Springtime is one of the most beautiful times to visit Knott's Berry Farm. Flowers are in bloom, bunnies are out and about — look for bunnies, lambs and giant Easter eggs in Camp Snoopy — and delicious dishes, desserts, wines and craft brews are aplenty. Every year, foodies and Knott's Berry Farm fans flock to the Boysenberry Festival for savory and sweet foods and treats that are flavored by this versatile berry. This year's event takes place daily from March 13 through April 12, 2026! The Undercover Tourist frog squad got to see and taste some of the 2026 foods at a media preview. Then we tried a lot more on opening weekend. We have some solid favorites this year!
Overview of Knott's Boysenberry Festival
Why a whole festival to celebrate a little berry? Besides being delicious, the boysenberry put Knott's Berry Farm on the map. Walter Knott was the first person to commercially cultivate the boysenberry, selling the berries at his farm stand in 1932. People kept returning to the stand for the tasty berries. He named them boysenberries, after their originator, Charles Rudolph Boysen. Boysen successfully bred a cross between a blackberry, a raspberry and a loganberry. The result is a large, juicy and delicious berry.
Today, Knott's Berry Farm is a hoppening Western-themed theme park that is rich in history. The Boysenberry Festival connects the park we know today with its farm stand beginnings. The incredible flavor of boysenberry can be used in a variety of dishes. Each year, the Knott’s Culinary Team creates new dishes that incorporate the berry in new and delicious ways. The result? A unique assortment of food, desserts and boysenberry-infused beverages. Oh, but that is not all! Beyond food, the Boysenberry Festival is a bushel of fun with musical entertainment, a craft fair, games, craft beer tasting, wine tasting and more.
Before you visit with tadpoles 15 and under, be sure to visit the Knott's Code of Conduct page for the updated chaperone policy.
2026 Boysenberry Festival Dates
The Boysenberry Festival is back in 2026! This annual food and wine festival takes place daily from March 13 through April 12, 2026. The event offers fresh fun from open to close. You can enjoy live entertainment, live music around the park, local crafts and activities the whole family can enjoy. And FOOD — don't froget about all the yummy boysenberry-inspired dishes and treats. You can learn more about the history of the boysenberry at Town Hall during the festival.
You'll need theme park admission to enter the park and enjoy entertainment. Food and beverages are extra costs, and you can also purchase an optional tasting card to try foods from the festival booths.
Boysenberry Festival Food and Beverage on Tasting Card
The Boysenberry Festival is one of our favorite Knott's Berry Farm events because of all the yummy things to eat and drink. This year, there so many new items to try. You can find tasting card items as well as a la carte menu items for purchase at restaurants in and outside the park. Here is the 2026 event guide with menus (as well as allergen guides). We had the hopportunity to taste some dishes in advance, so some of our photos reflect items that are plated differently from how the food may be presented in the park. But all the treats still taste berry good however they are presented! Other photos are taken at the actual Boysenberry Festival.
Knott's Boysenberry Festival Tasting Cards
This year, the tasting card returns. For $55, you get up to six tastings from 12 themed food booths. Along with food, you can also use the tasting card to get boysenberry beer, wine, sangria, seltzer, cocktails or hard cider, as well as nonalcoholic beverages. You can also pay for items individually. The food items are available every day of the Boysenberry Festival.
Not only that, Wilderness Dance Halls sells "A Taste of Boysenberry" with four sample beverages in souvenir tasting cups for $27.99. Choose from 18 options.
Here's a look at the 2026 booths and their menus. (Tasting Card items are not on the dining plans, but some a la carte items are on the dining plan). Some items have vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free substitutions available — plus signage at the stand usually mentions any available substitutions. Some of the booths are actual booths, and some are restaurants that are acting as booths. To view all the Boysenberry Festival offerings and see the food locations on a map, you can scan the QR code on the back of the tasting card.
The booths are open daily from 10 a.m. until about 30 to 60 minutes before the park closes.
We got to see all the foods offered and taste a few at a media preview and then we visited for opening weekend. Photos of items plated for display may not reflect how the food actually looks in the park. Overall we found the items to have more boysenberry flacor and coloring at the actual festival. We have some strong froggy favorites this year!
Without further ado, here are the all-new 2026 Tasting Card booth items this year (some booths are restaurants and some are actual booths):
Wilderness Dogs and Drinks
- Boysenberry Sausage on a hoagie with a boysenberry mustard, peppers, and crispy fried onions
- All-Beef Hot Dog with Boysenberry Chili and Cheese
- Boysenberry Chili Cheese Fries with Boysenberry Sour Cream, and Jalapeño Chips
- Gourmet Oatmeal Cookie with Boysenberry Jam and Cream Cheese
- Boysenberry and Blood Orange Lemonade
Gold Mine Trail Booth
- Spicy Boysenberry Bulgogi over Steamed Rice with Green Onions
- Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs over Mashed Potatoes with Green Onions
- Boysenberry Beef Brisket over Mac and Cheese (so yummy!)
