Over The Top Mommy

Knott’s

Celebrate the Halloween Season at Knott’s Spooky Farm Starting September 25

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

Knott’s Spooky Farm is back for 2021! This spooktacular family-friendly, daytime Halloween event invites families with little ghouls ages 3-11 to celebrate the delightfully spooky season as the park transforms with themed décor and wicked fun around every corner. The fall Season of Fun offers Halloween-themed activities that celebrate the season, including trick-or-treating, a line-up of original shows, pumpkin decorating and the brand-new Calico Carnival Costume Cavalcade. Knott’s Spooky Farm takes place on weekends, September 25 – October 31.

You can find Charlie Brown, his best friend Snoopy and the beloved PEANUTS Gang celebrating the spooky holiday with their own Halloween costumes at special meet & greets and fun photo encounters throughout Camp Snoopy. Kids ages 3 -11 can participate in a memorable trick-or-treating experience available along Ghost Town’s Main Street and Schoolhouse Road. During trick-or-treating, kids will interact with an array of spooky but friendly shopkeepers as little ones have the opportunity to show off their festive Halloween costumes. In Ghost Town, Stanley Scarecrow has opened the Livery Stable for guests of all ages to get close and personal with the Creepy Critters of Calico.Whimsical jack-o-lanterns surround Calico Park as it changes into an enchanting Pumpkin Patch location for families to enjoy the atmosphere of the season with photo ops and crafters. Miniature pumpkins or Halloween cookies will be available for decorating for a nominal fee. Linus can be spotted at the pumpkin patch, helping little ones pick out their very own perfect pumpkin. Gals and ghouls are in for a treat as new fun Halloween-themed shows are in store with the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre Show at Birdcage Theatre. These peculiar puppeteers will amaze all with a spooky puppet show.

At Camp Snoopy, families can hop aboard the Grand Sierra Railroad, joining Linus in the Pumpkin Patch as he and Sally await the arrival of The Great Pumpkin because Halloween isn’t complete without this timeless tale from the Peanuts Gang. Additionally, The Camp Snoopy Theater is debuting the Great Pumpkin Palooza show, where you’ll get more than a rock as you join Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the Peanuts Gang for a high-energy music tribute to the best holiday ever, Halloween.

The residents of The Timber Mountain Log Ride will celebrate the Halloween Hootenanny, which adds a family-friendly seasonal twist to a park favorite. Mysterious creatures of Timber Mountain that live out in the woods and caverns join the citizens as they honor the season at the Halloween Hootenanny. The ride’s interior will feature fun surprises as guests venture past the Calico Coffin Creeper band, the town’s green witch and splash down Skull Mountain through a labyrinth of jack-o-lanterns. The seasonal ride will also feature an original song performed by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies. At Camp Snoopy, families can hop aboard the Grand Sierra Railroad to experience a one-of-a-kind adventure with A Trip to Camp Spooky as riders travel with the PEANUTS Gang® and spot 2D and 3D Halloween themed characters and effects along the trail. The fun continues for little ones at the Calico Mine Ride with the newly added ride overlay at Calico Candy Mine Ride every Halloween as it mysteriously transforms from silver ore to pure candy. Grab a seat with your little one on the mine train for a sweet trip through a candy-filled dream. Little ghouls are also encouraged to strut their stuff and show off their Halloween Costumes in the Calico Carnival Costume Cavalcade hosted by the Calico Mayor and Cameo Kate at the Calico Mine Stage.The Halloween fun is park-wide as Día de Los Muertos, ¡ViVir! takes over the Fiesta Plaza Stage. This festive show pays tribute to the Hispanic cultural celebration and traditions of Día de Los Muertos.

Knott’s Spooky Farm runs weekends, September 25 – October 31 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is included with regular park admission. For more information on all the exciting things that are going on at Knott’s Berry Farm and to purchase tickets, please visit knotts.com and follow the conversation on social using #KnottsSpookyFarm.

Images and logo are property of Knott’s and used with permission. 

Knott’s Scary Farm Returns for its 48th Season Tickets Now on Sale

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Knott’s Scary Farm Returns for its 48th Season with Mesmerizing New Nightmares

Southern California’s largest immersive Halloween experience, Knott’s Scary Farm, returns with innovative new scares and bone-chilling thrills for its 48th frightful year. Terror comes to life as the theme park shifts into your worst nightmare, with horrifying monsters and hair-raising scares looming around every turn. This year, guests will have to confront their greatest fears with 15 haunted attractions, including five sinister scare zones, eight mesmerizing mazes, and two seasonal ride overlays to some of your favorite park attractions. Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 27 terrifying nights from September 16 – October 31.

There is nowhere to hide as endless scares await guests around every corner, with the debut of our newest captivating maze, an all-new spine-chilling scare zone, and a frightening lineup of new shows. These new haunted experiences add to the original scares that can’t be found anywhere else.Here are the new offerings for 2021:

Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind (Maze) – The newest haunted maze has arrived; Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind. Within the canvas tent lies the secret of the most potent force in the universe: the human mind. Give in and succumb to the hypnotist Mesmer and his sinister sideshow, as it preys on your hidden fears. Release your inner thoughts and descend into a world of madness, torture, and eerie enlightenment. There you will uncover the grotesque secrets hidden as you brave through the most terrifying show ever created.The Gore-ing 20’s (Scare Zone) – Step back into the dark decadence of a by-gone era as the newest scare zone, The Gore-ing 20’s, terrorizes even the bravest and most brutal souls. Here gangsters run illicit hooch for the ghostly revelers as the otherworldly musicians play the music of the damned. Tell the Bouncer the secret password, and you’ll have the time of your life for as long as it lasts.

