Knott's Scary Farm is the most terrifying Halloween event of the SoCal theme park Halloween season. The Knott's Berry Farm Halloween Haunt was the original theme park Halloween event in the early 1970s that launched them all. In fact, Knott's Scary Farm celebrates 50 years of never-ending nightmares in 2023 — marking the biggest Halloween Haunt event ever. Every year, visitors are terrified of the monsters emerging from the darkness and scraping through the fog in scare zones and highly themed mazes. We adult frogs never miss this frightfully fun event! (Not the tadpoles, of course. We take them to the family-friendly daytime Knott's Spooky Farm instead.) If you are brave enough to take on Knott's Scary Farm you'll want the scoop on all you need to know.
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Overview of Knott's Scary Farm
Knott's Scary Farm has scared Southern Californians long before Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights. Its Orange County counterpart — Disneyland — offers the much gentler Oogie Boogie Bash, as well as Halloween Time at Disneyland. Knott’s Berry Farm put on the world’s first theme park Halloween Haunt event in 1973. Its popularity rose like cemetery fog at night, making it the industry standard and the largest Halloween event in Southern California. In 2023, Knott’s Scary Farm celebrates its 50th year of bringing nightmares to life. To celebrate, Undercover Tourist is selling discounted tickets to Knott's Scary Farm this year!
What sets this event apart from others is that the scare zones take over the entire park! You can try but you can't hide at Knott's Scary Farm. There's no escape. Terror creeps into every corner for a fully immersive, heart-pounding experience. There is nothing like the Knott's Scary Farm Ghost Town scare zone with monsters emerging from the fog, creeping up on you and scuttling on the ground with sparks flying.
The scare zones are loosely defined and spread throughout the streets. This keeps you disoriented as you never know when a creature will sneak up on you — or rather — slide out at you with shrieks, scrapes and sparks. You may be eyeing the monster in front of you while another is sneaking up from behind and snorting in your ear to send you jumping in the air!
Each scare zone is home to mazes, each with a theme that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. Some favorites return each year, and a few are laid to rest to make way for new mazes. In addition to the scare zones and mazes, guests can enjoy ghoulishly delightful treats, shows and thrilling rides.
We always visit Knott's Scary Farm on opening night. We love seeing the new and returning mazes, as well as some of the entertainment. There are so many scare actors and toadally cool special effects.
Want to get a sense of what Knott's Scary Farm is like? Our 2021 compilation video can help you decide if your heart or young teen can handle it.
It's clear that 2023 is a special year, with new décor and 50 signs. Note the toadally cool skull chandeliers when you enter the park.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2023 Dates and Tickets
Knott’s Scary Farm is a separately ticketed event that runs on select nights (mostly Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday, but Halloween Tuesday is in there) from Sept. 21 to Oct 31, 2023. It operates from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on select Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on select Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets for this event are on sale now! Knott's Scary Farm Season Passes are available for purchase. We have hoppin' news! You can get discount regular admission Knott's Scary Farm tickets through Undercover Tourist!
2023 Dates:
- September 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30
- October 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31
Best Dates to Attend
All dates have the same mazes, monsters and scare zones. If you want to visit on a less-crowded and more budget-friendly night, choose a Thursday or Sunday night early in the season. If you work during the week, a late night on a weekend may be your best time to visit. We suggest adding Fright Lane to skip the lines, especially on Saturday nights.
Keep in mind that the media night is the opening night, so you may see more filming around the park and in mazes. If that is not your jam, avoid opening night. You tend to see the most monsters out on opening night. By Halloween night, the monsters are much more scarce compared to opening night. Generally, photography and filming are not allowed in the mazes. Plus, if you visit after opening night, you can hop back to this post and take advantage of our event park plan and hopful tips for this year. That being said, opening night can be a much less-crowded night, although 2023 was more crowded than 2022. The season pass is back in 2023 and the chaperone policy has loosened a bit. That means the park fills up more in 2023.
Generally, crowds are lower earlier in the season and on Thursday and Sunday nights. You'll want to purchase in advance. Avoid holiday weekend crowds if you can.
