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 52 years of never-ending nightmares in 2025. 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. We attended the reveal of the 2025 Knott's Scary Farm details. We'll see you in the fog on opening night!
Hop To
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.
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! Check the Knott's Berry Farm app for Meet & Creep show moments and photos with monsters in the scare zones.
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.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 Dates and Tickets
Knott’s Scary Farm is a separately ticketed event that runs on select nights (mostly Thursday through Sunday) from Sept. 18 to Nov. 1, 2025. Originally Knott's posted Wednesday nights for October 2025, but it removed all Wednesday night dates from the calendar. It operates from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. on select Thursdays and Sundays, and from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. on select Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets for this event are on sale in summer directly through Knott's. Knott's Scary Farm Season Passes are also available for purchase. Keep in mind that pricing is subject to change throughout the season.
2025 Dates:
- Sept. 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 & 28
- Oct. 2, 3 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29 & 31
- Nov. 1
Knott's Scary Farm: Nightmares Revealed took place Aug. 19, 2025. The frogs were be there to learn everything we could about 2025 Knott's Scary Farm.
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. The earlier you go in the season the less crowded it tends to be. 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. That being said, opening night can be a much less-crowded night.
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 Hours
- 7 p.m. to 1 a.m select Thursday and Sunday nights.
- 7 p.m. to 2 a.m select Friday and Saturday nights.
Knott's Scary Farm 2025 Tickets, Tours and Boo-fet Dinner
Scary Farm 2025 tickets went on sale in late July. You'll find a variety of ticket add-ons through Knott's.
Pricing varies per night. Save by purchasing online. The discount savings is based off the ticket booth price. Never buy in person at the ticket booth. That is the most expensive place to purchase any Knott's tickets.
The Knott's Scary Farm Season Passes return for 2025! Scary Farm Season Passes start at $159, (subject to change) plus taxes and fees. The price increases before Scary Farm starts and goes up over time. There's a slight discount for Knott's season passholders. Quantities are limited.
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 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 2025 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 $64, up to $89 plus taxes and fees. Season passholders and military save up to $5. Online prices are much cheaper than gate prices, and prices vary per date. Most Sundays and Thursdays are less expensive than Fridays. Saturdays are the most expensive days and get even pricier (up to $89) as Halloween approaches. Buy early as prices can creep up as the season goes on.
Fright & 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. Online prices start at $139 per person (vs. $199 at the gate). You must purchase through Knott's.
Admission & Meal Bundle — The package starts at $79 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 $49 ($55 for prime seating times), you can munch with the monsters before you face your fears in the park. You'll get a timed entry and a 2025 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 likely includes the four mazes past Ghost Rider: two newest mazes, plus the 2024 new mazes, Widows and Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman. 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.). Did you know that the early entry guests get their own opening announcement and monster release 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 (outside of Meet & Creep), 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.
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. Compare the costs. This is a screamin' deal if you want Fright & Fast Lane and need parking. Plus, you get food and drink!
Scary Farm Parking — Parking costs $40 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 $45. Preferred parking is available at the booths for an additional fee. There is a Pass Parking Add-On for $90 if you have a Scary Farm Pass.
Very Important Monster Tour — From $499, this tour includes admission, a private guide for up to six hours, general parking, a Boo-fet dinner with exclusive monster photo, 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 $1,008.86). After you purchase, a park associate will contact you to arrange a tour time. Boo-fet meal begins at 5 p.m.
Knott's Scary Farm Season Pass — From $159 ($155 with Knott's season pass), this pass gets you non-transferable unlimited access to every night of Scary Farm. The price may creep up.
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. 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.
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.
However, if you want to get early entry, you can do the Boo-fet and get your own early monster release at 6:30. People who have Early Entry with a Boo-fet dinner can see all the monsters as they are released into the park at 6:30 and 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. Plus, you may be able to knock out four mazes — including the most popular new mazes — before the event kicks off!
If you do not have early entry access but want to see the monsters released, get to the park front gates early, before 5 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 & 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 usually have the longest waits.
We will link to this year's 2025 event map once it goes live.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 Mazes
There are 10 frightening mazes in 2025! This includes two brand-new and exciting mazes with original characters and stories.
Should we start with the newest mazes for 2025? Why not?!
(New!) The Zoo
The setting: an abandoned zoo. The situation: A military instillation has moved in and is turning soldiers into super soldiers by infusing them with animal DNA and genetic splicing with the animals. This insanely scary and detailed maze will have you running for the exits. Watch out. Every night at 11 p.m., the monsters take over and shut all the lights off. All you'll have to guide you is your trusty (yeah, right) flashlight provided by the very government organization that is behind these atrocities.
(New!) Mary: The Haunting of Worth Home
It's just a slumber party game right? Say, "Bloody Mary" three times in front of the mirror in the candlelight and she'll appear. Is it Mary Worth?
The Bloody Mary apparition is said to appear as a corpse, witch or ghost that can either be friendly, evil, or a demonic spirit. She is sometimes seen covered in blood (hence the name). The lore surrounding the ritual claims that participants may endure the apparition screaming at them, cursing them, strangling them, stealing their soul, drinking their blood or scratching their eyes out. Well you better not turn your back on this mirror.
