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Friendly Ghosts, Delicious Treats and Tons of Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fun at Knott’s Spooky Farm! #KnottsSpookyFarm

October 7, 2015 / Knott's, Orange County, SoCal Fun

I was invited to attend a media day at Knott’s . No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you had a chance to check out Knott’s Spooky Farm yet? This year you can enjoy not-so-spooky daytime Halloween fun, throughout the park, every weekend in October! There are so many things to see and do and it’s all focused on Halloween cheer rather than fear! Activities are geared towards children ages 3-11 but I’m *29 and had the best time there last weekend!

Here are some of the cool things you’ll find at Knott’s Spooky Farm this year:

Ghost Town Trick or Treating – Kids will have so much fun trick or treating in Calico Ghost Town. They’ll encounter a different friendly ghost at each station and receive a special treat from them! Be sure to bring a trick or treat bag or bucket!

Creepy Crawler Cabin – Explore creepy crawlers and other things that’ll make your skin crawl in the Creepy Crawler Cabin, located inside the Pony Express Outpost in Ghost Town. There are even opportunities to touch some of them if you’re extra nice to the resident there…a witch!

“The Monster Are Coming, Charlie Brown!” Show – Over in the Camp Spooky Theater, located inside Camp Snoopy, you can catch one of the daily shows of this musical production, starring some of your favorite Peanuts characters. Snoopy’s Costume Contest and Dance Party – Sign up to enter the costume contest held in the Camp Spooky Theater. Guests (under age 12) in costumes who enter have the chance to win fun prizes. Note: Adults are not permitted to wear costumes in the park.

Spooky Hollow Maze – Travel through a spooky forest with gigantic jack-o-lanterns and you might even encounter the Headless Horseman. For a nominal fee, you can decorate your own pumpkin after you exit the maze. Monster Masquerade Ball – Join in on some karaoke fun at the Monster Masquerade Ball! Kids can sing along with their favorite songs and also choose a Halloween mask to color and decorate and take home.

See? I told you there’s a ton of stuff to see and do at Knott’s Spooky Farm! I love that they’ve made this family friendly Halloween celebration a park-wide event this year because we also spent time going on all of our favorite attractions, too! All of the Knott’s Spooky Farm fun is already included in the price of your regular park ticket! Why not consider getting a Knott’s 2016 Season Pass? Right now it includes one 2015 visit, which you could use for a day at Knott’s Spooky Farm! For more information about Season Passes, click here. You can also purchase your Knott’s tickets online at a discount. To purchase yours, click here.

A very special thank you to Knott’s for hosting us for a very fun day in the park.

Head Over to Knotts Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival From March 28-April 12! (I’m Giving Away Tickets to Knott’s, Too!) #KnottsSpring

March 6, 2015 / Family Fun, Knott's, Orange County, Travel

This post was written by me for GigaSavvy. I do not work for or with any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them. I am invited to attend a media event for the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival for which I will receive complementary tickets. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.

Come celebrate the arrival of spring at Knotts Berry Farm’s Boysenberry Festival harvested in the theme park’s historic Ghost Town. The 16-day festival returns with an unforgettable lineup of exquisite Boysenberry Bites, dazzling daytime/nighttime entertainment, gourmet food and the Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, plus the limited time return of the classic Bear-y Tales characters in a pie making kitchen, and more!

In the 1930s Walter Knott harvested the boysenberry, a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry, and named the new berry after its originator Rudolph Boysen. Today, all boysenberries in the world can trace their roots back to Knott’s Berry Farm!

Here’s a sneak peek of what you can expect to find at Knott’s Boysenberry Festival:

Boysenberry Bites

The Park will make delicious history with the debut of its very own farm-made Berry Market™ Boysenberry BBQ
Sauce during the widely acclaimed Boysenberry Festival. During the food fest, the tangy, finger lickin’
good sauce will add the perfect flavor to ribs, BBQ chicken, chicken wings, and more.

Other must-try Boysenberry Bites include:

fried cheese curds paired with a spicy boysenberry dipping sauce
fish and chips sandwich with boysenberry tartar sauce
Boysenberry ICEE Floats
Boysenberry Frappuccino & Latte (served at the new Gourmet Coffee Hut which proudly serves Starbucks drinks)
more charbroiled treats cooked on open-air barbeques throughout the streets of the festival.
Wine and Craft Brew Garden*

As part of the festival, the Wine and Craft Brew Garden, located inside of Ghost Town’s Wilderness Dance Hall, features an assortment of wine and craft brew labels, in addition to a variety of boysenberry inspired gourmet food that’s just bursting with flavor!

