GARF SEASONAL HIRING 2026 - FALL FLING
Nottingham · Autumn 2026
One crew.
Up to twelve nights.
This fall the Georgia Renaissance Festival runs two seasons back to back. You're hired for one role — and if you're 21 or over, you can work both seasons in it.
Fall Fling
Saturdays · 1PM – 9PM
7 dates, Oct 31 – Dec 5. Ages 16+. The whole village open under autumn lanterns. Everyone on the crew works these.GARF After Dark
Fridays · 7PM – Midnight
5 themed nights, Oct 30 – Nov 25. Ages 21+. The village after hours. Add these to your role if you're 21 or over.Same role · Same training · Twice the shifts
Hiring event · both seasons
Walk in. Interview the same day.
Saturday, October 10 · 10AM – 2PM
One job fair for the whole autumn crew. No appointment. Bring yourself, dress comfortably, and plan on about 30 minutes. We interview on the spot and many people leave with an offer in hand.
Georgia Renaissance Festival6905 Virlyn B. Smith Rd., Fairburn, GA 30213
Get directions · (770) 964-8575 Apply before you come
What to bring
- Photo ID — that's it. If you're 16 or 17 you can come on your own
- Your availability — which Saturdays, and whether you want After Dark Fridays too
- A phone number you actually answer
- Anyone you'd want to work with — friends can interview together
Can't make Oct 10?
- Apply below anyway — we schedule interviews right up to opening night.
The notice board
Seven roles. Two seasons.
Pick one role. Every posting shows both sets of hours — Fall Fling Saturdays for everyone, After Dark Fridays if you're 21 or over. Costumes provided, training paid, everything cashless.
Showing all 7 roles
Gate Services — Admissions & Guest Flow
You're the first face guests see when the gates open on Nottingham. Scan, welcome, keep the line moving, set the tone.
Ages 16+Tips included
Fall FlingSat 12:15PM – 9:15PM6 of 7 dates
After DarkFri 6:15PM – 12:15AM21+ only · optional
Read the full posting
Gate Services — Admissions & Guest Flow
You're the first face guests see when the gates open on Nottingham. Scan, welcome, keep the line moving, set the tone.
Gate Services keeps arrivals smooth, lines moving, and the entrance welcoming. It's hospitality and efficiency together — ticket scanning, crowd flow, and a little showmanship when the moment fits.
What you'll do
- Validate tickets, scan barcodes, and handle entry and re-entry rules
- Guide queues, answer questions, and keep walkways clear and safe
- Assist with accessibility needs and escalate issues to supervisors
- Sell programs, souvenirs, and approved add-ons on POS
- Use radios and coordinate with security and ops during busy surges
- Closeout: end-of-night counts, reset stations, tidy the gate area
Must-haves
- 16+, reliable transportation, strong on-time habits
- Comfortable outdoors all day and standing for long periods
- Able to lift 10–15 lbs
- Clear communicator who stays calm and professional with big crowds
- Comfortable with ticket scanners
- Follows procedures closely — entry rules, line flow, safety protocols
Nice to have
- Customer service, retail, admissions, or event operations
- De-escalation experience, or willingness to learn
If you add After Dark
After Dark is a 21+ event, so the gate checks every ID and wristbands every guest. You'll need to be firm about turning away underage or invalid entries — warmly, but without exception.
Wear: costume provided. Closed-toe shoes required. Bring warm layers — November nights get cold after sundown.
Apply for this role
Retail Sales — Village Shoppes
Fall Fling is the village's holiday shopping season. You'll help guests find the gift they didn't know they needed — and ring it up fast.
New roleAges 16+Employee discount
Fall FlingSat 12:15PM – 9:15PM6 of 7 dates
After DarkFri 6:15PM – 12:15AM21+ only · optional
Read the full posting
Retail Sales — Village Shoppes
Fall Fling is the village's holiday shopping season. You'll help guests find the gift they didn't know they needed — and ring it up fast.
Run one of the Festival's own shoppes. Guests come to Fall Fling to shop — for crowns, cloaks, ornaments, and gifts — and you're the one who helps them decide. Warm, low-pressure selling with a steady rhythm and a genuinely fun product mix.
