Oh, hoppy day! Knott's Berry Farm reopened May 21, 2021! The reopening kicked off the summer-long 100th-anniversary celebration, which will run all the way through Sept. 6. We were so excited to hop back to the fully reopened western-themed Knott's Berry Farm! The park had been closed since March 14, 2020, due to COVID-19, but it operated food and beverage events since July 2020 without rides. We had gotten a taste of Knott's, but its been toadally awesome to jump back into the full theme park with rides! Yeehaw!
Hop over to our guide to visiting Knott's Berry Farm this summer for more fun and details, as well as to our post on Knott's Berry Farm events to learn about more fun heading your way during the rest of the year!
Out-of-state visitors are now welcome to visit Knott's Berry Farm! You may be wondering about masks. Masks are no longer required outdoors. Unvaccinated guests are required to wear them indoors. Don't froget a mask for the tadpoles for indoor rides. Of course, we all have different comfort levels so you may see a lot of guests still choosing to mask up outdoors as well.
Tickets and Details for the Knott's Berry Farm Reopening
Tickets for Knott's Berry Farm are available now. Ghost Town is no longer a Ghost Town, as park guests wander through, chatting with western characters, eating at picnic tables, shopping and maybe even finding themselves caught up in a gunfight!
If you already have a season pass, its expiration date will be extended. All 2020 Season Passes purchased by Dec. 6, 2020, and all 2021 Season Passes purchased between Dec. 7, 2020, and May 5, 2021, will be extended through May 5, 2022. All associated season pass add-ons will also be extended. Season passes and add-ons purchased after May 5, 2021, will be valid through Dec. 31, 2021.
Dining plans and drink plans are valid. For now, if you have the refillable drink plan, an employee will get it for you and hand the cup to you. You can use that or pour it into your souvenir cup. From 5 p.m. until park close, you can purchase tasting cards ($45) with six tastings during Knott's Summer Nights. You can find picnic tables and additional seating all around the park, including in front of the stages. If you'll be there all day, you can purchase an all-day dining plan (online to save a few dollars or in-person). You'll receive a wristband and can walk up and order food every 90 minutes. You can stuff your face with yummy Knott's food and save money!
When we visit, we like to arrive early so we can quite literally hop on rides the first hour or two! Most attractions are open. The train and stagecoach are the only rides that remain closed for now. We have been hoppy to experience entertainment during the Knott's Berry Farm reopening. During the day, catch Happiness Is ... with the Peanuts. You can also interact with citizens of Ghost Town. (You can find them on balconies and rooftops!) At night, enjoy a DJ and musical acts. On weekends, catch a marionette puppet show.
Operating hours vary. You can always view the most up-to-date hours online. Hours increased in June with Saturday nights staying open until 11 p.m. Visit the Knott's Welcoming You Back page for more information.
What About Safety Protocols?
The state of California ended its mask mandate and theme park guidelines on June 15, 2021. You no longer need to wear a face covering outdoors at Knott's. Unvaccinated guests are required to wear a face covering indoors. You'll still find plenty of hand sanitizer around the park. Ride vehicles are operating at full capacity and physical distancing is up to guests. Guest no longer undergo a health screening before entering, and reservations are no longer required. The State of California strongly recommends that park guests be either fully vaccinated, obtain a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of attending the park or wear a face covering. Use contactless forms of payment, including credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
You'll still see plexiglass barriers between guests and employees in some locations. And Knott's is still routinely cleaning seats, restraints, headrests and armrests on rides.
Tips for Visiting During the Knott's Berry Farm Reopening
Here is what to expect and some hopful tips for visiting Knott's Berry Farm this summer.
- Save money with discount Knott's Berry Farm tickets (our price includes the tax).
- Arrive before opening for the shortest wait times of the day.
- Stay late to enjoy Summer Nights.
- If someone in your party has a disability that prevents them from waiting in a standard queue, talk to employees at guest relations about accommodations.
- Use the Knott's app to find showtimes and character meet and greets and check ride wait times.
- Hop in food lines before you are too hungry (especially for Fireman's BBQ or Boardwalk BBQ).
- Consider the all-day dining plan (you can eat every 90 minutes!).
- During Knott's Summer Nights, after 5 p.m. you may purchase a tasting card for six tastings. It's $45 and does not need to be used all in one night.
- Consider the souvenir bottle for free drink refills (every 15 minutes) day one and only $1 for refills on visits in 2021.
- Visit Peanuts characters in Camp Snoopy and Whittles in Ghost Town.
- Look for QR Codes in Ghost Town to learn more.
- Take advantage of hand sanitizer.
- Contactless forms of payments are recommended.
A New Ride to Enjoy During the Knott's Berry Farm Reopening
The new ride, Knott’s Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair, is now open! This all-new 4D interactive dark ride celebrates a beloved classic attraction with a reimagined gaming twist. Climb aboard themed vehicles equipped with “jelly blasters” to try to recover stolen boysenberry pies. Travel through whimsical environments such as the Boysenberry Pie Factory, Frog Forest, Fortune Teller Camp and Weird Woods. With jelly blasters shaped like jam jars, feel free to splatter up the place. Be sure to take a whiff when you ride. The ride culminates in a celebration at the County Fair. We love having a new ride to experience! Also, is anyone else craving boysenberry right now? We've definitely developed a taste for Knott's Berry Farm!
California Marketplace
The California Marketplace is open. You can enjoy Mrs. Knott's Chicken-to-Go Restaurant, Farm Bakery and the Knott's Berry Market (in case you need some boysenberry pie!). Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant is open. We recommend reservations.
In the Marketplace, Knott’s has marks on the floor to show where to stand for social distancing, a roped queue and has added plexiglass and hand sanitizers in front of registers. Guests use scanners to do a supervised, touchless self-checkout and self bagging.
Have you headed to Knott's Berry Farm's reopening? What was your favorite part? Be sure to share with us in the comments below!
Related: What to Expect When the Southern California Theme Parks Reopen
Related: Disneyland Reopening — What You Need to Know
Hoppy planning!
