Volunteer Mission Statement

At the Oakenmist Renaissance Faire, our volunteers are the heart of the realm. Our mission is to create an immersive, welcoming, and exciting experience for all guests.

We strive to support our performers, vendors, and visitors with enthusiasm and creativity, bringing to life a world where history, imagination, learning and adventure thrive together. Through teamwork, dedication, and a touch of mischief, we aim to make Faire weekend magical—for our patrons and for ourselves!

What to Wear

Whether you are garbed or not, all volunteers should wear comfortable clothes and shoes that are not new so that you can walk and stand and do whatever you plan to do while you’re at the faire! Please plan to wear sunscreen if you are working at an outside post. Feel free to wear a hat or other head covering as you like. Dress appropriately for the weather. If you are bringing a purse, wallet or some other style money-carrier, we recommend that you have it fastened to your person so that you do not have to worry about losing or misplacing it while volunteering. We have limited space to store some volunteer personal belongings. There is access to a refrigerator if you need to store food or beverages. We request that your garb not hide your face while you are volunteering, so that you can be available for picture taking and customer service. Garb should be family friendly; if you are concerned that it might not be family friendly enough, prepare a backup plan. You will wear your White volunteer badge prominently to identify as a volunteer while onsite.

What to Bring

We recommend volunteers bring the following as is appropriate to you:

• sunscreen
• lip balm
• costume or garb
• your identifiation
• snacks and/or lunch
• water
• money or your lady visa/master card
• your well-charged phone (along with your phone charger or charging brick)

A good attitude and a sense of humor!

Directions to the Fairgrounds

There is a Directions button at the bottom of the website, accessible from every page on the site. If you click this button, the link will bring you to your location on google maps and give you directions to the Agriculture Center. NOTE: as you approach the Agriculture Center GPS might misdirect you, instead follow our signs to Main Entrance along Glen Road. This is the link: Directions Link

Where to Park

Volunteers will park in regular parking at the far end of the fairgrounds. It will be marked as general parking. If you have mobility issues or require handicapped access, we have reserved the closest parking lot to the main hall for you. Look for the handicapped signage. Here is the Agriculture Center map: TBD

When to get to the Faire

When you first arrive on Saturday or Sunday check in with the Ticket Taking & Greeting tables (look for the sign that says “Volunteers”. Pick up your White volunteer badge and wear the badge prominently, it is your entrance ticket. If you have a plus one, you will receive their Entrance Pass along with your Badge. After checking in report to the Information Booth located in the vestibule on your left as you enter the Hall. Here you will collect your one complimentary Meadery token and check in with the volunteer coordinator staff to confirm your volunteer assignment and receive any other pertinent information. You are welcome to get to the Faire early, get dressed in the bathrooms, help out vendors and staff anytime from 8 AM Saturday or Sunday on. If you do arrive early to help out, check in with the volunteer coordinators at the Information Booth: Casey Kneipp or Joanne Casey. Please do not obstruct vendors from checking in and setting up. Regular ticketing will start at 9:30 AM. Oakenmist Faire will open at 10 AM on both Saturday and Sunday. If you are working a later shift, you may arrive at any time so long as it is at least 30 minutes before your shift. Show your White volunteer Badge to gain entrance or to walk back and forth to your car.  

Volunteer Badge

White Volunteer Badges will be issued to you at check-in. Your volunteer assignment and a FAQ sheet will issued to you at check-in.

When to get to your Volunteer Post

Please be sure to be at your volunteer position 5-10 minutes before your shift. We trust you to be where you need to be, when you need to be there. When you arrive at your post introduce yourself to other Faire volunteers.

Engaging with our Patrons

Treat our customers like the royalty they are! The Faire is an immersive experience and whether our patrons dress up or don’t, we are here to provide them with a fun weekend away from their drab and dreary everyday lives. We are joking of course, but still! Please consider interacting with our patrons while you are helping us out:

⇒Greet guests like royalty (or at least a well-liked bard): Smile, make eye contact, and use festive greetings like “Good morrow!” or “Hail, traveler!”

⇒Have fun, be dramatic and stay in character, if you’ve chosen to portray one!

⇒Be proactively helpful! If someone looks lost, confused, or overwhelmed, approach them and offer assistance. A simple “May I be of service?” adds charm and shows care.

⇒Familiarize yourself with the layout, schedule, and key locations—like first aid,

restrooms, performance areas, and food. Patrons will ask everything, and being ready to handle them makes their visit smoother.

⇒Be inclusive and friendly! Renaissance faires attract people of all backgrounds. Be welcoming to everyone—no matter their garb, age, or level of ren faire experience. Everyone deserves the magic.

⇒Handle issues with grace and positivity! Ask another volunteer if you need help.

⇒Compliment and encourage participation, a little goes a long way!

⇒Engage lightly and respect boundaries: please read body language as you are able and maintain personal space between you and others. Respect patrons who are ready to disengage.

⇒End encounters with cheer! See some options below or come up with your own!

❖May your tankard always be full!

❖Enjoy the faire, milady!

❖Until next we meet at Oakenmist!

Getting Help/Assistance while Working Your Role

Read through your role and expectations.  Do your best.  If you run into something weird, ask one of the more experienced volunteers or one of the Faire leadership team for help.

In Case of Emergency

Our first aid station is immediately to the right as you enter the hall. Please familiarize yourself with where it is located in case you need to assist anyone to this location. Call Lee (301-974-4272) or Alison (443-900-5847) or inform someone at the Information Booth immediately if you encounter any other emergency scenarios for which you do not know what to do. You are NOT on your own, we are here to take care of these things.

Resting, Water and Food

This summer has been super warm in the Maryland heat dome! Please eat breakfast before you arrive, stay hydrated and make sure you have some snacks to keep with you throughout the day. Our vendors sell a bunch of different options if you are so inclined. Due to our size, we cannot afford to provide lunch for volunteers. You are welcome to bring your own snacks and lunches onsite and you may rest your feet and eat at the tables provided.

Perks of Volunteering at Oakenmist

• • Access to the Faire
  • Oakenmist 2026 Commemorative Volunteer Badge (White)
  • One Day Pass for your plus one or for you to use the next day
  • You receive a token for one sample at the Meadery, for those over 21
  • Friday night volunteers will have dinner together – let us know if you can help Friday, then join us for dinner!

And lastly, if you cannot get to your Post when you said you would, please text Casey 301-466-1984 or Joanne 301-706-6289 as soon as you know you will not be able to be there. Thank you so much for taking the time to help us out! We are truly grateful that you have chosen to volunteer with us this year!