Knott's Scary Farm 2023 Tickets, Tours and Boo-fet Dinner
Tickets for Knott's Scary Farm 2023 tickets are on sale as of July 24, 2023. You'll find a variety of ticket add-ons through Knott's.
The Knott's Scary Farm Season Pass has returned for 2023! 2023 Knott's Season Passholders had the hopportunity to purchase a Scary Farm Season Pass add-on beginning June 6, at 6 a.m. Don't have a Knott's Season Pass? No worries. The general public can purchase standalone Scary Farm Season Passes for $169, plus taxes and fees. The price increased the day before Scary Farm started.
As for single-date admission, prices vary based on the date and have additional taxes and fees. You want to purchase online at least 24 hours in advance to save on the front gate price. There is a processing fee of $6.99. There are discounts for season passholders as well as for active, inactive and retired military members with ID. Here's the scary part: Ticket prices creep up as the event runs on and dates approach, so buy early, even if you plan to visit later in the season. A ticket for a particular night gets more and more expensive as time goes on.
Here's a look at 2023 tickets, prices and add-on options. Availability may change as the season progresses and prices change and increase over time:
Regular Admission — Knott's Scary Farm admission starts at $59.99 plus taxes and fees (or $55.99 plus tax though Undercover Tourist). Season passholders and military save up to $5. Online prices are much cheaper than gate prices, and prices vary per date. Most Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are less expensive than Fridays. Saturdays are the most expensive days and get even pricier (up to $99) as Halloween approaches. Buy early as prices can creep up as the season goes on.
Fright Lane & Fast Lane — Park admission is not included with this add-on. This wristband allows the holder unlimited access to all mazes and priority boarding on all Fast Lane rides. Prices start at $145 per person. You must purchase through Knott's.
(New!) Admission & Meal Bundle — The package starts at $74.99 and includes admission and a Scary Meal Deal valid for one select entrée, side, and a regular-size fountain drink in the park. It's valid at participating food and beverage locations. You must purchase through Knott's.
Boo-fet + Early Entry Admission — From $45, you can munch with the monsters before you face your fears in the park. You'll get a timed entry and a 2023 souvenir bottle. It includes one digital download photo with a monster at the Boo-fet location. The Boo-fet closes at 7 p.m. Early entry is at 6:30 p.m. and usually includes Ghost Town mazes that are past GhostRider. You must purchase admission separately, and you must show Scary Farm admission to enter the Boo-fet.
If you can arrive early, treat yourself to the Boo-fet dinner. Fill up with endless portions of signature Knott’s entrees and desserts with a souvenir bottle. The menu includes Knott’s classics such as Mrs. Knott’s fried chicken, a chef carving station, boysenberry pie and more. Diners get one digital photo download with a monster at the Boo-fet. Boo-fet diners receive early entry to select mazes and attractions (at 6:30 p.m.).
Boo-fet guests will also have exclusive monster photo opportunities before the park opens to the general public. The monsters cannot pose for photos inside the park, so if you want posed monster photos, go to the Boo-fet dinner. Check-in can be scary long, so you'll want to book an early time and arrive early. Other guests have recommended eating at the Knott's Hotel location.
(New!) Nightly All Inclusive — From $199.99, this online package includes admission to Knott' Scary Farm; one select entrée, a side and a regular-size fountain drink in the park; Fright & Fast Lane; and general parking.
Scary Farm Parking — Parking costs $35 and you can buy online in advance for parking as of 4 p.m. If parking is included in your season pass, then you can use your pass to park. Bus and RV parking can be purchased at the booth for $40. Preferred parking is available at the booths for an additional fee.
Very Important Monster Tour — From $550, this tour includes admission, a private guide for up to six hours, general parking, a Boo-fet dinner, a Scary Farm T-shirt and priority access to all mazes, select rides and seating at select shows. There is a minimum of two people per order (total for two after tax and fee is $1,116.61). After you purchase, a park associate will contact you to arrange a tour time.
Knott's Scary Farm Season Pass — From $169 ($159 with Knott's season pass), this pass gets you non-transferable unlimited access to every night of Scary Farm. The price has been creeping up since June.