You'll find this maze near the former location of Wax Works. Do you dare to enter the creepy house at the end of the street. Within the walls of the Worth home hides a terrifying secret. No one foolish enough to enter has ever come back out alive. But I’m sure this time it will be different, right?
Let's take a look at the retuning mazes.
Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman (was new in 2024)
Straight from the 18th century comes the story of the Boogeyman. This original character is known to snack on human fingers. The inhuman monster's bite causes sleep paralysis, leaving his victims to helplessly watch as he slowly consumes their flesh. This creature of the forest can see and move through walls as he pleases. So no need to lock the door. Be careful not to become his next meal as you make your way through this new maze. This maze is open for early entry.
Widows (was new in 2024)
Fear of spiders? Or perhaps possessed, decaying nursing home residents? (There was an old lady who swallowed a spider ...) The brand-new Widows maze combines the two fears for an unforgettably terrifying experience.
Black widows have swarmed the web-covered nursing home you will be taken through. The demonic creatures have possessed the withered bodies of the home's residents. Be careful not to succumb to their evil desires as you feel the webs sticking to you. Do you feel something crawling on you yet? Are the walls furry? This maze is open for early entry.
This new maze has a great exterior. But it begs the question: Would you put grandma in this home?
The Chilling Chambers
This 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 51 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.
The Chilling Chambers is a very long maze. It's well worth the wait time! But might be too long for more fearful attendees.
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.
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 (final year)
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.
Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind (final year)
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.
Not returning for 2025:
- Wax Works
- Bloodline 1842
Last Year for:
- Grimoire
- Mesmer
That makes room for the two new mazes.
Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 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 2024.
Here are the 2025 scare zones:
- 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! Keep an eye out for an unscheduled slide slow about 10:30 p.m.
- 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. Times are in the Knott's app under Meet & Creep. They were at 9 and 11:24 p.m. the night we visited.
- 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! Look for Meet & Creep moments with the Green Witch and the Conductor.
- 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, dancers 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. A live band and dancers make this a really festive zone. (Show times are in the app.) 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 and have a lot of fun.
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 in 2025
When you need a break from the mazes and terrifying scare zones, shows can offer some comic relief. There are some big shows in 2025. Showtimes can vary. You can find showtimes in the Knott's app. There are also smaller show moments throughout the night. Here is a look at the 2025 shows. They're to die for!
(New!) The Boulet Brothers (select nights)
Photo credit: Lan Nguyen
Drag artists, Swanthula Boulet and Dracmorda Boulet are your horror hosts on select nights of Knott's Scary Farm. The drag queen host the Emmy-nominated “Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” reality competition television show on the Shudder and AMC+ streaming services.
Boulet Brothers appear for meet & greets in the Legacy Store the following nights in 2025:
- Friday Oct. 3
- Saturday Oct. 4
- Thursday Oct. 9
- Thursday Oct. 16
- Friday Oct. 17
- Thursday Oct. 23
- Sunday Oct. 26
The Hanging
There's a new tariff in town!
The fan-favorite stunt show is back at Wagon Camp. The Lawman and the Hangman have 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.
Conjurers
Head to the Bird Cage Theatre for the return of an old show from the Scary Farm vault. From the heart of Calico comes a skilled illusionist to shock and awe viewers.
La Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque
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.
There are extreme acts and dance segments, 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. Show times are posted and also are in the app. It seemed less continuous compared to years past.
Music and Show Moments
There are small acts throughout the night. You can enjoy a DJ in Fiesta Village. Do not miss out on seeing the live band and dancers in the Gore-ing 20s zone. Even the scare actors get in on the dancing. And then there are small show moments in the scare zones.
At one point, all of the scareactors fell to the ground in the Gore-ing 20s.
In Forsaken Lake at the Mausoleum, the show times are in the app. It was at 9 and 11:15 p.m. when we visited.
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! (under refurbishment)
- Silver Bullet
- Montezooma’s Revenge (under extensive refurbishment)
- Silver Bullet
- Pony Express
- Supreme Scream
- Xcelerator
- Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair
- Calico Mine Ride
- Calico River Rapids
- La Revolucion
- Sol Spin
- Los Voladores
- 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
We previewed the 2025 foods on Aug. 19, 2025. There are some fiendishly fun and freaky foods available throughout the park during Knott’s Scary Farm. But we don't appreciate the return of frog legs. Croak! We got to attend a 2025 preview and try featured foods for this year.
There are cocktails in blood bags such as Zombie Juice, A Positive Blood (vodka) and the Witches Brew (tequila).
All of the seasonal food and drink items are also available during the day for Knott's Spooky farm with one exception. The blood bags for Spooky Farm do not have alcohol and the ones for Scary Farm do.
Head into Spurs Chop House for some drinks and a place to rest. There are some fun cocktails!