Carnaval du Grotesque (Show) – Calico Mine Stage
Grab a seat as the show is about to begin! Your mind will melt at the sights and sounds of the Carnaval du Grotesque. Live bands provide the soundtrack for the creepiest company of performers to ever disgrace the stage.

Invitation to Terror (Show) – Mystery Lodge
Invitation to terror is a digital illusion horror show which tells the story of Millionaire Tom Shackleford, he is set to unveil the secret project that he promises will change the world. Set in Calico 1986, guests are invited to the debut of Futuretronics, the world’s top technology creator, latest technological advancement. It’s going to be a killer party with plenty of terrifying surprises no one will ever see coming.

Wicked Drums (Show) – Camp Snoopy Theater
Deep within The Hollow, The Witches summon you to a percussion ritual to awaken the dead. Hosted by the evil Hag of the Hollows, Wicked Drums, high energy drumming collides with ancient witchcraft in a sensory overload sure to raise your spirits. It’s a Halloween activity worth witnessing.

Doce de la Noche (Show) – Fiesta Plaza
The night comes alive at the stroke of midnight when our electric dance group takes the Fiesta Village stage. Dressed in colorful and vibrant colors, the lively dancers dazzle all with their moves set to high-energy music, which takes over all senses and has everyone dancing their feet off.

Returning Mazes:

Wax Works – Mysterious lights and strange noises have begun to emanate from the eerie abandoned wax museum. It’s rumored that blood-curdling screams can be heard echoing through the halls of Wax Works as victims are horrifyingly submerged into a scorching hot cauldron of bubbling wax. The once prominent plastic surgeon, Dr. Augustus Scratch, has been seen tinkering at night and is now ready to show off his beautiful yet terrifying life-like masterpieces of hot molten wax and bloody flesh. Take a closer look at his gruesome works of art and try to escape his deadly grip or become the newest masterpiece to add to his collection.

Origins: The Curse of Calico – Pierce the veil of time and discover the secret of the evil fog that hangs over Knott’s Scary Farm in Origins: The Curse of Calico. Unearth the sinister paranormal activity that plagues the town as Sarah Marshall is put on trial for her suspected crimes of witchcraft. All will be unveiled when the Green Witch rises and curses the townsfolk, transforming all who have accused her into a wicked horde of malicious creatures with an eternal quench for the living.

PARANORMAL, INC. – The Haunting of Hayden Hill: Paranormal Inc. maze reopens its doors one final time to those brave enough to uncover a bizarre and supernatural adventure. Guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff prowl for new patients to torture.

Pumpkin Eater – Survive the wrath of the murderous 7-foot tall creature that haunts the old woods surrounding The Hollow in the Pumpkin Eater maze. The notorious creature is on the prowl, hidden within the dark confines of the haunted town he once terrorized. To escape the sinister Pumpkin Eater’s wrath, all who enter must go on a quest through the silent town of victims, face a cave of crawling insects and solve the labyrinth of thorns that blocks the way out.

Dark Ride – Journey through an abandoned carnival ride where cruel carnie folk still linger in the shadows in Dark Ride: Castle of Chaos. The carnival has become a refuge for freaks and carnies. Now those shunned performers have created a dark world of terror which they plan to unleash on those who enter. Dark Ride will lead brave visitors through a treacherous path and into the bowels of a long-neglected attraction, as sinister shadows and horrifying scenes cast the gloom over the once pleasant ride. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare, being helplessly trapped inside an abandoned carnival ride without a way out.The Depths – A heavy fog drapes over an abandoned port village where ancient creatures lurk inside the pitch-black underground caves hidden below the seaside shores. The Nightwatch Mining Crew has mysteriously disappeared, and village rumors point to the eerie tunnels the town sits upon. But be warned, all who have entered have never resurfaced. Myths of the terrifying horrors that lurk within the cave have often been whispered but never confirmed. Did the crew meet their demise at the hand of vicious creatures that live within the cave? Journey into the ominous caverns to discover if the superstitions revolving around the cave are true or not.Dark Entities – Teleport beyond earth into a realm where the darkness is absolute. In the depths of space, a lone station faces terror beyond all imagination. An extraterrestrial mutation has invaded the station, and it’s on the prowl for new hosts. The unearthly inhabitants’ force increases as it feeds on its unwilling victims. Escape the dark entities before their deadly force eliminates all living forms aboard the station. There’s nowhere to escape when time is running out!Halloween Hootenanny – The Timber Mountain Log Ride residents celebrate the Halloween Hootenanny, which adds a seasonal twist to a park favorite. Mysterious creatures of Timber Mountain that live out in the woods and caverns join the citizens as they honor the season at the Halloween Hootenanny. The Ride’s interior features surprises as guests venture past the Calico Coffin Creeper band, the town’s green witch, and splash down Skull Mountain through a labyrinth of jack-o-lanterns all set to an original soundtrack by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.

Knott’s Scary Farm is far more than a collection of haunted attractions.Every night monsters spill out onto the streets and turn theme park midways into murderous scare zones. From the world-famous Ghost Town Streets to the Boardwalk area filled with evil clowns, there’s nowhere to hide in Knott’s Scary Farm.
Here are the returning Scare Zones: 

-Ghost Town Streets is the original and largest, most terrifying scare zone that started it all. Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog, and beware the notoriously stunning sliders, who lunge from fog-filled corners of the land.