You can also purchase Knott's Scary Farm Hotel packages and T-shirts online. Military discounts are available.
We recommend adding Fright Lane & Fast Lane if it is within your budget. There are so many mazes, so it helps to skip the lines, especially for the newest mazes and on Saturday nights. However, the maze lines are not as horrific as Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, so a Fright Lane pass is not absolutely necessary. However, now that the season pass is back, that makes the event more crowded than last year. If you want to do it all and also want to ride the roller coasters, then add the Fright Lane & Fast Lane. On our visit, we were able to get through every maze and ride two roller coasters with the Fright Lane & Fast Lane pass. But we did not have any time left for shows. You just might need a second night if you want to do it all.
Merchandise Add-Ons
Besides tickets, there are a few items you can purchase to enhance your night.
- Interactive Lanterns — For $39.99, you too can carry a lantern like a ghost conductor. It interacts with the mazes, scare zones and areas throughout the park. During some moments the RFID-enabled lantern triggers things, but as you go through mazes and scare zones you might notice that the lantern changes color or goes dark based on the environment. (Sold out for 2023.)
- No-Boo Necklace — For $14.99, you can reduce your chance of being scared in the scare zones. It cannot be used in the mazes. The No-Boo Necklace is not a guarantee that you won’t be scared or become a target by monsters in scare zones. It does reduce the likelihood of becoming a scare target in the scare zones. You can purchase this as an extra when you purchase your ticket and you can pick it up in the park. (This item got boo-ed at the media event by diehard fans, FYI. we only saw a few of these in use opening night.)
The No-Boo necklace is good for chaperones who are going to supervise their kids but would not otherwise choose to visit Scary Farm. Last year we saw the monsters take it easier on kids. But now the No-Boo necklace is indicator that a person doesn't want to be scared. That means a tween or kid who is not wearing a No-Boo necklace is fair game. The tweens we brought definitely found themselves to be targets in scare zones, and they loved it.
Knott's Scary Farm Park Plan
Here's what you need to know. Do not miss the release of the monsters as Knott's Scary Farm opens at Rope Drop. It toadally sets the mood for the night. That means arriving early and getting into the park as far as the rope will let you as you wait for 7 p.m. to roll around and see and hear the creatures emerging from the fog and into the crowds near the Gold Trails Hotel. It's to die for. There was a surprise beginning to the opening this year with the appearance of the Green Witch!
People who have Early Entry with a Boo-fet dinner can see all the monsters as they are released into the park at 7 p.m. If you like to ease your way into the terror, this is a good way to gently go forward into that ghoulish night while it is still light outside. If you do not have early entry access but want to see the monsters released, get to the park front gates early, before 5:00 p.m., and make your way to the roped area once you get in the park.
You'll want a park plan to help you find the shortest waits of the night. Two tools can help you beat the crowds and get a good head start:
- Early Entry with Boo-fet dinner — You can enter the park and access four mazes early, as of 6:30 p.m.
- Fright Lane & Fast Lane — Wear a bracelet and skip the line for each maze and most rides. Bam! No worries about getting it all in. We can do every maze, some of them twice!
The new mazes have the longest waits. Room 13 (near the Gore-ing 20's scare zone) was our longest wait of the night in 2023. Head to new mazes first or, if a line is really long, wait until it drops off. Cinema Slasher had a 60-minute wait early in the night but was a walk-in after midnight. The third new maze, The Chilling Chambers is located near the park entrance. It had a delayed start early in the night, so it's hard to say how the lines go with this one.
Here is the link to the event map.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2023 Mazes
There are 10 frightening mazes in 2023! For the 50th anniversary, you can expect unfrogettable experiences that will showcase some blasts from the past, ushering in characters from the crypt of Haunt history! Here's a look at what's hoppening in 2023. Seven 2022 mazes return, kind of like that recurring nightmare you can't shake. There are three new mazes in 2023!