What you'll do
- Greet guests, answer questions, help them find the right item or size
- Run tablet-based POS — card and mobile pay only, no cash handling
- Keep displays full, faced, and inviting through the night
- Restock from back stock and flag low or sold-out items
- Wrap and bag purchases; handle exchanges per policy
- Closeout: counts, tidy the shoppe, secure merchandise
Must-haves
- 16+ with reliable transportation and on-time habits
- Comfortable on your feet for most of a 9-hour shift
- Able to lift and carry roughly 25 lbs
- Friendly and helpful — happy to start a conversation with a stranger
- Tech-comfortable with tablets and card readers
- Accurate with counts and careful with merchandise
Nice to have
- Retail, holiday market, or craft fair experience
- Visual merchandising or display experience
If you add After Dark
Fewer shoppes run on Friday nights, so After Dark retail shifts are limited and go to crew who also work Saturdays. Expect a browsing, gift-buying crowd rather than a rush.
Wear: costume provided. Closed-toe shoes required. Layers for the evening hours.
Apply for this role
Cashier — Food & Drink
The friendly face at the front of the line. Fast, accurate, cashless checkout in the busiest spots in the village.
Ages 16+Tips via POS
Fall FlingSat 12:15PM – 9:15PM6 of 7 dates
After DarkFri 6:15PM – 12:30AM21+ only · optional
Read the full posting
Cashier — Food & Drink
The friendly face at the front of the line. Fast, accurate, cashless checkout in the busiest spots in the village.
Keep lines moving, welcome guests, and run a fast, accurate checkout in a high-energy festival environment. We're fully cashless — card and mobile pay only, so no cash drawer and no counting down at the end of the night.
What you'll do
- Greet guests, answer quick questions, keep an upbeat vibe
- Run tablet-based POS — tap, chip, and mobile pay
- Guide guests through card and mobile payment
- Keep pace during rushes — it's busy, often nonstop
- Keep the counter tidy and stocked
Must-haves
- 16+ with reliable transportation and on-time habits
- Comfortable on your feet for most of a 9-hour shift
- Confident, friendly, and calm under pressure
- Quick with tablets, card readers, and simple menus
- Basic math and accuracy — prior POS or retail a plus, we'll train
Nice to have
- Theatrical or improv experience
- Festival, theme park, stadium, or quick-service background
If you add After Dark
Orders come in waves around the entertainment instead of one long grind, and you'll be serving a crowd that's been drinking. Same job, later hours, a bit more patience required.
Wear: costume provided. Closed-toe shoes required. Outdoor, rain or shine.
Apply for this role
Bartender — Festival Pubs
Pour pints in a lantern-lit tavern with a line out the door. Fast, friendly, in character — and the best tips on the grounds.
Ages 21+Highest tips
Fall FlingSat 12:00PM – 9:30PMAll 7 dates preferred
After DarkFri 6:00PM – 12:45AMAll 5 nights preferred
Read the full posting
Bartender — Festival Pubs
Pour pints in a lantern-lit tavern with a line out the door. Fast, friendly, in character — and the best tips on the grounds.
Our bartenders keep lines moving through peak rushes while delivering big energy behind the bar. You're already 21+, so both seasons are open to you from day one — and between them, this is the highest-volume, highest-tip work on our calendar.
What you'll do
- Pour beer, cider, mead, and approved beverages accurately and fast
- Stay in character — playful and guest-friendly, professional standards
- Run card-only POS: orders, payments, and modifiers, no cash handling
- Check IDs, follow responsible service practices, refuse service when required
- Bar setup and restock: ice, cups, garnish, NA items, kegs and CO2, par levels
- Clean as you go — tidy bar top, safe floors, organized back bar
- Closeout: wipe-down, breakdown, restock, end-of-night procedures
Must-haves
- 21+ with reliable transportation and strong on-time habits
- Able to stand for long periods; lift 25–50 lbs
- Confident communicator who handles high-volume lines with composure
- Comfortable learning our POS quickly and following service policies
Nice to have
- High-volume bartending — stadium, concert, festival, or busy bar
- Beer taps and keg changes, or willingness to learn fast
- Responsible alcohol service certification, or willingness to obtain
If you add After Dark
The bar is the center of the night and service runs past midnight. Expect the hardest-charging shifts we staff — and the biggest tips. You'll need to genuinely be available past midnight on those Fridays.
