The annual Renaissance Fair includes one of the most interesting collections of people I have ever seen. And seeing as people watching is one of my favorite pastimes, I make sure I am at the Renaissance Fair every year.

Everywhere you turn in Wilson Park, there is another weird sight. Whether it’s a grown man dressed as a troll, a glitter-blowing living statue or a medieval video game character that doesn’t really belong, I’m never surprised.

But these things don’t really belong in downtown Florence on a regular basis. No, they come out and let their nerd flag fly for one weekend only in October.

And I love the Renaissance Fair for that. It contributes to the charm of this weird, little town. It’s a fair where the everyday high school English teacher gets to dress up like the heroine from her favorite novel, and that guy in your math class gets to fight all the dragons he doodles all the time.

So go feel free to fly your nerd flag next weekend. Everyone else will be!