The Boysenberry Festival also features an extensive lineup of live entertainment from sun up to sun down. At the heart of all of the excitement is Birdcage Square, located in front of the famous Birdcage Theatre. Here, a stage will be set for daily contests like pie eating, a pie walk, and Grandpa’s Boysenberry PJs Contest, where guests will race to stuff the over-sized long johns with balloons.

In the evening, the Square will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos! At night, just inside of the Birdcage Theatre, things get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more!

The iconic Charleston Circle fountain transforms into a beautiful floral fountain, adorned with colorful flowers and boysenberries creating an iconic centerpiece for the celebration. Located in the Boardwalk area, the stunning monument will serve as a dramatic backdrop for two spectacular interactive shows.

Peanuts Party in the Park celebrates spring in a big way with infectious music, vibrant set design, and an invitation for the audience to be a part of the show!

After sundown, Jammin’ in the Dark will transform the blooming circle into an immersive dance party complete with illuminated boysenberries, vines and LED lighting effects affixed to the Charleston fountain; DJ HowLy will spin the hottest dance music for all ages!

Transformation of Ghost Town

While strolling the bustling streets of Ghost Town, guests can capture the moment and the memories at boysenberry themed stand-in cutouts like wanted posters, a boysenberry farming family and more. Festivalgoers can also watch special demonstrations including chainsaw wood sculpting, glass blowing, and blacksmithing. While enjoying the festival, guests may meet Ghost Town’s Mayor and other charming townsfolk. From day to night, Ghost Town has never looked so deliciously fun.

Boysenberry Festival Plants and Merchandise
Explore a craft fair filled with unique boysenberry inspired merchandise throughout the winding streets of the Old West. You will find a recreation of Walter & Cordelia Knott’s Original Roadside Boysenberry Stand near the Gold Trails Hotel, from which guests can purchase authentic boysenberry plants. The Knott family sold plants and freshly picked boysenberries from the original stand, and the rest, as they say, is history!

Interactive Pie Making

New for 2015, right up the road from Birdcage Square, kids can join the classic Bear-y Tales characters in their very own pie making kitchen inside of Ghost Town’s Craft Barn. With the help of Razz Bear-y, Boysen Bear-y and the other Bear-y family members, each beautifully painted scene will follow the world famous boysenberry from field to blue ribbon winning pie! The pint sized chefs can also make their very own delightfully sweet boysenberry tarts complete with a crumble topping. Additional cost applies for tart making.

Springtime fun has also taken root in Camp Snoopy, Fiesta Village and Boardwalk. During the limited-time event, the whole family can meet the Easter Beagle in his new home, blooming with colorful springtime décor, nestled inside of the recently rejuvenated Camp Snoopy area. The meet and greet location is the perfect place for shareable moments with the boisterous beagle and his friends –Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally and Linus.

In Camp Snoopy Theatre, Lucy’s Really BIG Spring Show will showcase the Peanuts pals singing, dancing, and celebrating springtime. The theater will be filled with the sweet sound of little ones as they singing-along to the to the show’s cheerful tunes!

Guests don’t have to be experts at the cha-cha-cha to enjoy Salsa Dancing in Fiesta Village, where everyone can to take to the floor to the rhythmic beat of popular Latin dance music.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, additional cost for food tasting experiences within the event, which also offers a full day of thrilling coasters and family fun rides, like the beautifully restored Calico Mine ride and the rejuvenated six-acre Camp Snoopy featuring three new rides.

Knott’s has extended their hours during the Festival (March 28 – April 12, 2015) from 10 am-10 pm, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limited-time offerings. For affordable year-round fun for everyone and to explore the all the Festival fun, Season Passes can be purchased online at knotts.com starting at $84 or with six easy installment payments of $14 now until April 12, 2015.