Here are the menus for each restaurant and serving location:
Boardwalk BBQ
- Alligator Sausage with Grilled Onions, Tomatoes, Jalapeño's, Bacon, and topped with a BBQ Sauce and Creole Mustard
- Blood Moon Bat Wings with a Sticky Brown Sugar BBQ Sauce
- Acorn Squash Salad, served with a Maple Cider Vinaigrette
- Graveyard Mousse Cup
Coasters Diner
- Fall Chicken Salad
- Slasher Shake — Chocolate shake with raspberry sauce and sprinkles
- Brownie Stuffed Spider Cookie
Prop Shop Pizzeria
- Scalped Sarah Pasta — an Angel Hair Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce and Chorizo
- Harvest Salad
- Pumpkin Crumble Gourmet Cookie
- Midnight Tiramisu, layered with Espresso-soaked lady fingers and Dark Chocolate Mascarpone Mousse, dusted with Black Cocoa Powder.
- Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Beer
Ghost Town Bakery
- Carrot Cake Bars
- Halloween Cake Pops
- Witches Cupcakes
- Halloween Snoopy Cupcakes
- Graveyard Mousse Cups
- The Queen of the Undead — a black velvet mini cake with raspberry jam, chocolate mousse, and orange buttercream frosting
Wilderness Dogs and Drinks
- Frankenweenie — an all-beef Hot Dog topped with Spicy Jalapeno Relish and Boysenberry mustard
- The Bride Loaded Fries with White Cheddar, Chicken Tenders, Chipotle Honey Aioli, and Green Onions
Calico Tater Bites
- Exhumed Mushroom and Sausage Pizza (How fun are skull mushrooms on pizza?)
- Gloulrean Meatball Tots loaded with Korean BBQ Meatballs, green onions. Sriracha mayo and sesame seeds
Sutter's Grill
- Decomposing Bison Burger with caramelized onions, bleu cheese crumbles, Swiss cheese and smokey mayo
Baja Taqueria
- Tacos de Terror —Diced cow tongue with cilantro, onion and tomatillo arbol sauce
- Spider Buñuelos
- Doña Barbara's Duritos
Papas Mexicanas
- Steak Stake Fried with carne asada, romesco sauce and crispy onions
- Tosti-Esquite
- Spider Buñuelos
- Doña Barbara's Duritos
Casa California
- Al Pastor Negro— Marinated pork in an ancho and mulato pepper sauce
- Spider Buñuelos
Miner's Mac & Spuds
- Radioactive Gator Stuffed Potato
- Radioactive Gator Stuffed mac and Cheese Bowl
- Vampire Bite Red Velvet Cheesecake Cup
Grizzly Creek Lodge
- Slime Pizza — pesto sauce with mazzarella cheese, jalapeño sausage and cherry tomatoes
- Candy Corn Fanta Float with Dole Pineapple Soft Serve and candy corn
- Graveyard Mousse Cup
- Halloween Sugar Cookie Bar
Charleston Circle Coffee
- Pumpkin Bundt Cake
- Red Velvet Black Window Whoopie Pie
- Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino
- Tequila Refresher
Chow House Ice Cream
- Mesmer's Black Cheery Cookiewich
- Black widow's Lemonade infused with blackberry and pomegranate syrups
Gourmet Churro Factory
- Twinkie of Terror - Deep fried Twinkie with vanilla soft serve and raspberry sauce
Ghost Town Grub
- Ghoulish Lids Glow Funnel Cake with glow0in-the-dark pineapple cream, vanilla soft serve and glow0in-the-dark Sour Patch Kids
- Graveyard French Toast with Oreo cream cheese and dusted with Oreo crumbs and gummy worms
Strictly-on-a-Stick
- Crispy Fried Frog Legs with fries and a spicy remoulade
Merchandise
Take home a Scary Farm 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 No-Boo necklace ($17.99) and a lantern that interacts with 100 areas of the event, including scare zones and mazes. This year's lanterns ($47.99) also interact with each other! Rumor has it you can change the color on the top of the K tower!
Near the queue for Mary, you'll see a sign for the Legacy Haunt Store and Museum. It's an immersive retail experience that features special merchandise, photo ops 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 51-year history. Here you can find an original or print to take home with you.
The popular lanterns return, on sale as of opening night. They interact with park elements.
Are you going with scaredy cats? Consider a No-Boo Necklace. For $17.99, 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 in past years.)
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.
Terrifying Tips for Knott’s Scary Farm 2025
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.
- 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 by 5 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, Widows and Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman 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 a new maze 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 and is a family-friendly layover for both daytime and night.
- No re-entry is allowed.
- Certain thrill rides such as GhostRider, Silver Bullet and HangTime now have storage lockers — no more cubbies. It's $2 for 2 hours and there is a QR code to scan that seems easier to deal with than the screens. You can rent a moveable locker for a flat fee. Glasses need a strap or to be put in a pocket for some rides.
Chaperone and Bag Rules for Knott’s Scary Farm
Knott's is cashless, so plan ahead to bring other forms of payment.
There is still a 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 Knott's Scary Farm bag rule in effect. 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, especially the shorter ones. 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 Columbus/Indigenous People's Day), from opening to 5 p.m., Sept. 25 through Oct. 31, 2025. 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!