Wear: costume provided. Closed-toe, non-slip shoes required.
Apply for this role
Cook — Back of House
Batch-cook at festival speed for a village full of hungry guests. Repeatable builds, big crowds, a tight crew.
Ages 16+Tips pooled via POS
Fall FlingSat 12:00PM – 9:30PM6 of 7 dates
After DarkFri 6:00PM – 12:30AM21+ only · optional
Read the full posting
Cook — Back of House
Batch-cook at festival speed for a village full of hungry guests. Repeatable builds, big crowds, a tight crew.
Keep guests fed at festival speed. You'll batch-cook, work fryers, grills, and ovens, and hand off hot items to the assembly and expo team. Fast-paced, repeatable, and satisfying.
What you'll do
- Cook and hold: fry, grill, bake, and re-therm to spec; manage par levels
- Station mastery: set up, stock, and maintain a clean, safe, efficient station
- Temps and timing: log temps, track cook and hold times, rotate product (FIFO)
- Quality control: portion accurately, check doneness, keep plates consistent
- Team flow: communicate with expo and runners, call low stock and 86s early
- Closeout: safe cool-down, label and date, restock, wipe-downs, shut-down
Must-haves
- 16+ with reliable transportation and on-time habits
- Can stand most of a 9-hour shift; lift, push, or pull 30–50 lbs
- Comfortable around heat, steam, and fryers; follows safety and PPE rules
- Knows or learns fast: time and temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, allergen awareness
- Calm under pressure; follows recipes, checklists, and communication protocols
Nice to have
- Stadium, festival, quick-service, or line-cook experience
If you add After Dark
Smaller kitchen, five themed menus — one per night — and everyone covers a bit of everything. Good way to get range fast if you want more than one station.
Wear: closed-toe, non-slip shoes required. Apron, gloves, and hair restraint provided.
Apply for this role
Food Assembler / Expo
Our cooks handle the hot side. You handle the finish — plate it, check it, and get it out the window fast.
Ages 16+Tips pooled via POS
Fall FlingSat 12:00PM – 9:30PM6 of 7 dates
After DarkFri 6:00PM – 12:30AM21+ only · optional
Read the full posting
Food Assembler / Expo
Our cooks handle the hot side. You handle the finish — plate it, check it, and get it out the window fast.
Assemble plates, add garnishes, quality-check, and stage orders for the window. Fast-paced, repetitive, and satisfying — perfect if you like clear steps and a steady rhythm.
What you'll do
- Assemble menu items to spec — portion, garnish, plate
- Quality check: correct build, neat presentation
- Window handoff: stage completed orders for cashiers
- Restock station items — sauces, garnishes, cutlery, to-go ware
- Follow simple food-safety habits: gloves, sanitized surfaces, allergen awareness
- Closeout: restock, wipe-down, label and date, trash, floors
Must-haves
- 16+ with reliable transportation and on-time habits
- Comfortable standing most of a 9-hour shift; lift ~25–30 lbs occasionally
- Fast, accurate, and calm during rushes; follows checklists exactly
- Team communicator — calls out items clearly
Nice to have
- Expo, assembly, concessions, or stadium experience — not required
If you add After Dark
The Friday kitchen is smaller, so assembly and expo blend together and you'll pick up more of the line. Five themed menus means five different builds to learn.
Wear: closed-toe, non-slip shoes required. Hair restraint, gloves, and apron provided.
Apply for this role
Kitchen Steward / Stock Runner
The backbone of the kitchen and the bar. Stations stocked, trash moving, pathways clear — so everyone else can fly.
Ages 16+Tips pooled via POS
Fall FlingSat 12:00PM – 9:30PM6 of 7 dates
After DarkFri 6:00PM – 12:45AM21+ only · optional
Read the full posting
Kitchen Steward / Stock Runner
The backbone of the kitchen and the bar. Stations stocked, trash moving, pathways clear — so everyone else can fly.