I’m having a giveaway! Yep! You can win 2 tickets to Knott’s that can be used for park admission during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival! All you have to do is enter below on the Rafflecopter! Read the instructions carefully! Good luck everyone! Hope to see you at Knott’s soon! It’s going to be “berry” fun!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Knott’s is Teaming Up with Susan G. Komen Orange County and Going Pink For the Cure! #KnottsPink

January 14, 2015 / Knott's, Orange County, SoCal Fun, Travel

I was invited to attend this wonderful media event at Knott’s and provided with a ticket for my admission. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

I was so honored to be invited to attend a press conference at Knott’s Berry Farm recently, to learn more about a very special partnership between Knott’s and Susan G. Komen Orange County. Susan G. Komen Orange County is a local breast health organization which helps to serve women and men who are in need of breast health care and services, but do not have access to them financially. This is the second year in a row they are teaming up in a wonderful collaborative effort to help raise money for a very important cause. In 2014, they raised nearly $100,000 for the cause. That’s an amazing number and they’re hoping to raise even more in 2015!

From now through March 31, Knott’s Berry Farm is offering a special “Pink Ticket”, with a portion of proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen Orange County. Knott’s limited edition, specially designed “pink merchandise” is also available for sale at select locations in the park. These proceeds help fund breast health services and research and also help promote breast health awareness.

75% of the funds raised for Susan G. Komen are used to provide local services throughout Orange County:

Breast cancer detection and treatment education
Information and support for breast cancer survivors and families
Funding for free mammograms for uninsured and underserved women

25% of the funds raised for Susan G. Komen support national research to discover the cure for breast cancer.

I love this! It’s right at the entryway inside Knott’s.

The press conference featured speakers that shared real statistics and real stories about breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will be affected by breast cancer! That is a very scary statistic! (Men can also affected by breast cancer) What was even scarier hearing a related statistic about Latina women. The reality is that there are a great number of Latina women who don’t have access to breast health care and services, so, because of this, they are being diagnosed with breast cancer at much later stages than white women. This partnership is helping to provide a mobile mammography unit to the surrounding Latino community and get these women the services they need.

A big highlight of the event for me was getting to hear my beautiful friend Jaime Jenkins, speak about her own story. Jaime is also a blogger, which is how I met her. She is a wife and a mother of 2 young children. After she attended the Knott’s For the Pink event in 2014, Jaime felt her own lumps in her breasts, went in to have them checked, and was diagnosed 2 weeks later. Jaime is living with stage 4 cancer and she has had the most positive attitude about her entire experience, even though it’s been a very tough one. She’s leaned on her wonderful husband, children and her family, her friends and I know her faith has played a big part in what has kept her so strong and positive. Jaime constantly expresses gratitude for everything and truly lives life to the fullest, appreciating every little thing. I admire her in a HUGE way!

She definitely greets each day with joy! I love her!

After the breakfast and presentations came to a close, everyone followed Snoopy and Lucy over to Fiesta Village to watch all of the incredible breast cancer warriors ride Jaguar together. When they asked if I’d ride it with them, to help fill up the back of the car, I didn’t hesitate.

All of the breast cancer warriors riding Jaguar! (photo credit: Westcoaster)

All of these women have overcome so much and to see pictures of them all together, brought a smile to my face. If you look at the smile on Jaime’s face as she rides in the front, you should know that she’s like that ALL THE TIME!

Jaime’s smile is infectious! (photo credit: OC Latina Moms)

If you ever get the chance to meet Jaime, you’ll be able to feel her positive vibes, the minute you say “hi” to her and there won’t be a handshake, it’ll be a BIG hug! She’s the best hugger ever! She’s truly an inspiration to everyone around her and so much fun to hang out with!

(photo credit: Knott’s)

I hope you’ll consider making a trip down to Knott’s for a fun-filled day sometime between now and March 27th and purchase your own “pink ticket” to support this great partnership between Knott’s and Susan G. Komen Orange County!

Ring in The New Year With Family Friendly Fun at Knott’s! #KnottsNYE

December 18, 2014 / Knott's, Orange County, SoCal Fun

Disclosure: I was invited by GigaSavvy to spend New Year’s Eve at Knott’s this year with my family. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

I cannot believe that it’s almost 2015! Where has the time gone this year? I love the holiday season and have been fortunate enough to fit in a ton of holiday activities this season. With it being the week before Christmas, I’m also already planning for New Year’s Eve! This year, our family is going to spend New Year’s Eve at Knott’s and I think you should too! Put on your party hats and get ready to ring in the New Year at Knott’s family-friendly New Year’s Eve event that offers something for everyone! Knott’s is a fun and safe options for families who want to ring in the New Year together.

Extended park hours (from 10 a.m. until 1 a.m.!), live entertainment, and a fireworks display are all included in the price of regular park admission! And if you have a 2015 Season Pass the value is even better, because each 2015 Season Pass includes one FREE visit in 2014 that can be used on New Year’s Eve! There’s still time to purchase Knott’s 2015 Season Passes (have you seen how low they’re priced at?) which also include a visit in 2014, and you could also use that 2014 visit for New Year’s Eve at Knott’s!

