What's happening at Knott's Berry Farm this summer? It looks like 2024 is the most frogciting with the return of a redesigned Camp Snoopy as of June 27, 2024. The daytime Ghost Town Alive! and the Knott's Berry Farm Summer Nights parties are back too as of June 14, 2024! Don't froget, the water park — Knott's Soak City — is open to cool you off on hot summer days. Be sure to check out the chaperone policy on Knott's Code of Conduct page before you visit Knott's Berry Farm or Soak City.
Knott's Berry Farm is a hoppening SoCal destination. Tad and Leap are always hopping to "hang ten" on their favorite surf-themed dive coaster, HangTime. And Lily loves meeting new and old characters and seeing her favorite Peanuts characters on stage. Plus there are so many toddler-friendly rides at Camp Snoopy (and more to come!). (Hop over to our post on tips for Knott's Berry Farm with kids to learn more.) We all love digging into Knott's delicious food (including Knott’s boysenberry pie). The food booths and Tasting Card return! I'll try to remind Leap to enjoy his food after he rides Silver Bullet. I love getting to take a trip down memory lane on the Calico Mine Train. Summer is looking to be berry fun!
Knott's Berry Farm Summer Dates
There are a few different summer dates to keep track of this year. First of all, the summer entertainment with Ghost Town Alive and Summer Nights kicked off June 14 and runs through Sept. 2, 2024.
Camp Snoopy reveals new rides as of June 27, 2024, and a stage to be completed at a later date (but not this summer).
Knott's Soak City is already open for summer select dates (as of May 18, 2024). It runs through Sept. 8, 2024, but sometimes the closing date gets extended. It's opens daily mid-June through mid-August and then weekends through Labor Day. During hot fall seasons, the closing date may be extended for weekends through late September.
What's Hoppening at Knott's Berry Farm in Summer 2024?
We frogs love hopping by for Ghost Town Alive. It's always so much fun to immerse yourself in the festivities and play with the citizens of Calico. Every year is a little different. We are so hoppy this event, celebrating Founder's Day, has been brought back to life. The whole family has fun interacting with the Calico townspeople and Western gangs. We were even sworn in as citizens of Calico. The tadpoles love jumping into friendly competitions, delivering packages and telegrams for the townspeople and even playing cards with the sheriff and deputy. Mommy Frog was sworn in as a member of the press and even made it into the second edition of the paper. There are four editions of the Calico Gazette printed each day, and you just might make history.
It turns out the sheriff retired in 2023, and the mayor was out of town when we visited, so there was all kinds of fun surrounding that story. People of all ages were temporarily sworn in as mayors to keep the town running smoothly.
We saw a couple get hitched at Town Hall, participated in a hoedown and hit pay dirt when we struck gold at the assayer's office. There is so much old-time fun to be had at this affordable theme park that does not require park reservations.
The affordability of Knott's really sits nicely with a lot of folks. Its dining plans make eating in a theme park super cheap. There's a summer tasting card for tasty eats from restaurants all day and at booths during summer nights. Plus, there are special summer menu items at restaurants around the park (some on the dining plan). And the food is so good! All of this sets Knott's up to create a summer to remember.
Ghost Town Alive!
Ghost Town Alive! springs back to life in summer! Take your tadpoles on an Old West adventure with an all-new interactive storyline to explore and mysteries to unravel with the citizens of Calico. Unlock adventures, solve puzzles and influence the day’s events. Take on challenges as you immerse yourself into the Old West alongside bandits, cowboys, judges and craftspeople. Who’s down for a hoedown in Calico Park at 4:30 p.m.? Grab your dancing partner and swing them 'round.
Chat with or watch the citizens of Calico. They'll probably give you tasks to complete. Or they might share juicy gossip about the other town members. Be sure to hop pick up a "Calico Gazette" newspaper. Look for news updates to be posted throughout the day. And be sure to visit Sad-Eye Joe in jail. He's been in there so long. Answering your question is his only entertainment. (Psst ... Parents, hop by the Town Jail office when the tadpoles are on their way to meet Joe to write their names on a piece of paper. They'll be toadally surprised when he guesses their names.)
Keep an ear out for announcements when everyone is called together. At 10 a.m. Ghost Town comes to life. Show up for the ribbon cutting, then meet by the jail. Then starting about 11 a.m. you'll have to pick sides. Are you aligning yourself with the citizens of Calico or one of the town's two rival gangs the Mayfields or the Mad Bucks? There will be some friendly competitions for each team to earn points, and you are invited to play along. The games take place at Town Hall several times a day. Who will win? Find out at the Hoedown in Calico Park from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. each day. It's toadally cool to see kids and even adults get caught up in the mischief and gossip of Calico. You'll see gang members sneaking around with kids to stash some treasure and stay undercover.