NEW! The Chilling Chambers
This new maze honors Knott's Scary Farm's inaugural maze, "10 Chilling Chambers," from 1977. This unsettling attraction pays tribute to its past while horrifying today's audience. A new character, The Keeper, leads you through a foreboding cathedral where you will encounter classic maze themes. This maze unleashes 50 years of modern terror, reliving the eerie collections and diabolical characters of seasons past.
There are a ton of details and nods to past mazes. You may want to visit more than once to catch them all. It's located in the former Pumpkin Eater spot, to the right of the park entrance once you enter the park.
NEW! Room 13
Playing off the Prohibition-era Gore-ing 20s scare zone theme, this new maze features a dangerously addictive new cocktail called The Devil’s Elixir. It's at the root of violent murders at The Blind Tiger on Memory Lane. Where did this alluring and dangerous cocktail come from? The answers may lie at the heart of the extravagant Argive Hotel, where many have checked in … but none have checked out. (You can taste the Devil's Elixir cocktail at Knott's Scary Farm this year! It's a Midori lemonade vodka cocktail.)
This maze is located in the Gore-ing 20's Scare Zone at the back of the park. You'll enter the line near the ramp for the theater and head behind the bumper cars. Hit this one right at opening for the shortest wait. It's one of the busier mazes, even with Fright Lane.
NEW! Cinema Slasher
Embark on a journey through the Midnight Theater, entering horror film worlds where you become part of the story and must survive the deadly Slasher's rage. Can you escape these movie nightmares, or will you be trapped among decaying corpses in the ruined theatre? The sinister Midnight Theater beckons the brave into Cinema Slasher.
We hit this one early or late. If the line is long in the middle of the night, wait until it drops . We liked this maze, which brought us literally through the movie screen into the horror movies. It had great sets but does get a little bloody and gory as all slasher movies do. Do you smell popcorn? This is a really long maze. It took over eight minutes to get through it.
The Grimoire
Knott's is opening the book of evil with this maze from 2022. Turn the wicked page to enter the ancient world of dark stories that will turn your worst nightmares into a reality. Can you escape the evil creatures that have been released? Or will your soul be eternally trapped within the next chapter?
This maze is located at the Mystery Lodge. You may want to head here ahead of the crowds or watch the wait times. This maze is still a solid choice in our humble froggy opinions. It has special effects and a great storyline. Imagine a campfire ghost story going horribly wrong. Two teens open this ancient spell book at a campsite in the woods, unleashing the evil within. You enter the most creative pathways and doorways in this maze. There is great detail, cool sets and lighting effects that put everything in black and white. Read the food labels on the shelves. No spoilers, but we went in this maze twice and had different experiences each time with different scare actors in different places and doing different things. It's the longest returning maze wait of the night and remains one of our favorites.
Bloodline 1842
The eternal family, bound by blood, has hidden in the shadows ... waiting ... hunting. Now you'll hunt them when you travel with the Daybreakers through the busy streets of Valdonia. Armed with Bellatorian weaponry, you'll hunt the Valhymphri in an all-out war! The clans are reuniting to fight. Can you bring light into the darkness and survive the vicious vampires before you become one of them? Blood and blessings!
This maze from 2022 is large, and the level of detail is incredible. Scary Farm super fans can look for Easter eggs. You are unarmed this year, so good luck with that. It will allow you to pay more attention to the maze details. Wait times are much shorter now that it's not new and you do not get a gun. The line moved a lot faster than posted when we visited. Posted was 45 minutes, but it took about 15. So don't let a long line scare you off.
The maze is filled with both vampires and clan folk to help you along. There are different rooms with a storyline and short show moments. You'll see better and feel more immersed in the story if you are near the front. Keep your eyes on the sky in one of the hallways.
Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind
New in 2021, the hypnotist Mesmer and his sinister sideshow are back to take control of your mind in his canvas tent once again. You heed every word of his command. He pries into your thoughts to uncover your secret fears. You'll descend into madness, torture and eerie enlightenment. It is there that you discover grotesque secrets hidden as you brave your way through the terrifying show.