- Boysenberry Sauteed Mushroom with Creamy Vegetarian Orzo (both versions are delicious)
- Boysenberry Cream Paleta
- Boysenberry Sherbert Paleta
- Boysenberry and Kiwi Lemonade
- Boysenberry West Coast IPA
- Boysenberry Blonde
- Boysenberry Wine
- Boysenberry Sangria
- Boysenberry and Lemon Hard Soda
- Berry and Vanilla Cider
- Boysenberry Paloma
- Boysenberry Mai Tai
- Michelada with Boysenberry Chamoy, Chili Powder and Tamarind Stick
- Boysenberry Pistachio Bar
Chow House Booth
- Elote with a Boysenberry Butter, Boysenberry Mayo and Cotija Cheese (always a favorite)
- Sweet Boysenberry Tamale
Wilderness Dance Hall
The teens and tweens really loved the Boysenberry Dippin' Dots Sprite float while the adults like the Brussels Sprouts and Shrimp Orzo.
- Venom Cider
- Boysenberry and Kiwi Lemonade
- Warmed Pretzel with a Boysenberry Butter
- Boysenberry Glazed Candied Bacon On-A- Stick
- Popcorn with Boysenberry Butter
- Reuben Ball with a Spicy Boysenberry Thousand Island Dressing
- Boysenberry Cajun Shrimp with Vegetarian Creamy Orzo
- Tempura Chicken Bites in a Boysenberry and Orange Glaze LettuceWraps (we loved this dish)
- Boysenberry Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
- Monkey Bread with a Boysenberry Topping
- Boysenberry Dippin’ Dots Sprite Float
- Boysenberry Tequila Sunrise
- Boysenberry Whiskey Lemonade
- Boysenberry Paloma
- Sweet Cherry and Boysenberry
- Bourbon Slush
- Boysenberry West Coast IPA
- Boysenberry and Lemon Hard Soda
- Berry and Vanilla Cider
- Boysenberry Vanilla Cream Ale
- Boysenberry Double IPA
- Creamy Buttered Toffee Cocktail with Boysenberries
- Boysenberry Pineapple Hard Seltzer
- Boysenberry Mojito
- Boysenberry Mai Tai
- Boysenberry Hef
- Boysenberry Lager
- Boysenberry Blonde
- Berries and Cream Margarita
Ghost Town Grub
- Deep Fried Churro with Boysenberry Bavarian Cream and Boysenberry Soft Serve
- The Boysenberry Brick – Fried Brioche with Boysenberry Jam and Boysenberry Soft Serve
- Deep-Fried Coconut Cream Bao Buns with a Boysenberry Drizzle
Wilderness Dance Hall Patio Booth
- Boysenberry Tortillas, stuffed with Deep Fried Cauliflower, Boysenberry Coleslaw and Crema
- Boysenberry Spicy Bulgogi over Steamed Rice with Green Onions
- Boysenberry West Coast IPA
- Boysenberry Wine
- Boysenberry Tequila Smash
- Boysenberry Sangria
- Boysenberry Mojito
- Michelada with Boysenberry Chamoy, Chili Powder, and Tamarind Stick
Miner’s Mac and Spuds
This location was a hit with the Frog Squad. We made return visits for the potato and the spaghetti!
- Mango Berry Smoothie
- Boysenberry and Dark Chocolate Frozen Banana
- Double-Stuffed Baked Potato with Boysenberry BBQ Brisket
- Spaghetti in a Mini Garlic Boysenberry Bread Bowl
- No-Bake Lemon and Boysenberry Cheesecake
Ghost Town Bakery
- Boysenberry and Blood Orange Lemonade
- Gourmet Cinnamon and Oatmeal
- Cookie with Cream Cheese Frosting and Boysenberries
- Boysenberry Bear Claw
- Boysenberry and Chocolate Matcha Mousse Cup
- Boysenberry Meringue Tart
- Boysenberry and Pineapple Upside Down Cake
- Boysenberry Shortcake Sushi Roll
- Boysenberry Pistachio Bar
- Vegan and Gluten-Free Boysenberry Swirl Cheesecake
- Giant Palmier Cookie Dipped in Boysenberry White Chocolate
Calico Railroad Bar Booth
- Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs over Mashed Potatoes with GreenOnions
- Boysenberry Beef Brisket over Mac and Cheese (so yummy!)