Normally, many of the buildings in Ghost Town are closed and you can peek in the windows, but during Ghost Town Alive!, you can go inside them. You can interact with the citizens and help them solve puzzles or even play games. Learn to tie a bow or design a dress. You can spend as much or as little time as you want participating in Ghost Town Alive!
Be sure to meet Whittles in Ghost Town. Whittles was a Knott's character from the 1960s and '70s. He returned in 2021 and has been back ever since! We are not sure what this prospector was up to for about 40 years, but they say he has been lost in the hills looking for gold. But you can meet him in Ghost Town. Use the Knott's app to locate characters by time and location by clicking Shows & Events.
Before we take a look at the reasons to visit Knott's Berry Farm this summer, there are a few things to keep in mind when visiting this summer. You'll want to arrive 30 minutes before park opening for the shortest lines of the day. Hit GhostRider first. Then jump into the story in Ghost Town Alive! It goes on all day from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. when the Hoedown starts.
Party at Knott's Berry Farm Summer Nights
Every summer night heats up for Knott’s Berry Farm Summer Nights party. This year, Summer Nights runs select dates from June 14 to Sept. 2, 2024. The park lights up at dusk with live bands, DJs and party lights stretching from Calico Square to Charleston Circle. It’s not just on the weekends — you can cut a rug almost every night this summer through Sept. 2! Expect entertainment to be on weekends and holidays only in early and late summer.
You can rock out to a top 40s band at the Calico Mine Stage, or move to the music of the Boardwalk DJ around Charleston Circle Fountain. Catch smaller musical performances at Calico Town Square and in Fiesta Village. Sing along to favorite songs from bands including Suburban Legends, Hiatus, Suffragettes and others that rotate throughout the summer event. You can find the night's lineup on park signage and in the Knott's app. Be sure to look for Knott's resident partiers around the stage areas.
Enjoy Knott's Berry Farm Summer Nights Foods
Knott’s has tasty food, so be sure to purchase a food-tasting card (available online or purchase in the park) to sample delicious one-of-a-kind summertime treats and good eats or drinks. Most food stands are available from 5:30 p.m. until one hour before the park closes. But the tasting card is also good for special seasonal items at restaurants all day long!
The 2024 tasting card costs $55 plus tax and fees (season passholders save $5) and is good for six tastes of over 35 items. If you've attended any of the past taste events, you know the portions can be big! Good news! You do not have to use all the tastes in one day. We recommend sharing a card. Here's the link to the menu.
Here's a look at the restaurants and booths that offer summer food items and the 2024 menus. Everything is on the Tasting Card unless noted. Items also on the Dining Plan are marked with "DP":
Grizzly Creek Lodge
- Aloha Hawaiian Pizza - DP
- Crispy Chicken and Dill Burger with creamy dill pickle ranch
- S'mores Cookie
- Cranberry Sprite Shirley Temple
Grillin' Booth
- Garlic Pesto Caprese Burger
- Buffalo Chicken Caesar Wrap
- Chile Lime Chickpea Cauliflower Wrap
- Steak and Roasted Potato Skewers
- Watermelon Feta Salad
Nacho Booth in Mission Row
- Ground Beef Nachos
- Strawberry and Caramel Nachos
- Tequila Sunrise
- Tequila Paloma
Baja Taqueria
- Tacos Gobernador
- Shrimp Ceviche with tortilla chips - DP
- Cucumber Lime Aqua Fresca
- So Radler: Yuzu (lager with yuzu citrus)
Casa California Restaurante
- Mexican Chopped Salad with romaine, chicken, corn, beans, tomatoes, and cilantro lime vinaigrette - DP
- Cortadillo - Not on Tasting Card
- Papaya Playa - Not on Tasting Card
- Orange Margarita - Not on Tasting Card
- Spiked Strawberry Lemonade - Not on Tasting Card
Boardwalk BBQ
- Summer Salad - DP
- Peach Hand Pie
- Honey Glazed Pork Loin - Not on Tasting Card
- Sam Adams Summer Ale
Calico Tater Bites
- Cheeseburger Tots - DP
Miner's Mac & Spuds
- Loaded Sloppy Joe Potato Skins - DP
- Classic Shrimp Gazpacho with avocado and tortilla chips - DP
Ghost Town Grub
- Funfetti Funnel Cake - Not on Tasting Card
Wilderness Dogs and Drinks
- Crab and Shrimp Roll - DP
Gourmet Churro Factory
- Chocolate Stuffed S'mores Churro
Log Ride Funnel Cake