Mesmer can hypnotize someone at the moment of their death and control their mind as if they were a zombie. His hoard of circus freaks is roaming the maze in search of new victims. Watch in the first scene as Mesmer demonstrates his hypnotic skills. Then each room will show a different hypnotic technique. The victims? Other sideshow acts. Listen for Mesmer's voice throughout the maze, but do not succumb to his wicked powers.
So let me say, WOW! This maze is mesmerizing. There was a moving walkway and moving set pieces. The scare actors are great. This maze is toadally worth it, but it is one of the more psychologically twisted mazes. It's located in the back corner of the park In the CarnEVIL scare zone by Xcelerator. It has really short waits at the beginning and end of the event.
Origins — The Curse of Calico
Find out what happens when classic Knott's Scary Farm elements are combined, such as the Ghost Town Streets and The Hanging, into a maze. Plus there are Knott's Easter eggs, such as the Haunted Shack. The witch has been hunted and sentenced to be hanged. As they put the noose around her neck, she spits out a curse upon the town before she disappears. And this is where we stepped into the story, as the curse unleashes the hidden demons and monsters of the Calico citizens. The special effects (from water to fog, to electrics, to flying effects) left us spellbound once again. It's a great and popular maze. Visit early or late. The regular line starts in the Ghost Town cemetery.
This returning maze that originated in 2019 is still a big favorite with our frog squad. The entertainment with actors outside of the maze immerses you into the story and the scares inside the maze are legit. There's even a moment in which the witch defies gravity. We visited after 12:30 a.m. and the line was faster than posted.
Wax Works
Step into the creepy wax museum, but beware of the back room, where patrons just might become part of the masterpiece. It's rumored that blood-curdling screams can be heard echoing through the halls as victims are submerged in a scalding cauldron of bubbling wax. Nothing can hold a candle to Wax Works. The looming façade was huge and the artwork spectacular. We encountered the horribly disfigured artist, Dr. Augustus Scratch, looking for fresh materials to make his next creation. This maze is available during early entry.
The Depths
This maze that debuted in 2018 is resurfacing, transporting you to an abandoned port village, where ancient creatures lurk inside underground caves. A mining crew has mysteriously disappeared into the eerie tunnels under the town. Did the crew meet their demise at the hands of vicious cave-dwellers? Are you willing to journey into the dark, wet caverns to follow the crew’s path into The Depths? Be warned! Nobody who has entered has ever resurfaced. Wait for it … this maze incorporates some mesmerizing water effects. We still love this maze in its fourth year, and it tends to have a quick line. It is also open during early entry.
Dark Entities (final year)
Enter the fifth and final year of this maze for an extraterrestrial experience, a realm of absolute darkness. A lone space station faces unimaginable dark entities looking for new hosts to invade. Its force increases as it feeds on its victims. Can you escape the dark entities before their deadly force eliminates you and all other life forms aboard the station? Time is running out! This maze has cool lighting and other elements we found fun. There were blasts of air and vibrations. Too bad it's a one-way trip. This maze is open during early entry.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2023 Scare Zones
There is no scare zone like a Knott's Scary Farm scare zone. With creatures emerging from the fog and shadows, you can feel your heart thumping as you try to make it through.
Expect to encounter varying creatures in many dreadful ways. Some sneak up on you quietly, while others slide out at you or have noisemaking devices to startle you out of your skin. When the monsters emit sparks as they slide out, it sparks both joy and terror in our froggy hearts. If you fear the monsters, it's as if they can smell your fear and they will target you. There are five total scare zones in 2023, and four of them have re-emerged from the past to haunt us again. This year promises some creatures from Scary Farm's history will linger in the fog.
Here are the 2023 scare zones:
- NEW! The Gauntlet — Knott's is going back to its roots with its first scare zone outside of Ghost Town Streets. But in this reimagined fan favorite, there is a twist in the reign of terror. Classic characters return to invade Camp Snoopy. Watch out for the King and Queen of the realm, maniacal Jesters, brutal Barbarians, wicked Wizards and lawless Peasants. All Hail the King or suffer the wrath of The Gauntlet!