-On the Boardwalk, deviant clowns crave your undying attention in the CARNEVIL scare zone.

-The Hollow scare zone will terrorize guests as the Witches of the Hollow, and their armies of creatures have risen once again to battle with the Witch Hunter.

-The Lake underneath Silver Bullet recedes to reveal the Forsaken Lake scare zone, where gothic creatures ravaged by the dark and murky waters wander from their crypts preying on unsuspecting visitors, looking for victims to drag back to their watery graves.

Here are the returning shows for 2021:

Puppet Up! Uncensored (Show) – The Walter Knott Theater – Returning nightly to Knott’s Scary Farm for the 2021 season, Puppet Up! Uncensored is an outrageous, off-the-cuff show featuring a combination of improvisational comedy and the magic of puppetry performed by a cast of world-class comedian puppeteers from The Jim Henson Company. Created by legendary puppeteer and award-winning director Brian Henson and directed by Patrick Bristow (Ellen, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Puppet Up! – Uncensored is no ordinary puppet show. The content is driven by audience suggestions and participation in proper uncensored form, topped with the zany antics and naughty shenanigans of the colorful and brazen puppet cast. Puppet Up! – Uncensored will be performed three times each night at Knott’s Scary Farm and is intended for mature audiences.

Conjurers (Show) – Bird Cage Theater
You won’t believe your eyes when our skilled Illusionist takes the stage in the heart of Calico. Get there early as seats have been known to vanish.

Knott’s Scary Farm Admission & Offerings

– Single night tickets – Buy tickets at KnottsScaryFarm.com and save up to $39 off the regular main gate price of $89. Knott’s Season Passholders receive a discount on single-night tickets. Applicable taxes and fees apply to online orders.

– Fright & Fast Lane – Ride and scream all night long with unlimited priority access to all mazes plus priority boarding on all Fast Lane rides. Fright & Fast Lane starts at $99 and varies by night. Separate Scary Farm park admission required and not included.

– Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-Fet – Offered at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Spurs Chophouse. Meals include a 2021 souvenir bottle, which gives unlimited complimentary refills on the event night and $1.00 refills for the rest of the 2021 season. After dinner, enjoy early entry into select areas of Knott’s Scary Farm a few minutes before it opens to other mortals. Boo-fet early entry will be to Paranormal Inc., Dark Entities, The Depths and Wax Works, and exclusive photo opportunities with the monsters. The Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-fet dinner is $45 + applicable taxes and fees when purchased online. Separate theme park admission is required and not included.

All Season Long Parking is valid for Knott’s Scary Farm nights. – Knott’s Scary Farm General parking is $25 per vehicle and can be purchased online or at the parking booth upon arrival. Applicable taxes and fees apply to online orders.

Knott’s Scary Farm has welcomed millions of visitors for over 47 years and has become an institution in the Southern California theme park landscape. This year, the event returns September 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30 and October 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30 and 31. Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 1:00 am on select Thursdays and Sundays, and 7:00 pm – 2:00 am Fridays and Saturdays. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. This year’s Knott’s Scary Farm experience is Where Nightmares Never End!

For more information on Knott’s Scary Farm, including admission, park hours, and events, please visit knottsscaryfarm.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smartphone. Join the scary conversation on social using #ScaryFarm.

Images and logo are property of Knott’s Scary Farm and used with permission. 

The All-New Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween Begins September 25

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you heard what’s next at Knott’s Berry Farm? The All-New Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween is set to start on September 25th and will offer safe family outdoor activities, themed food and treats & a special trick-or-treat trail in celebration of the Halloween season!

While the theme park remains closed, Knott’s Berry Farm introduces its newest family-friendly outdoor food and retail experience celebrating the Halloween season and the flavors of Fall with Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween. Taking place Fridays through Sundays beginning September 25th, Knott’s pays tribute to the year’s spookiest season with a Fall food experience unlike any other. The spirit of Halloween comes to life with a cornucopia of Harvest and Halloween décor that will transform the park for the season. Guests of all ages can dress up in their most festive costumes* to experience one-of-a-kind themed food and treats, exclusive event merchandise including specialty items from local crafters, an all-new “Into the Fog” art show with over 45 new art pieces celebrating the scary season, and so much more. Plus included with a junior tasting card, young guests will have an opportunity to take a trip through the fully themed Camp Snoopy Trick-or-Treat Trail presented by Hershey, loaded with multiple treat stations and special spooky decorations. All Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween activities will be conducted at a safe and socially distant space for families to enjoy.

Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween will take place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, September 25 -November 1. The only way to experience the limited time Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween is with a tasting card purchased in advance at knotts.com (a tasting card is required for event entry). Event hours will be Fridays and Saturdays from 12pm -9pm and Sundays from 12pm to 8pm. Regular tasting cards (ages 12+) are priced at $35 (plus tax) and will include five food tastings and Junior tasting cards (ages 3-11) are $20 (plus tax) and include three tastings plus a trip through the Camp Snoopy Trick-or-Treat Trail. Tasting cards are date specific and must be purchased online at knotts.com or through the Knott’s Berry Farm mobile app prior to the date of visit. Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween hotel packages are also available at Knotts.com. In order to manage proper physical distancing of guests, Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween tasting cards will be limited each day and may sell out.