- Piña Colada Funnel Cake - Not on Tasting Card
Sutter's Funnel Cake
- Strawberry Shortcake Crumble Funnel Cake - Not on Tasting Card
Sutter's Grill
- California Burrito Style Burger with chipotle lime mayo, guacamole, fries and cheese sauce - Not on Tasting Card
Prop Shop Pizzeria
- Tomato, Green Bean Salad with Chickpeas
- Chicken, Cherry Tomato and Pesto Pizza - Not on Tasting Card
- Peach Flatbread with Balsamic Glaze - DP
- Peach Frozen Bellini
Sutter's Pizza
- Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza - DP
Coasters Diner
- Mediterranean Chicken and Quinoa Bowl with Tzatziki - DP
- Orange Creamsicle Milkshake - Not on Tasting Card
Papas Mexicanas
- Mexican Loaded Fries - DP
Strictly on a Stick
- Meatballs and Cheese on a stick with marinara sauce - Not on Tasting Card
Elote Booth in Mission Row
- Elote with chili limon tajin mayo
- Cucumber Tajin Sour Gose
- Watermelon Tajin Sour Gose
- Kiwi and Blueberry Mojito
W. Elote Booth in Mission Row
- Elote Preparado or Loco Catracho or Loco Salvadoreño
- Piñata Cookie
Summer Nights food booth locations are available on select dates beginning as early as 5:30 p.m. to 1 hour before the park closes. The booths in the Fiesta Village area open much earlier. You can find all the Fiesta Village restaurants and booths on the back of the tasting card.
Gluten, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly options are available upon request. Items and locations are subject to change.
Catch Entertainment and Musical Acts
There's a ton of fun entertainment. Watch the Bob Baker Marionette show in Fiesta Village. You do not want to miss a lineup of samba-dancing cacti, fluttering flowers, a majestic marimba player and many puppets that pay tribute to California's Hispanic roots and vibrant culture. Marionettes performed at Knott's in the late 1950s and 1980s, so we nostalgic frogs were toadally excited to see them return to the Knott's stage.
Catch Musical Acts
You can find daily entertainment in the Knott's Berry Farm app. Enjoy some new cultural entertainment in the refurbished Fiesta Village. Here's all the entertainment for summer 2024:
- Live Bands at the Calico Mine Stage – A rotation of top 40's bands play nightly. Hiatus, Tomasina, 80z All Stars, The Suffragettes and Mic Dangerously play on separate nights
- Calico Park Stage – See a variety of bands perform live.
- Miss Cameo Kate's Western Burle-Q Revue – Miss Cameo Kate returns to the Calico Birdcage Saloon. She is joined by a traveling troupe of singers, dancers and musicians.
- Mariachi Angelitas (select dates) in Fiesta Plaza
- Fiesta Village Storyteller – Mexican folklore at Alebrije Gardens in the afternoons
- Adelaide Tropical – Hyprid salsa music with cumbia and cha-chas mixed in at Fiesta Plaza
- Ghost Town Miners – Grab a plate of BBQ at Fireman's BBQ and listen to a selection of bluegrass and country music.
- Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – Head to wagon camp to tap your toes to this comedic band.
- Summer Nights DJ – Charleston Circle
- Camp Snoopy Screening — Get out of the sun in the afternoon for an Apple TV+ series screening.
- Native American Dancer – On Fridays and Saturday evenings, don't miss the Native American Dance presentation.
- Hoedown – Don't miss the Calico Park Hoedown every day from 4:30 to 5:00 p.m. You can dance with your partner, other park guests and the citizens of Calico!
Fireworks
Celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks on July 4, 2024, and possibly other nearby days. Guests may enjoy a dazzling display of fireworks to celebrate Independence Day at 9:30 p.m. The park has 4th of July activities for everyone to enjoy. Check the show times in the Knott's Berry Farm app for fireworks and other entertainment.
See What's New in Camp Snoopy
There are four new or revitalized attractions in Camp Snoopy, open as of June 27, 2024.
Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster
Snoopy’s Tenderpaw Twister Coaster takes riders on an off-road adventure with Beagle Scout Snoopy behind the wheel. The launch coaster goes twice around the twin helix track. This ride is similar to Daddy Pig’s Roller Coaster at the Peppa Pig Theme Park in Florida
Sally’s Swing Along
The two-sided backyard swing set sweeps tadpoles 10 feet in the air as they sway back and forth on a bench seat. The ride features a playlist of songs Sally wants to sing to her "sweet baboo," Linus.