- Forsaken Lake — This sinister scare zone oozes into the park this year. Forsaken Lake unleashes gothic creatures to prey on victims who they'll drag back to their watery graves. Somber music adds extra creepiness to this scare zone. Think 1800s funeral songs from New Orleans mashed with modern heavy metal. Several times a night the monsters gather and make a funeral procession. This dramatic display is worth catching.
- Ghost Town Streets — This is where it all began, with half-human, half-animal monsters emerging from the fog. The number of monsters in this area is terrifying — we love it!
- CarnEVIL — The freak show is the main event of this demented circus. No clowning around here.
- Gore-ing 20s — Take a fog-filled trip down memory lane to the Gore-ing 20s. This dark time has otherworldly musicians playing the music of the damned and gangsters running illicit hooch for ghostly revelers. Can you reject the devil's elixir? This themed zone was fun and maybe less scary with a lot of personality. This year, a live band and dancers make this a really festive zone. It's the least scary of the scare zones, so it's a great place to take a break from the terror roaming Ghost Town Streets.
We always say there is nowhere to hide, but that is not exactly true. If you need a break, the monsters cannot follow you out of their designated scare zone, into stores or into shops and lines. They don't bother you in restaurants either. Although, we did see some evil clowns in the eating area at Coasters Diner, so don't let your guard down.
Knott's Scary Farm Entertainment
When you need a break from the mazes and terrifying scare zones, shows can offer some comic relief. There are four shows in 2023, with new spectacles as well as some returning favorites for this special anniversary.
Here is a look at the 2023 shows. They're to die for! Show times can varry. You can find show times in the Knott's app.
Returning! The Hanging Uncancelled
The fan-favorite stunt show has been missing since 2019. It's back and in a new location at Wagon Camp. The Lawman has tracked down the vilest villains of the past year in this pop culture parody stunt show. It promises to be no holds barred, nothing spared, offensive to everyone and violent. Attend the hanging at your own risk. No one is safe! It even makes fun of Knott's itself!
This popular show is now in an outdoor theater with limited capacity seating. Arrive early, as they will shut the doors when the theater fills and not let you in no how much you beg and plead. We recommend arriving at least 40 minutes early. See the earliest shows while maze line wait times are peaking. Also, if you do get turned away, you'll have another chance to see it. Choose a higher seat to see all the action, as the lower seats make it harder to see the high stage. You can choose the latest show if you want to rest then, but just be extra early so you get in.
NEW! Dr. Cleaver Returns
Head to the Bird Cage Theatre for the return of an old show from the Scary Farm vault. Your favorite demented doctor is back for more Halloween hijinks! Grab at seat for a journey into the great beyond...
NEW! Music, Monsters & Mayhem at 8
Escape from the terror by heading inside the Walter Knott Theater. This musical takes you on a scintillating and provocative journey celebrating 50 years of terror and frights. Featuring a rockin’ score, wild laughs and a cast of 24 singing and dancing monstrosities bound to get your heart racing with screams of delight! Comedians offer comic relief. There are four acts that pull iconic elements from past events and five or six musical numbers. There are three performances per night and each one lasts about 40-45 minutes, so you'll want to budget your time to experience this show.
La Magnifique Carnival du Grotesque at 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00 p.m.
The creepiest company of circus performers to ever disgrace the stage perform death-defying feats and carnival acts that will delight your darkest desires and fill your senses with terror. Catch them at Calico Mine Stage. This year, there are extreme acts, but there are no live bands. We got drawn in from act to act. It was hard to pull ourselves away from these amazing acts to go through the mazes. We saw more families with children enjoying the circus acts. It's easier to see this show in passing by than the others that require you to plan and get seated.
Knott’s Scary Farm 50th Anniversary: Legacy Haunt Store & Museum
This store and museum is for diehard Scary Farm fans. Find one-of-a-kind art from various artists from across the country. You can find the path to the hidden store near Wax Works. It’s also a great place to pick up Knott’s Scary Farm apparel and other fun souvenirs.