- Boysenberry Tequila Sunrise
- Boysenberry Mai Tai
- Boysenberry Paloma
- Boysenberry Cider
- Boysenberry Sangria
- Boysenberry Wine
- Boysenberry Lager
- Boysenberry Hef
Mrs. Murphy’s
- Kettle Chip Nachos with Boysenberry Brisket
- Chicken Sliders with a Boysenberry Coleslaw
- Crispy Chicken Wings with a Boysenberry Sriracha DippingSauce (we got the sauce on the side and loved these wings)
- Boysenberry and Ginger Soy-Glazed Cod over Kale Quinoa
- Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese, Pistachios, Boysenberries and Boysenberry Dressing
- Boysenberry and Dark Chocolate Frozen Banana
- Boysenberry Cream Paleta
- Boysenberry Sherbert Paleta
- Boysenberry and Kiwi Lemonade
- Boysenberry Hef
- Boysenberry Whiskey Lemonade
- Boysenberry Lager
- Boysenberry Wine
- Boysenberry Mai Tai
- Creamy Buttered Toffee Cocktail with Boysenberries
Silver Bullet Booth
- Reuben Ball with a Spicy Boysenberry Thousand Island Dressing
- Pork Schnitzel with a Boysenberry Chutney
- Boysenberry Dippin' Dots
- Boysenberry and Blood Orange Lemonade
- Berries and Cream Margarita
- Boysenberry Sangria
- Boysenberry Lager
- Boysenberry and Lemon Hard Soda
- Boysenberry Blonde
- Boysenberry Tequila Smash
You have six tastes — how will you choose? We frogs tend to share each other's food so we can taste more things without filling up on just a few. The portions are hearty. But hold on ... this is not even a complete list of all the Knott's Boysenberry Festival offerings!
Pricing
Most tasting items are from $8 (for small desserts) to $15 for bigger entrees. The average price for a dish is about $10. Drinks with alcohol are more like $12 to $18. Prices are listed on signs at each booth.
Is the tasting card worth it? It's frogerrific! We share one card to get all our food items! The portions are generous, but a lot of the items are drinks with alcohol. If you are just interested in food, then you might want to look over the menu above to determine if you want six of the food items on the card. There are other tasty boysenberry-themed bites at restaurants. Those are not on the card (but many are on the dining plan). We list the restaurant items below. If you want a mix of food booth and restaurant items, you may save money by purchasing items individually. If there are adult frogs in your group who plan to enjoy adult drinks as well as eat, the card is a better deal for your party.
Festival Items at Restaurants (But Not on the Tasting Card)
You can purchase Boysenberry Festival foods, snacks and beverages at restaurants in the park.
These items are NOT on the Tasting Card, but some are on the Dining Plan (marked with DP):
Ghost Town Bakery
- Boysenberry Cheesecake Swirl Brownie
- Boysenberry Macaroon
- Berry Cobbler Cookie
- Boysenberry Blondies
Calico Tater Bites
- Boysenberry Sausage Tots with cheese - DP
- Cacio e Pepe Pizza - DP
Sutter’s Grill
- Boysenberry Chimichurri Cheeseburger - DP
Sutter’s Funnel Cake
- Mini Fun Bun – Deep Fried Cinnamon Bun with a Boysenberry Glaze
- Boysenberry Funnel Cake with Boysenberry sauce and peaches and cream
Gourmet Churro Factory
- Beignets with vanilla soft serve and boysenberry topping
Chowhouse Mix-it-Up
- Boysenberry swirl Cookiewich
Calico Saloon
- Boysenberry Cosmopolitan
- Boysenberry Mule
Strictly-on-a-Stick
- Deep-fried pickle spears with boysenberry aioli - DP
Log Ride Funnel Cake
- Boysenberry chili and cheese funnel cake
Charleston Circle Coffee
- Boysenberry Decorated Cookie
- Boysenberry Latte
- Matcha with Boysenberry Cold Foam
- Acai Bowl with Boysenberries
- Boysenberry Iced Espresso Martini
Prop Shop Pizzeria
- Penne Pesto with pine nut and Boysenberry drizzle - DP
- Boysenberry Sausage and Mushroom Pizza - DP
- Caesar Salad with boysenberry croutons
- Boysenberry Éclair
Prop Shop Pizzeria Bar
- Boysenberry Espresso Martini
- Boysenberry Hard Iced Tea
Coasters Diner
- Boysenberry popping peal milkshake
- Salmon Salad with boysenberry chamoy and chili powder - DP
- Salmon Salad with boysenberry lemon vinaigrette
- Warm Boysenberry Cobbler with vanilla soft serve
Boardwalk BBQ
- Boysenberry Jalapeño Pulled Pork Sandwich - DP
- Chopped Italian Salad with Boysenberry Dressing - DP
- Boysenberry Meatloaf - DP
- Boysenberry Mashed Potatoes
- Boysenberry Chicken Tenders
Casa California Restaurante
- Boysenberry Marinated Carnitas Bowl with Boysenberry Pico de Gallo, and Boysenberry Salsa
- Boysenberry Tres Leches Cake
Papas Mexicanas
- Boysenberry Marinated Carnitas Fries - DP
Baja Taqueria
- Potato Tacos with Boysenberry Crema - DP
Foods Outside the Park
Look for special items outside of the park at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Cable Car Kitchen, as well as boysenberry-inspired food and beverages at the new Thirty Acres Kitchen at the refurbished Knott's Hotel.