As Knott’s Berry Farm continues to follow state, local and CDC health guidelines, these are the continued safety measures and operational changes we have established to ensure the safety of guests:

  • · Tasting cards are limited each day to ensure proper physical distancing
  • · Upon arrival, guests will be required to enter a temperature screening and security checkpoint at the main gate
  • · All associates and guests must wear a facial covering while visiting Taste of Fall-O-Ween or the Knott’s California Marketplace store locations and restaurants – masks are not required while sitting at a table or bench to eat
  • · Frequently touched surfaces are disinfected daily and sanitized frequently. This includes but is not limited to cash counters, scanners, EMV readers, pens at cashier counters, register screens, store fixtures, door handles, and shopping baskets
  • · Signage is present to aid guests in the proper direction of travel and as a reminder to practice social distancing
  • · Seating is spaced out throughout the Taste of Fall-O-Ween event footprint
  • · Hand sanitizing stations are available throughout the event area
  • · All associates will be screened, including temperature and symptom checks using CDC guidelines before being allowed on the property to work
  • · Associates have been trained on the importance of handwashing, physical distancing, and overall hygiene
  • · Separate entrances and exits will appear at some store locations
  • · Store occupancy is limited to less than 50% of the normal building capacity Queue lines outside of store locations are marked with six-foot markers where needed.

Knott’s Berry Farm is located at:
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620

Please note: While guests are encouraged to come dressed in their most festive costumes, approved face coverings still are mandatory. Costume masks are not allowed as a substitution for required face coverings.

For more details about Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween and the park’s current health and safety screenings, please visit knotts.com.

 Join the conversation on social using #Knotts #TasteofFallOWeen.

Images used with permission. 

Knott’s Announces the Return of Knott’s Beary Tales Attraction for Summer 2020

This is not a sponsored post. all opinions are my own.

I am SO excited to hear the latest news from Knott’s Berry Farm! One of my childhood favorites is returning to the park this summer: Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair! Obviously it’s going to be a modernized version as it returns as an all-new adventure in Summer 2020.

As part of the 100th anniversary celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm, this 4D interactive dark ride will bring to life a continuation of the story from the classic attraction. Guests will climb aboard ride vehicles equipped with “Jelly Blasters” and be immersed in the world of the Bear-y Tales characters to try and recover the stolen boysenberry pies from Crafty Coyote and his brood of pups. Families can ride through and take in the expansive surroundings or compete for the hightest score. With all of the classic scenes reimagined including the Pie Factory, Frog Forest, and County Fair, this will be a journey like never experienced before!

Does anyone else remember this ride? Am I dating myself here? Well, stay tuned for more news as Summer 2020 nears!

Some images are property of Knott’s Berry Farm and used with permission. 

Celebrate the Season at Knott’s Merry Farm Beginning November 22

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 
It’s almost time to celebrate the merriest of seasons at Knott’s Berry Farm as the park wondrously transforms into Knott’s Merry Farm, a Christmas celebration for all ages. You can come spend the most wonderful time of the year with your family at Knott’s Merry Farm enjoying thrilling holiday attractions, live entertainment, a Christmas Crafts Village, festive food, lavish holiday decorations, and nightly snow in Ghost Town, all beginning November 22!

I feel so lucky to live in Southern California where I can celebrate the holidays while still enjoying the beautiful sunny weather outside. I am all about making the most of this time of year with my family and Knott’s Merry Farm is an annual tradition for us. I’m not even sure if I’m most excited about the festive treats, the special holiday entertainment, visiting Santa (because he is there, too.) or just going on all of my favorite rides? Also, I get so excited to see what’s new each year.

Here are the special entertainment offerings you’ll find this year at Knott’s Merry Farm:

“Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” Ice Show (in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre) -Snoopy, the Peanuts, and a cast of world-class ice skaters perform in the spectacular ice show, “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre. During the show, filled with whimsy and spectacular skating, Snoopy enjoys all of the best parts of the season, including trimming the Christmas tree, awaiting Santa’s arrival, and attending the festive Christmas Ball! “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” is performed on select days.“Home for the Holidays” (at the Calico Mine Stage) -Home for the Holidays is a joyous music review filled with singing, dancing and merriment of Christmas days of yore, including some of the best-loved perennial holiday tunes including, “There’s No Place Like Home For The Holidays,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Jingle Bells,” “Here We Come A-Caroling,” and many more. The Calico Mine Stage depicts a Winter Wonderland directly out of a Currie & Ives painting and is the ideal version of an old-fashioned holiday dream. The year is 1915 and the sounds and feelings of the holiday season surround the air. Home for the Holidays is the story of family, friends and holiday traditions.