No experience required — we'll train you. It's fast-paced, repetitive, and genuinely satisfying if you like being the person who keeps everything moving. By the end of the night you'll see the whole operation humming because of your work.
What you'll do
- Restock disposables, sauces, garnishes, ice, and smallwares at the line
- Run stock from storage to kitchen and bar stations; swap liners
- Trash and cardboard: bag, tie, haul to dumpsters
- Tidy and sanitize high-touch areas and floors; handle quick spill cleanups
- Help with back-stock organization
- Support closeout: restock, break down boxes, wipe-downs, floors
Must-haves
- 16+ with reliable transportation and on-time habits
- Can lift, push, or pull 30–50 lbs — cases of product, bags of ice
- Comfortable on your feet most of a 9-hour shift
- Follows checklists and jumps in where needed
Nice to have
- Stadium, festival, quick-service, or warehouse experience — not required
If you add After Dark
Friday nights are bar-heavy, so you'll spend most of the shift keeping ice, cups, garnish, and kegs ahead of the bartenders. It's the fastest way to learn the bar from the inside — and 21+ stewards get first look at bartending spots next season.
Wear: closed-toe, non-slip shoes required. Gloves, apron, and hair restraint provided.
Apply for this roleHow hiring works
Apply below
About five minutes. Pick your role, your Saturdays, and whether you want After Dark Fridays too.
Come to the job fair
Saturday, Oct 10, 10AM–2PM. We interview on the spot — no appointment needed.
Get your offer
Role, rate, and your confirmed dates, usually within a few days of your interview.
Train and get costumed
Paid training and your costume fitting before After Dark opens Oct 30.
Before you apply
Am I applying for one job or two?
One. You're hired into a role on our autumn crew, and that role works Fall Fling on Saturdays. After Dark Fridays are an add-on to the same job — same role, same training, same paycheck, more shifts. The only requirement is that you be 21 or over on those nights.
What's the difference between the two seasons?
Fall Fling runs Saturdays, 1PM to 9PM, open to all ages — jousting, artisans, holiday shopping, the whole village under lanterns. After Dark is a 21+ series on five themed Friday nights, 7PM to midnight — music, fire, and a bar-forward crowd. Different hours, different energy, same crew.
Why do I have to be 21 for After Dark?
Because the entire event is 21+ — guests and crew alike. There's no under-21 area to work in on those nights. If you're 16 to 20, you can still work every Fall Fling Saturday.
What are the dates?
Fall Fling: Saturday Oct 31, Nov 7, Nov 14, Nov 21, Black Friday Nov 27, Nov 28, and Dec 5, gates 1PM to 9PM. After Dark: five themed nights between Oct 30 and Nov 25, doors 7PM to midnight. Shifts start before doors and run through closeout.
Do I have to work every date?
For Fall Fling, most roles ask for at least six of the seven Saturdays — bartenders we'd love for all seven. After Dark is optional, so take as many of the five nights as you want. Tell us up front what you can do and we'll work with it.
Do I need experience?
For most roles, no. Kitchen Steward, Food Assembler, Cashier, Retail Sales, and Gate Services all come with paid training and no experience required. Cook and Bartender go faster if you've done something similar, but we'll still teach you our systems.
How old do I have to be?
16 or older for every role on this page. Bartenders must be 21 or older. If you're 16 or 17, you can come to the job fair and interview on your own — you don't need a parent or guardian with you.
Do I need to bring a costume?
No — we provide it. You bring closed-toe shoes, non-slip for kitchen and bar roles, and warm layers to wear underneath. Both seasons run after dark in November, and it gets genuinely cold.
Is any of this cash?
No. The whole festival is cashless — card and mobile pay only. Tips run through the POS, so there's no drawer to count and nothing to reconcile at the end of the night.
What if it rains?
We're open rain or shine, and so are you. Dress for the weather; we'll make sure you know where the dry spots are.
One form, one crew
Apply below
Five minutes. Pick your role, tell us your Saturdays, and check the After Dark box if you're 21 or over and want Friday nights too.
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The Georgia Renaissance Festival is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Need an accommodation for your interview? Call (770) 964-8575.