Camp Snoopy’s Off Road Rally
Let's go for a Jeep-like ride to the annual Camp Jamboree with funny checkpoints along the way with Woodstock sculptures. Each vehicle is themed to a different Peanuts character, such as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Franklin, Sally, Pigpen and Peppermint Patty.
Beagle Express
The Grand Sierra Railroad was rethemed as the Beagle Express. It has a new electric locomotive leading the way. Scenes along the miniature train route have a Camp Jamboree theme. Look for Charlie Brown in a sack race (with a sack over his head) and Beagle Scouts earning a horticulture badge by working on the boysenberry vines.
Camp Snoopy Theater (opening at a later date)
The outdoor theater does not open during summer 2024 summer. The Camp Snoopy Theater is being reoriented with the stage facing the midway and a shade cover over new log-style seating.
Guests can still take photos with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Pigpen and Peppermint Patty. In addition, visitors can enjoy a refreshed Camp Snoopy Barrel Bridge.
Explore the Reimagined Fiesta Village
Fiesta Village was revitalized for summer 2023. It comes alive in celebration of culture. Inspired by the rich, Hispanic heritage in SoCal, Fiesta Village will have new experiences, entertainment, dining, shopping and thrills. Visit Fiesta Mercado, which is inspired by Olvera Street in Los Angeles, to discover merchants selling unique and authentic items, surrounded by colorful alebrijes and landscaping.
Bite into made-to-order burritos and tacos at the new full-service Casa California restaurant. Cool off with a cold cerveza or frozen margarita at the new adjacent Cantina Del Sur. Some new dishes coming to these eateries in Fiesta Village include Carne Asada Fries, Chicken Taco Salads, Birria Tacos, Burritos, Baja Poke Bowls and Birria Quesadillas. Traditional treats and desserts, such as Cafe de Olla Conchas and Gansito Cupcakes, are offered as well.
Take in more live entertainment at the transformed open-air Fiesta Stage. enjoy storytelling in the afternoon, mariachis, hybrid salsa music and puppet shows on the weekend. As the sun goes down, an immersive nighttime street party, called Calle Celebración, will begin. This colorful celebration of Mexican traditions will envelop the entire village with lively music and vibrant colors (and maybe a few fireworks!).
Fiesta Village opened May 26, 2023, but MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress will reopen at a later date in 2025.
MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress (coming in 2025)
As mentioned, the beloved Montezooma's Revenge — the oldest coaster in the park — is being re-themed. It has a new backstory about treasure hunters who have searched for the legendary Montezuma's gold. They have dredged Mexican rivers and plunged into the Pacific in search of riches. But a handful of the clever scavengers have found themselves in the true resting place of the infamous gold — just outside a small village in California, Fiesta Village. Will new adventurers succeed in extracting the gold and breaking the curse that has fallen upon many who have tried and failed? The way forward might not always be as expected. A new twist on this classic coaster experience may alter your ability to escape with the treasure once and for all!
The coaster will have a new randomized launch sequence. Will you shoot forward or backward? You'll only know once it's hoppening!
Stay Cool at Knott’s Soak City
Can we even discuss Knott’s Berry Farm summer without talking about the number one way to cool off on a hot day? Just across the parking lot from Knott’s Berry Farm sits Knott’s Soak City. You’ll need a separate day ticket to make a splash in this 15-acre water park. Soak City offers 23 speed, tube and body water slides. Shore Break features six different waterslide experiences, plus you can brave The Wedge raft ride. Catch a wave in the 750,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay wave pool or chillax in the one‑third‑mile Sunset River. Declare a water war on your family members at the three‑story Beach House, featuring 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers and other interactive surprises.
The water park is open from May 18 through Sept 8, 2024. Hop over to our Soak City Guide for all the fun details.
Note the Chaperone Policy
Effective April 22, 2023, all guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old to be admitted to or stay in the park or water park after 4:00 p.m. to close. The chaperone must present a valid photo ID with a date of birth. One chaperone may accompany no more than 10 guests ages 15 years old or younger per day. Chaperones must accompany their party during entry, remain in the park, and be available by phone throughout their stay. Guests ages 15 years old or younger who are found inside the park unaccompanied by a chaperone will be subject to ejection.
This chaperone requirement applies to both Knott’s Berry Farm and Soak City Waterpark. The policy is subject to change, so review it on the Code of Conduct page before you visit.
What are you most looking forward to at Knott's Berry Farm summer nights and daytime too? Let us know in the comments below. We now sell flexible date tickets. They are good for any day of the season!
Related: The Full Lineup of Beary-Good Knott's Berry Farm Events
Related: Best Theme Parks in California by Age Group
Hoppy planning!