“A Peanuts Guide to Christmas” (at the Camp Snoopy Theater) – The Peanuts Gang offer their take and unique wisdom on surviving the holidays, while singing you a mashup of their favorite holiday tunes. After the show, head right next door to the Peanuts Meet and Greet Area to take a picture with your favorite character.“Charles Dickens’A Christmas Carol” and “Marley’s Wings” (in the Bird Cage Theater)- Knott’s melodrama company brings to life Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and Marley’s Wings performances available on select dates during Knott’s Merry Farm. In Marley’s Wings, the Ghost of Jacob Marley returns to a wonderful new holiday musical that is destined to become a classic! One year ago, Marley appeared and appealed to Ebenezer Scrooge to mend his ways lest he suffer eternal torment in the form of chains forged by a life of greed and avarice. If Scrooge could truly change his ways for an entire year, Marley would not only be free of his chains; he would also gain his bona fide Angel’s Wings! On the surface, Ebenezer seems to have seen the light and made the necessary adjustments, with one glaring exception. Scrooge is struggling with finding and holding the true meaning of Christmas in his heart. He must grasp this essential message by midnight, or Marley will be grounded for all eternity. The Bird Cage piano will come alive with great new songs like “Raise the Rafters,” “Christmas in Heaven,” and “The Bah Hum Bug” to name a few. Marley is on a mission! With the help of this wonderful new musical score and audience energy, Scrooge’s transformation unfolds before our eyes. Will it be soon enough to deliver Marley’s wings? The clock is ticking…

Calico Saloon Christmas Show (Calico Saloon) – Cameo Kate and Dakota Dan invite you to their musical turn of the century holiday celebration. Head into the Calico Saloon, grab a boysenberry beer or sarsaparilla and watch a classical Old West revue show. Get ready for plenty of laughs and audience interaction in this toe-tapping, knee-slapping journey.

Snow and Glow Show (in Calico Ghost Town) – Every night during Merry Farm, when the sun sets on the Farm, the buildings and paths in Ghost Town’s Main Street and School House Road are filled with glow and snow! Thousands of sparkling lights dance to the beat of Christmas music while snow gently falls in this spectacular one-of-a-kind moment.

Calico Carolers (strolling throughout Ghost Town) – Be transported back in time to a Victorian Christmas by the Calico Carolers, Knott’s own vocal quartet, as they perform the songs of the season throughout Ghost Town. Warm up your vocal chords and join in on the fun by singing along to both classic and contemporary Christmas music presented in a timeless way.

Festive Eats and Treats at Knott’s Merry Farm
Every holday season, it seems like the Knott’s culinary team steps up their festive treats game even more. At Knott’s Merry Farm, you’ll not only find traditional favorites such as Mrs. Claus’ milk & cookies, hot cocoa with candy cane topping, roasted nuts, and but there are also offerings such as tamales, Christmas pizza, and candy cane churros!Knott’s is the perfect place to spend many a day together with friends and/or family creating new memories together, which is a great reason to grab a 2020 Knott’s Season Pass. They make great holiday gifts and include one free visit to Knott’s in 2019, unlimited visits in 2020 with no blackout dates, discounts on select food and merchandise,  and access to exciting year-round seasonal events.For more information about Knott’s Season Passes, including information about their payment plans, please visit knotts.com.

Spark Joy at Knott’s Boysenberry Festival March 28 – April 28

i was invited to a media tasting in order to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own. 

Recently I’ve find myself asking “Does it spark joy?” about everything!  In the case of Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, I already know it SPARKS JOY! This year marks the 5th anniversary of this amazing annual offering, just one of Knott’s “Seasons of Fun“. 

The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is an annual foodi-nspired event that celebrates the park’s historic roots by highlighting the little berry that started it all, the boysenberry. This year’s newly-expanded festival will feature over 75 unique boysenberry-inspired creations crafted by the Knott’s culinary team.Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a tantalizing line up of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that can only be found at Knott’s Berry Farm during this time of the year. In addition to the numerous food and drink offerings, the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.This year’s Boysenberry Festival runs 31 days starting March 29, operating daily through April 28, 2019. This year’s lineup will introduce several new food items including:

  • Flavorful boysenberry dry rubbed flank steak topped with boysenberry cream cheese
  • Sweet and tangy boysenberry jerk chicken wings
  • Hearty boysenberry chili in a fresh-baked boysenberry sourdough bread bowl
  • Tender boysenberry pot roast served over rich and creamy boysenberry mashed
    potatoes
  • Grilled boysenberry BBQ chicken skewers served with a zesty boysenberry aioli dipping
    sauce
  • Boysenberry glazed salmon served on mixed greens and topped with a boysenberry vinaigrette
  • Spicy boysenberry habanero baked mac and cheese
  • Boysenberry jambalaya prepared with chicken, boysenberry sausage and bell peppers served with white rice
  • Boysenberry pulled pork tostada topped with creamy coleslaw and boysenberry drizzle
  • Boysenberry-lemon hummus served with pita bread
  • Grilled boysenberry sausage on a freshly baked roll topped with boysenberry ketchup, relish, and mustard
  • Boysenberry elote, a grilled corn on the cob smothered in fresh boysenberry butter,
    mayo and topped off with cotija cheese
  • Fresh-baked boysenberry waffles served with sweet maple boysenberry cream cheese syrup
  • Boysenberry cinnamon sugar tortilla crisps served with creamy boysenberry ice cream

Knott’s Boysenberry Tasting Cards
A great way to indulge the new boysenberry food items during the festival is by purchasing a
Boysenberry tasting card. Priced at just $35 (that’s a great deal!), the card offers 8 tastings from a selection of the following 14 boysenberry-inspired dishes:

