Texas Renaissance Festival latest mask battleground
Some longtime performers and employees at the Texas Renaissance Festival say they are turning in their resignations this year because organizers will not require attendees to wear masks.
The festival, which draws more than 650,000 over the course of nearly two months, is scheduled Oct. 3-Nov. 29. Tickets went on sale Saturday.
The Renaissance Festival will follow protocols set by Gov. Greg Abbott’s most recent orders regarding public gatherings. These include limiting the attendance, contactless ticket sales, wiping down high contact surfaces and adding hand-sanitizing stations. Grimes County Judge
Joe Fauth III toured the site June 12 and plans to revisit the site several more times as opening day nears.
“I was pleased with what they’ve done,” Fauth said.
Workers and cast members will be required to wear masks, though masks are optional for patrons — unless an order comes from the governor.
“If there is a state face mask mandate, patrons will be required to wear face masks,” the Texas Renaissance Festival said in a press release. “If there is no state mandate in place, patrons will not be required to wear masks but will be strongly encouraged to do so.”
Organizers will encourage patrons to mask up by offering prizes for creative face coverings. The festival also will sell its own branded masks.
“At all times TRF will follow the CDC guidelines and state requirements set forth on all mask requirements,” operations director Pat Coveney said. He declined to answer whether the organization would be instituting its own mandate.
The mask-optional policy has left some workers feeling that the festival will be unsafe. Niki Korontana has been working at the Renaissance Fest for 12 years, performing as a Transylvanian and pirate for 10 years.
She is anemic and has to have iron infusion treatments to correct the disorder. Her fragile immune system leaves her vulnerable to COVID-19, she said, and the festival’s resistance to institute a mask order puts her in danger. She said she resigned via email June 5 and has not received a response from management.
“I do understand that we’re dealing with a lot of upheaval,” she said. “Maybe getting back to me is not a priority, but I put a lot into this job. There’s no way to socially distance in a lot of places. There’s limited access to water and hand-washing. The fair population, as a whole, is broke with no access to health care. On the regular we all get ‘fair sick’ every year even without the outbreak. We’re used to working through all of that, and I can easily imagine people infecting others.”
The festival has lost more than half of its performing staff this year, said marketing and communications manager Marlena Solomon. That estimate includes elderly workers, people in at-risk populations and those who may not want to wear masks in the hot early weekends of the event.
Seasonally, TRF employees “hundreds.” These include cast company, maintenance and grounds, campground staff, site office staff (ticket takers, will call, guest services, program sellers, media center staff, information booth). Security and EMS are contracted, and vendors hire their own staff.
Solomon did not have a solid number or percentage of annual turnover, but agreed that this year was unusually high because of COVID concerns.
“We respect their decision not to come this season due to their concerns regarding face masks,” Solomon said. “They will be welcome back next year. No one will be penalized for not being a part of this season.”
Ginnie Eatchel, who has worked at the festival for five years, doesn’t have health issues, but she said she’s quitting, too, without at mask mandate. She said she doesn’t understand how patrons can expect performers to work in full medieval dress, including suits of armor, while they balk at being asked to wear a mask.
“Many of these people at (the) fair are of the Trump mindset saying, ‘No one can impede on my freedom’ or ‘If they make me wear a mask, I’m not buying a pass this year,’ ” she said. “It’s such a selfish mindset. You’re doing it for other people.”
Solomon said that concerns are not behind the voluntary mask policy. “The decisions are not being made based on political views of our patrons,” she said.
Korontana said she would return to the festival if the organization decides to require masks.
“I hope that everyone else who is left has a good season,” Korontana said. “I hope they’re safe. Those people are my friends and family. I want them to make it through.”
“There’s no way to socially distance in a lot of places. There’s limited access to water and hand-washing.”
Niki Korontana