- Cable Car Kitchen
- Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant
- Farm Bakery
Boysenberry Festival Entertainment & Characters
Characters are out to greet guests at the event — get on in and hug your beloved PEANUTS characters. We caught sight of the Snoopy and Pig Pen. Use the Knott's Berry Farm app to find them. The Easter Beagle sometimes appears around Easter. You can also find the adorable Whittles in the park. From the look of his beard, he has been thoroughly enjoying all of the boysenberry treats!
Meet Boysen Bear or Coyotes at the Calico Park Stage.
Head to the Calico Mine Stage and Calico Park Stage for wacky and messy games, including boysenberry pie eating contests! You can see the schedule of activities near the stage. Keep an eye out for Boysen Bear or the sneaky coyote pups Moxie and Brawny!
There's a kid pie eating contest, and an adult one. Also, Ghost Town is where you can find Mrs. Knott's Cookie Decorating (for an additional fee).
You can meet animals in Old MacDonald's Barn (we saw baby lambs) or learn about the history of the Boysenberry at Town Hall.Enjoy new and returning entertainment both day and night such as:
- The Great Bank Robbery — Watch a special presentation of a comedy melodrama at the Bird Cage Theatre. This all-new show that will have the audience cheering the hero and booing the villain.
- Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies — Join them at the Wagon Camp stage for some knee-slappin' and "vine" dancing comedic country music.
- Knott's Preserved — Head to the Calico Mine Stage to celebrate California's original theme park with song, dance and storytelling. Take a musical journey from the ghost town of Calico to the roaring 20s of the Seaside Boardwalk.
- History of the Boysenberry — Head to Ghost Town Hall to learn about the fruit that made all this possible.
- Old MacDonald’s Barn — Cozy up to the cutest critters on the farm including horses, goats, and other furry friends at Livery Stable.
- Boysen Bear’s Pie Kitchen Games — Guests in Calico Park can help thwart those sneaky coyote pups, Moxie and Brawny, from stealing all the pies! Once they save the day, they can celebrate on the Calico Mine Stage at the Boysen Bear’s Pie Eating Contest.
- Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest — Join the some of the messiest games around with the famous Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest.
- Bluegrass Duo — Grab a plate and seat at Fireman's BBQ
- Mrs. Knott's Cookie Decorating — Available in Ghost Town on select dates for an additional fee.
Shopping at Knott's Boysenberry Festival
In addition to tasty bites, you can do some shopping at the festival. Knott’s retail shops are open, along with over 15 local artisan craft booths, selling their own boysenberry-themed items. You can also see some of the Knott's Calico Ghost Town residents creating their wares.
You can purchase original art that celebrates Knott's Berry Farm history, created by local artists. Find them at the "Tied Up in Knott's" exhibit at The Factory Store.
Love the boysenberry fruit? You can grow your own at home! Boysenberry plants are available for purchase at Knott's during the festival. You'll find the plants at Gold Mine Trail. This hidden area has drinks, food, a game, meet and greets with Whittles and extra tables. You can find it just past the GhostRider attraction exit. We discovered lots of cool facts about the boysenberry during our visit! They ripen in January, and if properly cared for, each plant can produce about 50 berries.
You can also pick up Boysenberry Festival souvenirs at select stores and booths! Hoodies, bags, spirit jerseys, hats, blankets, plushes ... you name it! Look for new crafted boysenberry headbands, berets and bags this year!
Take home packaged goodies to create some of your own boysenberry culinary delights at home. You can purchase take-home boysenberry packaged foods and sauces to create your own tasty dishes at home.
The booth is located in Ghost Town near the park entrance. They will package up your purchases and keep them until you are ready to leave!
What are you looking forward to tasting at Knott's Boysenberry Festival? Be sure to save on Go City Passes — which include access to Knott's Berry Farm and other popular attractions— when you purchase through Undercover Tourist.
Related: The Full Lineup of Beary-Good Knott's Berry Farm Events
Hoppy planning!