So what are YOUR plans for New Year’s Eve this year? Why not head over to Knott’s?

Knott’s Merry Farm: A True Southern California Holiday Celebration #MerryFarm

November 8, 2014 / Knott's, Knott's

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a social media day at Knott’s Merry Farm and provided with information to share with my readers about Knott’s Merry Farm and 2015 Knott’s Season Passes. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

The holiday season is officially underway! There are decorations popping up in stores everywhere, Christmas commercials are playing on the radio and on TV, and moms like me are already starting to think out about WHAT to buy everyone on our Christmas Shopping List! (I already feel like I’m behind on that part!) There are so many fun family holiday activities and events happening around Southern California this time of year also. Our family is really excited to be invited to experience the opening day of Knott’s Merry Farm this year on November 22! It’ll be our first time and we’re counting down the days.

Knott’s Merry Farm has been a Southern California Holiday Tradition since 1985 and is one of Knott’s Berry Farm’s seasonal events. The celebration of the Christmas season will start on November 22 this year and go through January 4, 2015. The event includes park-wide lavish decorations, festive food, live entertainment, and a shopping wonderland filled with local artisans.

Festive Food

Knott’s Berry Farm’s culinary elves have created delicious festive treats including Santa’s homemade cookies, sundae bar, decadent hot chocolate topped with hand carved chocolate shavings, and winter wine and craft beer tastings. Savor the ultimate comfort foods with Knott’s world famous desserts, including fresh made-to-order Maple Lollipops, churros from the Churro Factory, cakes, cookies, muffins and gingerbread men in the Farm Bakery, as well as the legendary cooking at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. I can hardly contain my excitement.

Live Entertainment

I think I’m most excited to experience all the things Snoopy that Knott’s has in store during Merry Farm, starting with going to see a performance by the world famous beagle, himself, as he performs a brand new ice spectacular, Merry Christmas, Snoopy!, held inside of the 2100 seat Charles M. Schultz Theatre.

Other live entertainment offerings include:

• Live performances of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” or O. Henry’s “A Gift of the Magi” in an intimate setting of the historic Bird Cage Theatre.

• When the sun sets on the Farm, Calico Stage lights up with the celebration of the season in Snoopy’s Merriest Tree Lighting. Join us for a musical, whimsical tree lighting featuring a cast of Toy Soldiers, Snowmen, Elves and America’s most famous beagle, Snoopy!

• Over in Camp Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Linus and Lucy invite you to dance, sing and join in on the holiday fun in the Camp Snoopy Theatre.

• Introduced in 2013, the Ghost Town and Calico Railroad celebrate Christmas on Engine 41. Climb
aboard a vintage railcar and meet an ever-changing group of Ghost Town residents eager to share their
Christmas plans and songs with you.

• Ghost Town also celebrates of the sounds of the season with its very own Dickensian vocal quartet, Calico Carolers and interactive country Christmas blue grass quartet, the Ghost Town Miners.

Santa’s Christmas Cabin

Christmas wouldn’t be complete without visiting Santa Claus. The Wilderness Dance Hall in Ghost Town becomes home to Santa’s Christmas Cabin for the holiday season. Here, the young and the young at heart can share their wish lists with jolly Santa Claus and take home a picture of the occasion. We’re excited to capture a special family memory like this because we like to use our annual Santa photo for our family holiday cards!

At Santa’s Christmas Cabin, guests can also indulge in holiday delights such as:

Santa’s homemade cookies
Hot fudge sundae bar
Decadent hot chocolate topped with hand carved chocolate shavings
Winter wine and craft beer tastings paired with fresh fruit, cheese and more!

Christmas Crafts Village

Relax and unwind in Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village as it transforms Ghost Town into a shopping wonderland filled with dozens of local artists and artisans selling their unique wares including a chainsaw sculptor and glass blower. Entrance to the Knott’s Christmas Crafts Village is free Monday through Thursday and is included daily with theme park admission.

So, let’s get back to when I mentioned about how I’m starting to think about WHAT to get everyone on my holiday shopping list! I came up with the best idea! It’s a one-size, fits all, and it’s sure to please EVERYONE who receives it! It’s a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass! Why not grab one for everyone on your list? Seriously though!

