Knott's Berry Farm Seasonal Events: What to Know Before You Go
Knott's Berry Farm has been running seasonal events longer than almost any other theme park in the country. Knott's Scary Farm launched in 1973 and is widely credited with starting the haunted theme park event format now copied across the industry. The park runs four major seasonal events each year, each requiring different planning depending on whether the content is included with admission or separately ticketed.
Knott's Scary Farm (September–November)
What it is: Scary Farm is a separately ticketed event that runs on select nights — primarily Thursdays through Saturdays — from mid-September through November 1. The park transforms completely after dark. Regular daytime park tickets do not include Scary Farm access.
2025 dates: Select nights September 18 through November 1, 2025. Hours are 7 PM–1 AM on Thursdays and Sundays, 7 PM–2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
What's included in a Scary Farm ticket:
- 10 haunted mazes
- 5 scare zones across the park
- 3 live shows
- Access to all operating park rides
2025 new mazes:
- *Mary — The Haunting of Worth Home:* A Victorian home overtaken by nightmarish creatures
- *The Zoo:* An abandoned zoo converted into a human-animal experiment laboratory
Returning mazes cover themes including spider possession, a haunted Boogeyman town, ancient cathedrals, wax museums, speakeasies, and sideshow of the mind environments.
Ticket prices: Online tickets start at $59.99 and increase based on the night. Peak nights (October Saturdays) are the most expensive. Buying early and avoiding Saturdays in October is how you get the lowest price.
Add-ons:
- Fright Lane — Maze priority access starting at $139 per night. On peak nights when mazes run 45–60 minute queues, this is the difference between hitting 5 mazes or 10 in a night.
- Boo-fet — Knott's Scary Farm dinner starting at $49 online. Includes a buffet meal and early entry into the park before the general public. The early entry alone is worth pricing out — getting 30–45 minutes before the 7 PM crowd is significant for maze access.
- Beyond the Fog Tour — $79.99 for a 3-hour lights-on behind-the-scenes tour of the event setup, followed by maze access. A legitimately unique experience for people interested in how the event is built.
What to know going in:
- Scare actors will interact with guests in scare zones. If you want to opt out of direct interaction, keep moving and stay to the edges of the zone — actors are trained not to pursue guests who clearly don't want engagement.
- The mazes are dark, physical environments with uneven surfaces, fog, and tight spaces. Not appropriate for young children.
- Regular season passes are NOT valid for Scary Farm. A separate Scary Farm ticket is always required.
- Some park rides operate during Scary Farm hours. Lines on major coasters can be shorter than typical daytime waits because most of the crowd is focused on the mazes.
Knott's Merry Farm (November–January)
What it is: A holiday overlay event included with regular park admission. No separate ticket required.
2025–2026 dates: November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026. The park is closed on Christmas Day.
What's included:
- Festive lighting throughout Ghost Town and the park
- Snoopy's Night Before Christmas ice show — a live ice skating performance with the Peanuts characters in holiday costumes
- Peanuts characters in holiday-themed outfits for photos and meet-and-greets
- Seasonal food and treats throughout the park
- Holiday-themed entertainment at the Calico Saloon and outdoor stages
What to know:
- Merry Farm is genuinely low-key compared to Scary Farm — it's a warmth-and-lights event more than a major production. Families with young children find it appropriate and manageable.
- The ice show runs multiple times daily. Get there 20 minutes before showtime to guarantee a seat — the venue fills.
- Regular admission prices apply. The holiday content is included, not extra.
- Crowds are heavy on the weekends closest to Christmas. A weekday visit in early December before school breaks is the sweet spot.
Knott's Boysenberry Festival (March–April)
What it is: An annual spring food festival celebrating the boysenberry — the fruit that Knott's helped commercialize in the 1930s. Included with regular park admission.
What's featured:
- 70+ limited-edition boysenberry-inspired food and drink items across park locations
- Live entertainment with a folk/bluegrass focus in Ghost Town
- Special merchandise and seasonal products
What to know:
- This is a food-forward event. The boysenberry items range from predictable (jam, pie, lemonade) to creative (boysenberry glazed ribs, savory preparations, cocktails with boysenberry infusions).
- The Boysenberry Festival is when the park's food program is at its strongest. If you're planning a spring visit, aligning it with this event is a good call.
- Lines at food booths can be long on weekends. Weekday visits during the festival see much shorter waits at food stations.
Summer Events and Concerts
Knott's runs periodic summer programming including the Summer Nights entertainment series with outdoor concerts, extended park hours, and special food offerings. These events are generally included with park admission and don't require separate ticketing.
Specific lineups vary year to year. Check the park's events calendar at knotts.com a few weeks before your summer visit for current programming.
General Seasonal Event Tips
- Buy event tickets early. Scary Farm peak nights sell out. Merry Farm and Boysenberry Festival don't sell out but buying in advance can save money.
- Check the park calendar before you visit any time September through January. On Scary Farm nights, the park transitions to event mode in the late afternoon. Daytime visitors must exit before Scary Farm begins unless they have a Scary Farm ticket.
- Season passes do not include Scary Farm. This surprises first-time season pass holders every year. Scary Farm is always separately ticketed regardless of pass level.