  1. NEW! Boysenberry Chili in a Boysenberry Sourdough Bread Bowl (Sutter’s Stand)
  2. NEW! Boysenberry and Lemon Hummus with Pita Bread (Sutter’s Stand)
  3. NEW! Boysenberry Dry Rubbed Flank Steak with a Boysenberry Cream Cheese Topping (Sutter’s Stand)
  4. Boysenberry Elote (Ghost Town Bank Stand)
  5. NEW! Boysenberry Jerk Chicken Wings (Spur’s Chophouse Outdoor Stand)
  6. Boysenberry Sausage in a Bun (Wilderness Dance Hall)
  7. NEW! Boysenberry BBQ Chicken Skewers with a Boysenberry Aioli (Wilderness Dance Hall)
  8. NEW! Boysenberry Pot Roast over Boysenberry Mashed Potatoes (Inside Spurs Chophouse)
  9. NEW! Boysenberry Glazed Salmon over mixed Greens and topped with a Boysenberry Vinaigrette (Inside Spurs Chophouse)
  10. NEW! Boysenberry Habanero Baked Mac and Cheese (Wagon Wheel Pizza)
  11. NEW! Boysenberry Jambalaya with Chicken and Sausage (Wagon Wheel Pizza)
  12. NEW! Boysenberry Pulled Pork Tostada (Wagon Wheel Pizza)
  13. NEW! Boysenberry Waffle with Maple Boysenberry Cream Cheese Syrup (Ghost Town Bakery)
  14. NEW! Boysenberry Cinnamon Sugar Flour Tortilla Chips with Boysenberry Ice Cream (Ghost Town Bakery)

A variety of signature boysenberry items will also be available for purchase a la carte. Tasting cards are available at Knotts.com or at the park.

Boysenberry Festival Merchandise
Guest can also take home a taste of the boysenberry festival with limited edition merchandise
found throughout the park. This year’s new merchandise includes a selection of event apparel, plus new packaged food items perfect for take-home souvenirs like the boysenberry peanut, cashew and pecan brittle, boysenberry hand-dipped chocolate-covered turtles, graham crackers and honeycomb. Unique boysenberry inspired artisan products will also be available at the Boysenberry Festival Craft Fair which features 30 local craft vendors.The Knott’s Berry Market (located in the Marketplace outside the Park) also features signature boysenberry items like the delicious boysenberry BBQ sauce or the classic jams and preserves.

Special Boysenberry Festival Entertainment
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers endless entertainment options for the festival goer:

  • “Tied Up in Knott’s!” – a tribute art show dedicated to the rich history of Knott’s Berry Farm. Over 30 artists will be contributing 50 pieces of art to the show, which pays homage to Knott’s Berry Farm’s past, present and future in various mediums including: oil paintings, illustrations and digital mixed media. These original pieces will be hung on display at the Wilderness Dance Hall during the duration of the Boysenberry Festival.
  • Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree! – Guests are invited to join Snoopy, Charlie
    Brown and the entire Peanuts Gang in a musical stage show that will have
    families dancing along at the Calico Mine Stage.
  • Old Time Melodrama – Knott’s pays tribute to its past at the Legendary Bird Cage
    Theatre with a special presentation of the musical comedy melodrama with a
    surprising boysenberry twist!
  • Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – A group of krazy talented performers will have
    guests toe tappin’, vine dancin’ and knee-slappin’ to a comedic country music
    show at the Wagon Camp stage.
  • Musical Performances – Various musical duos playing Country and Bluegrass
    tunes will take the stage at Fireman’s stage.
  • Old MacDonald Petting Zoo – Young ones and young at heart are invited to cozy
    up to the cutest critters on the farm including horses, sheep, goats and other
    furry friends. Old MacDonald’s farm pays tribute to one of the farm’s original
    attractions.

The Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm. Additional costs apply for food tasting experiences within the event. Knott’s will have extended hours on select days March 29 – April 28, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limitedt-ime offerings.The best way to savor every day of the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival and all of the other Seasons of Fun is with a 2019 Season Pass. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Regular passes are just $98 or five easy payments of $15.50 after an initial payment and Gold Passes are $118 or five easy payments of just $18.50 after an initial payment. These offers end April 28, 2019. Applicable taxes and fees apply. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.For more information about Knott’s Berry Farm please visit knotts.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smart phone. Join the conversation using #BoysenberryFestival on social.

Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration Select Days Through March 10

I was invited to attend a media event as a guest of Knott’s in order to write this post. All opinions are my own.

Knott’s Berry Farm been a favorite place of mine to visit with my family since I was a little girl, so now having the opportunity to go there with my own daughter is something really special for her. Although it’s changed a lot over the years (for the better) it still feels so familiar each time I walk into the Park.