Look at some of the benefits of having a Regular Season Pass:

Six Easy Payments (as low as 13.25 each)
One FREE Merry Farm Visit
Additional 2014 Visits Only $9.99
Unlimited Visits In 2015
Early Ride Times
Food & Merch Discounts
Knott’s Hotel Discounts
Scary Farm 2015 Ticket Discounts
Bring A Friend Days

Knott’s is California’s best amusement park and the prices for a year-long season pass are incredibly affordable! All the fun activities, shows and entertainment happening during the holidays at Knott’s is something you don’t want to miss! Why not purchase a Knott’s Berry Farm 2015 Season Pass for someone (or your entire family), which makes the perfect holiday gift and plan your own day out at Knott’s Merry Farm this year, which would be included with your pass as your one 2014 visit?

We’ll be there on the 22nd and can’t wait to share a ton of fun pictures with everyone! Will you be going to Knott’s Merry Farm this year? I sure hope so!

Photo and Logo Credit: Knott’s

Keep Calm and Grab a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass Now at Their Lowest Prices of the Year!

November 2, 2014 / Knott's

Now that Halloween’s over, it’s officially “that time of year” again…time to start thinking about what to get for everyone on your holiday shopping list! I know what the people in my family are asking for this year….a Knott’s Season Pass!

(image by Over the Top Kid)

If you haven’t seen what amazing prices Knott’s is offering their 2015 Season Passes at right now, you need to! Right now, the Regular Season Pass is available for 9 low monthly payments of $8.50! I know there are many families who can appreciate the option of that payment plan, too. It’s such an affordable price and something that you could buy for your whole family to enjoy together, over and over. This is the lowest pass of the year and will go up after November 4th. Another amazing offer this year is Knott’s Season Pass With An All-Season Dining Plan! The plan includes one lunch and one dinner (beverages are not included) at participating locations throughout the park, every day you visit Knott’s Berry Farm in 2015 and can be purchased as an $11 add-on to your Season Pass. Meals can be a big expense during a visit to an amusement park, so this is a really great deal, too!

Our family recently spent a really fun day together at Camp Spooky, which is a non-scary way to celebrate Halloween time together at Knott’s. We can’t wait to go back next year and create even more memories together!

It’s so much fun for me to be able to watch my own daughter enjoy some of the same rides at Knott’s that I enjoyed as a kid. I also adore that she loves Snoopy and all of the other Peanuts character that I grew up with.

The 2015 Knott’s Season Pass also includes one 2014 visit. (additional days in 2014 can also be purchased for only $9.99 each) Here are some of the other Season Pass benefits:

unlimited visits to Knott’s in 2015
early ride times
food and merchandise discounts
Knott’s Hotel discounts
Scary Farm 2015 ticket discounts
Bring a Friend Days
Access to special Season Pass events and surprises
Access to Knott’s great seasonal offerings, including Knott’s Camp Spooky, Knott’s Merry Farm and Knott’s Berry Bloom
Option to add on unlimited access to Soak City OC
Option to add on a dining plan for only 9 easy payments of $11

Why not grab 2015 passes for your family now and use your 2014 visit to experience Knott’s during their annual Knott’s Merry Farm celebration, beginning at the end of November? Whatever you do, you might want to hurry up and grab this deal before November 4th, when the prices increase! For more information about Knott’s Season Passes, click here.

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

Why YOU Need to Grab a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass….Like NOW!

October 8, 2014 / Knott's

Disclosure: I was invited as a guest to enjoy time at Knott’s Berry Farm with my family in order to write this post. I do not work for any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have a relationship with them. I have a professional relationship with GigaSavvy, for which I create written content. All opinions are 100% my own.

I’m not sure if you’re aware of just how affordable a Knott’s Season Pass is or how awesome all of the perks that come with it are, but if you’re not, just keep on reading this post while I tell you about why I love Knott’s and all of the reasons why I think you need to get one for 2015!

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had two different opportunities to go to Knott’s Berry Farm Park. I went once with my husband for an adults’ night out at Knott’s Scary Farm, which was amazingly scary and fun.

Then, this past weekend, all 3 of us visited Knott’s again, for the first weekend of Camp Spooky and to welcome Halloween. It was beyond adorable and Emi has been asking to go back again this weekend.

I grew up in Southern California and going to Knott’s with my family was something that we did every summer. I have some pretty significant memories from those trips. My first time riding on an upside-down roller coaster was at Knott’s! It was on the Corkscrew (which has since been replaced with Boomerang) and I rode it with my dad. We used to ride it together every time we visited Knott’s.

