserved seating, parking upgrades, pub crawls, or other limited-capacity products. Visit the Tickets page for currently available options.

No, unless the product description specifically says otherwise. You must have valid admission for the applicable Festival and date in addition to the add-on.

Yes. Limited-capacity experiences may sell out. Add-ons are generally nonrefundable and nonexchangeable, and guests should arrive before the stated check-in or reserved time. Age restrictions, including 21+ requirements, apply where indicated.

Visit our Hotels page for current nearby lodging recommendations.

Seasonal and year-round opportunities are posted on our Work With Us page. Hiring schedules vary by Festival.

Visit Perform at GARF for current audition, musician, performer, and entertainment-submission information.

See our Artisan & Vendor Information page for applications and related opportunities.