Rides Open During Knott's Scary Farm
Generally, all thrill rides are open during Knott's Scary Farm except for scheduled ride closures. What are the Fast Lane rides? All thrill rides that are not currently closed for refurbishment are open. These rides offer Fast Lane during Knott's Scary Farm:
- GhostRider
- Coast Rider
- Jaguar!
- Montezooma’s Revenge (under extensive refurbishment until 2023)
- Silver Bullet
- Pony Express
- Supreme Scream
- Sierra Sidewinder
- Xcelerator (closed for refurbishment)
- Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair
- Calico Mine Ride
- Calico River Rapids
- La Revolucion
- Sol Spin
- WaveSwinger
- Timber Mountain Log Ride: Halloween Hootenanny — This classic log ride gets a Scary Farm layover each year. Guests venture past the Calico Coffin Creeper Band, the town’s Green Witch and splash down Skull Mountain through a labyrinth of jack-o-lanterns. It's all set around an original song performed by Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies.
Knott's Scary Farm Food and Merchandise
There are some fun and freaky foods available throughout the park during Knott’s Scary Farm. You can find the full list and locations on this event map and menu link. Keep your eyes peeled for special menu items, with animals we swear you've never dreamed of eating. We got to attend a preview and try featured foods such as Camel Stew (it's really good and has a curry base), Spicy Swamp Gator Sausage, Spookghetti Pie, A la Diabla Fries and more. There is an Ostrich Hoagie and an Elk Burger. The Gauntlet Garlic Overloard Burger was tasty (and may help you ward off vampires). The Mutant Turtle Philly Cheese Steak Pizza features turtle meat, sliced Philly meat, nacho cheese, mozzarella and peppers.
The Mezmer's Midnight Salad" with berries is a good, healthy choice. The "Bat" "Shhhh" Crazy Pasta Salad actually has rabbit tenderloin on it.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a black velvet cake, raspberry beignets, loaded funnel cakes and cookies. You can purchase cake pops and sweet potato pie.
There are cocktails to die for such as Zombie Juice or A Positive Blood (vodka strawberry lemonade), both in blood bags, or the Black Margarita with activated charcoal. Would you try Pickle Hitchin' whiskey and pickle juice in a cored-out pickle? What about the Knotty Bean with bourbon, Nutella, Baily's, cream and coffee over ice? You can dare to try a drink from a scare zone and a maze this year. The Devil's Elixir is a Midori, lemonade vodka drink.
Head into Spurs Chop House for some drinks and a place to rest. There are some fun cocktails, one with a fog bubble!
Take home a Scary Farm 50th souvenir or a shirt to wear each year when you return to the fog. Huge Scary Farm fans can buy Scary Farm-Opoly to play year-round. As mentioned already there is the new No-Boo necklace and a lantern that interacts with 100 areas of the event, including scare zones and mazes.
Near the queue for Wax Works, you'll see a sign for the Legacy Haunt Store and Museum. It's an immersive retail experience that features special 50th anniversary merchandise and historic exhibits that highlight the history of Knott's Scary Farm.
Head to the Gore-ing 20's area to find the Into the Fog art show. For this collection of original art, artists have drawn inspiration from Knott’s Scary Farm’s 50-year history. Here you can find an original or print to take home with you.
Terrifying Tips for Knott’s Scary Farm 2023
If you want to see and do it all and make it through the night, here are our top tips:
- Buy the Fright Lane pass so you can skip the lines for mazes and rides with unlimited access (we were able to visit all mazes and several roller coasters with Fright Lane).
- Buy online early to save on front gate prices and guarantee they don’t sell out the night you want to visit. People are ready for Knott's Scary Farm's return, so tickets for popular nights may sell out early. Save with discount tickets from Undercover Tourist.
- Buy early as prices can increase.
- Leave kids under age 13 at home. However, there is no age restriction so it's ultimately left up to parents' discretion.
- Check the weather and dress in layers.
- Arrive early. Arrive by 5 or 5:30 p.m. to avoid traffic and get to the rope to see the release of monsters.
- If you have Early Entry with the Boo-fet, you can enjoy the unleashing of the monsters as you enter. You can access four mazes: Wax Works, The Depths, possibly a new maze and Dark Entities 30 minutes before the crowds can enter.