For me, visiting Knott’s together as a family, is a time when we can enjoy being together and have fun, while creating new memories. I feel so fortunate to be able to share Knott’s with my own daughter now and all of the history that goes along with it. It’s part of Southern California culture and just what many of us like to do. Knott’s has a great location,in Buena Park, the weather is beautiful on most days and the pricing of a Season Pass really can’t be beat.

(image credit: Knott’s)

Right now, a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass is at the lowest price of the year, priced at just $76.50 and includes so many perks.

Check out these perks of having a 2015 Knott’s Season Pass:

Easy pay payment program offers 9 easy payments of $8.50
one free daytime visit in 2014
additional 2014 visits added on for only $9.99 a day
unlimited visits in 2015
early ride times
food and merchandise discounts
Knott’s Hotel discounts
Scary Farm 2015 ticket discounts
Bring a Friend Days
Access to special Season Pass events and surprises
Access to Knott’s great seasonal offerings, including Knott’s Camp Spooky, Knott’s Merry Farm and Knott’s Berry Bloom
Option to add on unlimited access to Soak City OC
Option to add on a dining plan for only 9 easy payments of $11

Honestly, the price of the monthly payment is lower than the cost to take your kid(s) to a petting zoo or a movie in the theater one time a month. I like that Knott’s has priced their Season Passes so reasonably and has made them accessible for all types of families. It just makes sense to go and grab one now, don’t you think?

Getting to create special memories like these at Knott’s is something I hold near and dear to my own heart. I cannot wait for our next visit to Knott’s!

To get more information about Knott’s Season Passes, click here.

Connect with Knott’s on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram too!

I Got Chased by Zombies at Knott’s Scary Farm and Lived To Tell About It! #ScaryFarm

October 1, 2014 / Knott's

Disclosure: I was invited as a guest to spend time at Knott’s Scary Farm, in order to write this post. I do not work for any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have a relationship with them. I have a professional relationship with GigaSavvy, for which I create written content. All opinions are 100% my own.

Getting a chance to attend opening weekend of Knott’s Scary Farm this year was such a fun experience! I hadn’t been to Knott’s Scary Farm since high school. Back in August, I got to attend a media unveiling event where they announced all of the frightful events they were planning for this year’s haunt. I wasn’t sure if I’d be brave enough to go when October rolled around! Some of the main highlights looked REALLY scary from the previews they shared with us that night. Regardless, I was determined to go and act big and brave.

This year, Knott’s Scary Farm dates extend from September 25-November 1. It’s open from 7 p.m.-1 a.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays and from 7 p.m.-2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Scary Farm features 11 elaborately-themed walk through mazes and attractions, 4 endless scare zones across the park, 2 spectacular live shows, including Elvira’s Big Top and The Hanging, and over 1000 live monsters, ghosts, ghouls, goblins, and freaks roaming the park, ready to chase you around! All of that PLUS the regular park attractions makes for a crazy good time!

I think my first squeal of excitement of the night came when I was given a special Skeleton Key keychain on my lanyard, along with a Fright Lane wristband! The Fright Lane wristband and the Skeleton Key offers unlimited priority access to nine mazes and haunted attractions all night long. The Skeleton Key, which is included with all Fright Lane passes, “unlocks” a secret extra room inside of five mazes. Guests also receive a commemorative lanyard and collectible keychain. Fright Lane with Skeleton Key passes start at $65.00. (Separate theme park admission required, and not included)

I had a love-hate relationship with the mazes. While I dared to enter them with my hubby as my bodyguard, I was constantly screaming and petrified by all of the horrific things inside and yet, I kept running to find the next maze, every time we’d finish one! It’s like I couldn’t stop myself! I think my two favorite mazes were “Pinocchio Unstrung” and “Forevermore”.

Obviously I loved the story of Pinocchio as a little girl but when we ventured inside this maze, I think I realized almost immediately that it wasn’t going to be anything like the original story.

It was probably the creepy marionette show that gave it away! It was mesmerizing and frightening all at once! Poor Gepetto was all hacked up and bloody, lying on a table, too! Guess he’ll never get a real boy now! Hehe!

From the outside, Forevermore didn’t look so bad but once I got inside I knew that its look had been deceiving. It was a psych hospital and they were looking for an escaped murderer! That’s fun, right? Nothing like going through a mental ward where a bunch of crazies have all murdered people and are telling you that they killed all of their friends! I was lucky to escape without ending up in a straightjacket myself!