Knott’s has several “Seasons of Fun” throughout the year and recently  kicked off 2019 with their first one, which is Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration! During the celebration, guests can step into the iconic world of Charles M. Schulz comic strips as his Peanuts characters take over the entire theme park with special, family friendly activities for everyone to enjoy. Peanuts-inspired offerings throughout the park include character experiences, special entertainment featuring the Peanuts Gang, and themed treats, all in addition to all of the regular attractions and family fun at Knott’s.This year the PEANUTS Celebration has been extended takes place on weekends from January 26 through March 10, as well as February 11, February 15 and February 18. It’s such a cute time to visit Knott’s!PEANUTS Character and Photo Opportunities
One-of-a-kind photo opportunities will be available throughout the park allowing guests to step inside a PEANUTS comic strip for a unique and shareable memory. The vibrant décor will include full-size comic strip props like Charlie Brown’s kites and his renowned thought bubbles which will adorn the park’s pathways. Guests will have the chance to meet with the beloved PEANUTS characters throughout the day as the characters appear at unexpected locations for personal interactions. encounter The Peanuts Gang in the park, including Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, Snoopy, Woodstock, PigPen and a couple others. For your convenience, Knott’s photographers are on hand to take your photos, which are also available for purchase through Knott’s Pix program. You are also welcome to use your own camera and/or mobile device to take photos.If you’re specifically looking for PigPen, you’ll find him over inside of PigPen’s Pig Pen, located in Ghost Town, (a.k.a. the Livery Stable) with his animal friends including horses, a donkey and the most adorable piglets ever! Peanuts Sketch School
After you leave PigPen’s Pig Pen, stop by the PEANUTS Sketch School, located inside of the BirdCage Theatre. It was was one of our favorite things to do during our visit to the Park during the celebration.  Hosted by a resident art teacher, the class starts with step-by-step instructions on how to draw the perfect PEANUTS masterpiece. Paper and pencil are provided as you enter the theatre. (We got to draw Lucy.)Throughout the lesson, the instructor also provided fun and interesting facts about the character. After class is dismissed, a special showing of a classic PEANUTS television special is shown. If you are bringing children, I suggest arriving a little early so they can get a seat on the stage. There is plenty of seating available though for all guests.Special PEANUTS Celebration Entertainment
During Knott’s Peanuts Celebration, there’s a complete lineup of whimsical entertainment. The shows are offered a few times a day throughout the day so you can fit them all into your day. Here’s what you’ll find:

  • Space Beagle – In the Camp Snoopy Theater the all-new Space Beagle show features Charlie Brown and Lucy, as the world’s famous beagle becomes the first dog on the moon. It’s out of this world fun for the whole family.
  • PEANUTS Cowboy Jamboree – Franklin and Linus are on a Western escapade as they transform into cowboys in the PEANUTS Cowboy Jamboree at Calico Park. The boys are looking to challenge guests with some of the rootiniest, tootinest games in Calico.
  • The Music Goes Round and Round – This daytime celebration takes place at the Calico Mine Stage where the PEANUTS characters have two musical surprises for guests. Sally and Schroder host a retrospect of music in The Music Goes Round and Round where they’ll have the audience dancing in the aisles.
  • Woodstock’s Music Festival – This nighttime festival is held on the Calico Mine Stage and features the Peanuts Gang as they’re joined by the family-friendly indie band The Jelly of the Month Club. This high energy rock concert is fun for the whole family.
  • Discoteca de Silencio – Fiesta Village guests can uncover an experience that is guaranteed to make everyone dance with the park’s first ever, Discoteca de Silencio or also known as a silent disco. The fun begins with guests strapping on a set of headphones and enjoying some upbeat tunes. The party will be hosted by Snoopy’s brother Spike. It’s the most fun guests can experience while being quiet!

PEANUTS Celebration Treats
One of my most favorite parts about any visit to Knott’s is always the treats! I’m always amazed the special eats and treats that the Knott’s culinary team comes up. Some of the PEANUTS Celebration treats offered throughout the park this year include Charlie Brownies, Charlie Brown cotton candy, Peanuts Characters cupcakes, Chocolate Covered Apples, Charlie Brown Marshmallow Pops, Snoopy Cookies, and more. After sampling many of them, I cannot wait to go back and try some more.The best way to enjoy every weekend of the all-new Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration and all of the other Seasons of Fun is with a 2019 Season Pass. Choose between these passes:

  • Regular Season Pass – includes unlimited admission in 2019 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, Regular passes are just $98 or five easy payments of $15.50 after an initial payment
  • Gold Season Pass – includes unlimited admission in 2019 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. Gold Passes are $118 or five easy payments of just $18.50 after an initial payment.

These offers end April 28, 2019. Applicable taxes and fees apply. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.

Have YOU had the chance to stop by Knott’s this year during their PEANUTS Celebration? What was YOUR favorite part? Share with  me in the comments!

Guide to Knott’s Camp Spooky Weekends Through 10/28

I was invited to spend a day in the Park in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own. 

If you’re looking for a great place in Southern California to spend the day celebrating fall and Halloween with your family, you should definitely head over to Knott’s Berry Farm. This time of year you’ll find all kinds of Halloween fun there during the weekend daytimes because it’s transformed into Knott’s Spooky Farm, a kid-inspired Halloween celebration with special “spooky” activities.

Here are some of the “spooky” things to do at Knott’s Spooky Farm this year

  • Go trick-or-treating throughout Ghost Town – Little ghouls can walk through Calico to collect sweet Halloween treats from the friendly ghosts and shopkeepers. Trick-or-Treating in Ghost Town is newly expanded and is sponsored by Hershey’s this year. Treat bags are available at the entrance for guests ages 3-11.
  • Visit the Creepy Critters of Calico – Guests of all ages can roam through the Livery Stable to get up close and personal with the creepy critters of Calico. There are insects and other bugs, snakes and other reptiles, rats, and the “Skeleton” horses.
  • Peanuts Costume Contest – Enter the Peanuts Costume Contest held over in the Camp Snoopy Theater. After the contest, sing and dance along with your favorite Peanuts characters in a dance party!
  • Pumpkin Decorating – Pick out a pumpkin and decorate it over in the Calico Park Pumpkin Patch. (for an additional fee)
  • Cookie Decorating – Stop by Calico Park and grab a Peanuts box filled with supplies and a freshly baked cookie to decorate. (for an additional fee)
  • Hope aboard the Grand Sierra Railroad –  This railway, located in Camp Snoopy, is transformed into a one-of-a-kind experience which takes riders on an adventure, along with the Peanuts Gang, to Camp Spooky with added special Halloween effects. It’s a spooky good time!
  • Ride Halloween Hootenanny – During Knott’s Spooky Farm, Timber Mountain Log Ride is transformed into Halloween Hootenanny which features fun surprises inside the ride as you ride past Calico Coffin Creeper Band, the town’s Green Witch, and splash down Skull Mountain at the end. It’s even scarier at nighttime during Knott’s Scary Farm!
  •  Dia De Los Muertos Celebration – Stop by Fiesta Village to admire all of the Dia de los Muertos decor.