- Arrive early for the Boo-fet. Check-in can be a long process.
- There are no more physical maps. Scan the QR code for the map or locate it in the Knott's Berry Farm app.
- If you cannot get Early Entry, start your journey far from the Ghost Town early entry mazes, which were most crowded upon opening but got shorter as the night wore on. We recommend hitting Room 13 or The Chilling Chambers (if available) early.
- Stay hydrated! All of the screaming and walking can dry you out.
- Spend time in the Ghost Town Streets scare zone.
- Timber Mountain Log Ride Halloween Hootenanny is a family-friendly layover for both daytime and night.
- No re-entry is allowed.
New Chaperone and Bag Rules for Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott's is cashless, so plan ahead to bring other forms of payment.
There is a new chaperone rule in place (for guests 15 and under) for nighttime events (including all nights of Scary Farm). You can find the current chaperone policy on Knott's Code of Conduct page. This policy changes over time, so refer to the link before your visit for the most updated information.
There is a new Knott's Scary Farm bag rule in effect for 2023 as well. Guests can bring clear plastic bags smaller than 12” x 12” x 6” as well as non-clear wristlets or clutches no larger than 5” x 8” x 2”. All bags are subject to search before entry. You will sign a virtual contract acknowledging the new code of conduct, chaperone policy and bag policy before you purchase your tickets.
No costumes, masks (except medical) and face painting are allowed. No offensive clothing, suggestive pictures or pictures of illegal substances are allowed. Photos and videos are prohibited in the mazes. Photos and videos are allowed in scare zones and performances as long as no flash or lighting is used. Flashlights and phone lights are not to be used throughout Scary Farm. Except for the Boo-fet, the monsters are not allowed to pose for pics.
Re-entries are not permitted. No outside food or beverage is allowed. It's good to practice some good conduct and common sense. Arrive early because parking traffic can be a living nightmare.
Leave the scare tactics to the scare actors. No touching! Scare actors are not allowed to touch you, and you are not allowed to touch or mistreat them. However, some creatures may get pretty close and snort or blow in your ear for extra creeps. No line jumping is allowed. Enter Knott’s Scary Farm at your own risk — there are no refunds or re-entry. Most of all, enjoy yourself at the original Halloween theme park event that started them all!
Can Children Attend Knott's Scary Farm?
Even though Knott’s Scary Farm is a lot of fun, it’s not for everyone. It is recommended only for brave guests 13 and up (although we did encounter some young children who LOVE monsters and enjoyed it ... they are the exception to the rule). We have brought some early teens and tweens who were ready for it, and they loved it too. But the monsters really targeted them. They were not wearing No-Boo necklaces, and wanted to be scared.
See the chaperone policy above. If you have little ones, we recommend you bring them instead to the kid-friendly Halloween festivities at Knott's Spooky Farm.
Families can enjoy rides and circus acts to escape the monsters. In fact, we saw some monsters chatting with young children, so they seem to go easier on the tadpoles. You can get your child a "No-Boo!" necklace if they want to go but be left alone in scare zones. Otherwise, they are fair game. It is a terrifying event so we don't recommend bringing little ones unless scary stuff is their jam.
Knott’s Spooky Farm is a daytime event for children ages 3 to 11. It is included with regular admission to Knott’s Berry Farm. You can buy discounted daytime Knott’s Berry Farm tickets from your favorite frogs right here. Knott's Spooky Farm takes place Thursdays through Sundays, plus Halloween, from opening to 5 p.m., Sept. 28 through Oct. 29, 2023. Kids can wear costumes, participate in a costume cavalcade, see shows, meet PEANUTS characters in costume and go trick-or-treating without getting scared. Besides a few skeletons, all the scary stuff is safely tucked away until Knott's Scary Farm opens for the night.
What questions do you have about Knott's Scary Farm? Share in the comments below!
Related: Universal Studios Hollywood Halloween Horror Nights Survival Guide
Related: The Full Lineup of Knott's Berry Farm Events
Keep hopping!
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