Yeah, I must admit that it was pretty creepy but that’s when my love-hate comes back into play since a normal person would’ve just run away and gone home. Not I though…nope, I got in line for Special Ops: INFECTED next! If you’re not familiar with the name, it’s because Infected is brand new for 2014. Knott’s describes it like this:

“Infected seamlessly integrates interactive gaming technology with an immersive mountainous landscape, delivering a breakthrough interactive haunted experience that is as terrifying as it is challenging. Missions will take guests through a variety of wilderness terrains, including the unpredictable barrel bridges across the rushing river, through the dark caverns, and through mysterious backwoods. Six acres of the beloved theme park is now home to mutinous, scream-inducing zombies, and the time has come for a harrowing Special Ops survival mission.“

This attraction was actually so much fun! I was worried that I wouldn’t know what to do because the rest of our group seemed like they’d played Laser Tag before and I hadn’t, but I did pretty well, at least in my own opinion. We were led through the Quarantined area by our two squadron leaders.

Thank goodness for these two! They saved us, but it wasn’t easy! (photo credit: Knott’s)

I tried my best to listen to them as we ran from shelter to shelter and were chased by zombies, trying not to get INFECTED! It was really nerve wracking to be chased and scared by all of the zombies, while having to react really quickly by shooting at them! When you’re dealing with zombies, it doesn’t matter HOW big the husband that you brought along to protect you! In the end, my adrenaline was flowing and I was ready to do it again! They’ll take your pictures before you turn in your equipment and the pictures are available for purchase.

I kind of love how our pic came out!

I would definitely recommend buying tickets and making your own reservation for Special Ops: Infected. It’s not part of the regular Knott’s Scary Farm ticket but isn’t something you want to miss. You can get more info about it here.

I absolutely fangirl over Elvira! (photo credit: Knott’s)

We got so caught up in all of the mazes that we actually didn’t get into see Elvira’s live show, “Elvira’s Big Top” that night. I grew up watching Elvira on TV so I was sad that I didn’t get to see her show but I did get to see her on stage back in August at the unveiling event. The woman hasn’t aged a bit. I’ve heard so many people make comments about Elvira “looking good for her age” but seriously, this has nothing to do with her age..she’s just a hottie!

Elvira rocks 2 shows a night, on every night of Knott’s Scary Farm! Wow! (photo credit: Knott’s)

Since we didn’t make it into her show on time, we did visit her Boo-tique which is located next to the Charles M. Schultz Theater.

There was SO much Elvira memorabilia in there, as well as a ton of items to purchase. Fans also have an opportunity to meet Elvira each night of Knott’s Scary Farm, just by spending at least $50 in her Boo-tique! Find out more about her Meet n’ Shriek here.

After taking a break from all of the craziness, we grabbed a couple of ice cream Cookie-wiches to munch on while we waited to watch The Hanging in Town Square. I think this picture pretty much describes how yummy they were!

I don’t even know where to begin with all of the compliments I could pay the writers, actors, dancers & stuntmen in The Hanging! It was SO clever, witty AND hilarious! I was also excited because they ended up hanging the person I voted for them to hang, in an online Knott’s survey last summer.

I won’t spoil it for you, you’ll just HAVE to go watch The Hanging for yourself! I LOVED watching The Hanging though and my only regret is not getting there earlier to be even closer to the stage, but that’s just my fault for making us late with my need for a snack! It’s basically standing room only for the show but we were a little ways back. Next time, I’m getting front row!

In order to get out of the park, we still had to trek through the foggy ghost town and kept getting spooked by all of those who awaited in the shadows for us! We honestly had the best time at Knott’s Scary Farm and I was so happy that we rallied to stay up almost to the end of it.

Knott’s Scary Farm requires a separate ticket for entrance than a general park ticket. You have the option of purchasing a single night ticket or they also offer a Scary Farm Pass this year, which is something new, and gives you unlimited access to any night of Scary Farm, with no blackout dates. For Knott’s Scary Farm lovers, this pass is a GREAT deal!

Do YOU like scary things like this? Have YOU ever been to Knott’s Scary Farm? If you haven’t, you need to grab some tickets and get there on one of the nights left THIS year! Do you dare? I did!