Knott’s Spooky Farm also features Halloween-themed entertainment  including  a friendly magician who mystifies little ones with spell-binding tricks, “The Monsters are Coming” show in Camp Snoopy Theater, and . For a full schedule of entertainment, check out Knott’s  daily schedule HERE. All of the Knott’s Spooky Farm fun is included with regular park admission or your 2018 Season Pass. If you aren’t a current Knott’s Season Pass holder, now is the best time of the year to grab yours for 2019! A Knott’s Season Pass has no blackout dates plus allows you to enjoy early entry to select rides during the summer and special discounts on food & merchandise,

A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2019 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates. New Passholders: Receive one free visit this year plus $14.99 additional visits for the remainder of 2018. Free visit and $14.99 additional visits not valid for Scary Farm or special events. Renewing Passholders: Receive a limited time renewal price and one free Bring-A-Friend Ticket valid any fall daytime from September 8, 2018 – December 14, 2018. Right now, a Regular Pass is just 11 Easy Payments of $7.50 ( After an initial payment of $12.50 due on the date of purchase). This pass can also be purchased for $95 total + applicable taxes and fees.  Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.

Knott’s also offers a Gold Season Pass which includes unlimited admission in 2019 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. New Passholders: Receive one free visit this year plus $14.99 additional visits for the remainder of 2018. Free visit and $14.99 additional visits not valid for Scary Farm or special events. Renewing Passholders: Receive a limited time renewal price and one free Bring-A-Friend Ticket valid any fall daytime from September 8, 2018 – December 14, 2018. Right now, the Gold Pass is available for just 11 Easy Payments of $9 (after an initial payment of $16 due on the date of purchase) This pass can also be purchased for $115 total. + plus applicable taxes and fees. Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com.
Knott’s Spooky Farm runs weekends September 29 – October 28  and on Halloween Day. Hours vary from day to day so check out their daily calendar HERE. For more information on all the exciting things that are going on at Knott’s Berry Farm, visit knotts.com and follow the conversation using #KnottsSpookyFarm.

Knott’s HangTime “Dive Coaster” Set to Open May 18

Knott’s Berry Farm will welcome HangTime, a brand new steel rollercoaster, and the only dive coaster on the West Coast, to the theme park in the 2018 summer season. HangTime will tower 150 feet over the Boardwalk area, showcasing gravity-defying inversions, mid-air suspensions and twisting dive tracks. HangTime will send riders up a vertical lift hill into a 15-story 96-degree drop – the steepest drop in California. The coaster’s train will come to a halt once the highest peak is reached, and will leave riders suspended at the crest for several seconds staring downward at a 60-degree angle, giving the illusion of a disappearing track. Then the train will suddenly descend in a beyond-vertical drop, through 2,189 feet of steel track and five gravity-defying inversions. HangTime will be only the second rollercoaster in the Western Hemisphere to feature a
negative-g stall loop, which gives riders the sensation of floating.HangTime-1

“HangTime’s disappearing track creates a memorable illusion of the unknown as riders feel like they are hanging over a cliff, staring at the ground in nervous anticipation. People who crave that adrenaline rush will want to ride this coaster again and again. Introducing a coaster like HangTime firmly positions Knott’s Berry Farm as a must see attraction among Southern California theme parks, and we look forward to welcoming our guests to this new experience.” Jon Storbeck, vice president and general manager, Knott’s Berry Farm.

HangTime’s ride structure itself will come to life and illuminate the Boardwalk area with
colorful nighttime track chase lighting that will accompany the coaster train’s travels across the smooth steel track. The coaster continues Knott’s legacy in rollercoaster innovation and industry firsts; the park introduced the very first corkscrew inversion rollercoaster with Corkscrew, and the first flywheel launch coaster with Montezuma’s Revenge. HangTime is manufactured by Gerstlauer Amusement Rides, GmbH, and is the company’s next generation “infinity coaster” model.knotts-ghost-town-signGuests can experience an entire season of fun including the thrill of HangTime with a 2018 Knott’s Season Pass, on sale now at the best price of the year. A Regular Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to Knott’s Berry Farm with no blackout dates, and a Gold Season Pass includes unlimited admission in 2018 to both Knott’s Berry Farm and the newly expanded Knott’s Soak City Waterpark with no blackout dates. knotts-soak-city-facadeRegular passes are just $92 or nine easy payments of $10.22 and Gold Season Passes are $110 or nine payments of just $12.22. These offers end October 29, 2017. Applicable taxes and fees apply online. Payment plans are only available at knotts.com. For more information about HangTime, Knott’s Berry Farm and Knott’s Season Passes, please visit knotts.com. Join the conversation about HangTime dive coaster using #KnottsHangTime and #KnottsBerryFarm.