Knott’s Scary Farm 2014: All of the Frightening Details! #ScaryFarm

August 7, 2014 / Knott's

It’s only August and here I am, already getting excited for Halloween! I was ecstatic to be invited to Knott’s Media Preview where they released all of the exciting details for Knott’s Scary Farm this year! Luckily some of my friends there with me to hold my hand though, because I was kind of scared and everywhere I turned, there were monsters and zombies!

As the fog rolled into the already-dark theater we were all seated in, the lights went all the way out and screaming began. Most of the screams were excited Scary Farm fans, but I think I also heard a few REAL blood curdling screams too. I didn’t dare investigate to see where those were coming from though!

Thank goodness @socalpocketmemories was there to keep me safe in the dark! I was so scared!

The announcements started out with news about the return of the one and only, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark! Elvira will be making appearances in her show, Elvira’s Big Top, every night of Knott’s Scary Farm this year in the Charles M. Schultz Theater.

Elvira is truly timeless! (photo credit: Knott’s)

This year, Elvira will also have her own Boo-tique and guests who spend over $50 in her Boo-tique will have an opportunity to meet Elvira! Check out some of the merchandise! I already see some things I NEED from Elvira’s Boo-tique! (photo credit: Knott’s)

Wow, you can shop AND have a chance to meet her? That sounds like a win-win!

(photo credit: Knott’s)

I grew up watching Elvira! If you could see her in person you would totally understand why I was fangirling that night! The lady looks amazing from every angle and I swear she doesn’t need to lie about her age because clearly she’s only 29!

As soon as Elvira exited the stage, I heard a loud gunshot and looked to see the Sheriff was in town to announce that The Hanging would also be back this year for Knott’s Scary Farm!

Yep, you can witness it over in Calico Square! Did you know that you can even vote for WHO they hang in Calico Square? Just click here to vote! (I, myself, am voting for Justin Bieber!)

I wouldn’t want to get on these guys’ bad side! (photo credit: Knott’s)

Next came all of the news about which mazes and Scare Zones would be back for the 2014 season.

Here’s a list of the mazes that are returning this year and where they’ll be located:

Dominion of the Damned will be adjacent to GhostRider
Forevermore will be at the Mystery Lodge Entrance
Gunslinger’s Grave will be adjacent to Silver Bullet
Black Magic will be near Xcelerator
Trick or Treat will be adjacent to GhostRider
Pinocchio Unstrung will be inside Wilderness Dance Hall
The Witch’s Keep (Calico Mine Ride)

The 4 Monster Scare Zones you can find in the park this season are:

Ghost Town in Old West Ghost Town®
CarnEVIL at The Boardwalk
Fiesta De Los Muertos in Fiesta Village
Gypsy Camp in the GhostRider Area

These are some of the monsters you’ll encounter in the Scare Zones! I can barely make eye contact with these pics!

(photo credit: Knott’s)

Everyone was just DYING to hear about the new additions to Knott’s Scary Farm this year! Here’s what they’re adding:

Voodoo will be adjacent to GhostRider
The Tooth Fairy will be adjacent to GhostRider
TRAPPED: Lock and Key inside Boardwalk Ballroom (Reservation & additional fee required. Click here for more info)
Special Ops: Infected will be throughout Camp Snoopy’s six acres

The final announcement was the BIGGEST and BEST one of all!

Even with all of that exciting news about the horrific additions to Scary Farm this year, there was one more HUGE announcement to make and we were all made to wait in suspense….until finally they shared what the biggest news by far was…this year for Knott’s Season Passholders, a special unlimited Knott’s Scary Farm pass is available for purchase online for only $65 (plus applicable taxes and fees)!

That means you can go as many nights as you wish and there are NO blackout dates! Wow, talk about a pass holder perk! These special tickets are on sale now through August 17th. If there are any left, they will go on sale to the general public on August 18 for $75 (plus applicable taxes and fees). This announcement pretty much brought the house down with excitement that night! I’m SURE all of the pass holders who were there went home and bought their Knott’s Scary Farm pass! (if they didn’t do it right then and there from their smartphones!)

It was such an exciting night of announcements and now I’m just counting the days down until Knott’s Scary Farm starts on September 25th! Are YOU brave enough to partake in all the fun? I sure hope so!

For additional information about Knott’s Scary Farm and to purchase event tickets, click here.

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DISCLAIMER: The opinions in this article are my own. I do not work for, or with, any brand mentioned in this article, nor do I have any official relationship with them. I have a relationship with GigaSavvy, for whom I create original editorial content.