A horse-drawn stagecoach with two drivers sits on a wooden bridge surrounded by greenery on a sunny day.

Knott’s Berry Farm—authentic, interactive & affordable SoCal fun

May 13, 2025/Jan Wagner/
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The more I visit, the more I absolutely love Knott’s Berry Farm, and I believe that you will too!

Colorful illustrated map of Knott’s Berry Farm theme park, showing labeled areas, entrances, attractions, paths, and key landmarks like roller coasters, water rides, and food locations.

From its humble beginnings as a family farm, for over 100 years Knott’s Berry Farm — and its signature Mrs. Knott’s fried chicken dinners…

Exterior of Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant at night, featuring the illuminated sign above the entrance and a large rooster statue outside.

… boysenberries…

A colorful outdoor display with flowers, a grapevine sculpture, a vintage truck, and a large pink windmill under clear blue skies.
Bottles of Berry Market Boysenberry Ketchup are arranged in rows on a wooden shelf.

… and its 1880’s-themed Old West Ghost Town named Calico…

A view of an Old West-style theme park area with cacti in the foreground, visitors walking, rustic buildings, and a windmill in the background under a clear sky.

… Knott’s Berry Farm has deservedly become world-famous. Themed entertainment celebrates five seasons of fun throughout the year.

On this visit to Knott’s Berry Farm, I went to check out the food, entertainment and merchandise for their famous Boysenberry Festival, but my day began with an up-close look at their authentic steam engine-driven train, which gives visitors rides around the park.

A black steam locomotive numbered 41 is parked on railroad tracks at an amusement park, with trees and visitors in the background.
A man sits on a black Rio Grande Southern train engine in front of a wooden water tower labeled "Ghost Town" on a sunny day.
A man stands on a black train engine, filling its water tank from a large wooden water tower labeled "Knott's Ghost Town," with trees and blue sky in the background.
A man in overalls fills a black steam locomotive with water using a large spout at a wooden water tower.

The Calico Railroad dates back to 1952, and has an authentic Denver and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge train used in the early 1900s. Ride it through the park and you might encounter train robbers!

A vintage Denver & Rio Grande train with green passenger cars and a black locomotive is parked at a station, with people visible inside the train.
Woman in western-style costume with braided hair and hat smiles inside a wooden train car, standing near signs that read "Please remain seated" and "Please keep hands and arms inside.

Nearby, I overheard the sounds of an announcer. I walked over and discovered that they were beginning their first of three Boysenberry Pie Kitchen Games.

Wooden sign for Calico Mine Co. Outdoor Stage displays showtimes (11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 2:45 PM) and a poster for Boysen Bear’s Pie Kitchen family pies game.

These were mainly aimed at little kids but everyone, including adults, was encouraged to participate, so I did.

A performer and a person in a bear costume stand on an outdoor stage by a prop kitchen setup, with a cartoonish sign reading "Pie Kitchen" in the background.
A person in blue hits a ball with a mallet at an outdoor game booth, supervised by a performer and a bear mascot in sailor costumes.
A person in a bear costume dressed as a sailor stands at a Berry Sorter game, while another person in a matching uniform looks on outdoors.
A child plays a ball drop game called "Beary Sorter" outdoors while a person in a bear costume watches nearby.
A wicker basket filled with numerous artificial, bright purple blackberries with green leaves.
A woman hands a plastic bunch of grapes to a child in a purple hat at an outdoor event, with a basket of similar grapes nearby.
A girl in a purple hat throws a disc toward a colorful board with horizontal slots at an outdoor activity area.

On my very last try of the last game I finally succeeded and won a prize (a Boysen Bear’s Pie Kitchen Games sticker).

A man stands smiling next to a costumed bear character in front of a wooden Knott’s Berry Farm booth on a sunny day.
A hand holds a purple sticker reading "Knott’s Boysenberry Festival, Boysen Bear’s Pie Kitchen Games" on a checkered tablecloth background.

The games were followed by an entertaining, kids-only, boysenberry pie-eating contest (no use of hands permitted!). Later in the day there was another boysenberry pie-eating contest for adults.

A printed sign on a checkered tablecloth reads "Reserved Boysen Bear's Pie Kitchen Games Pie Eating Contest Sign-Ups.
Four people, two adults and two children, stand behind a table with pies and purple cups, all wearing patterned shirts and plastic ponchos, preparing for a pie-eating event.
Three people in ponchos compete in a pie-eating contest at an outdoor event, heads down over pies on a decorated blue table.
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My favorite ride at Knott’s has been there for decades. The Calico Mine Ride is a leisurely, family-friendly, old-time train ride on ore cars through an impressive recreation of a working gold mine. On your journey you’ll discover enormous caverns filled with thousands of colorful stalactites, and more, as lifelike, animatronic miners try to strike it rich.

Wooden sign reading "Calico Mine Co." at an outdoor mining-themed attraction, surrounded by plants, rocks, and mining equipment under a sunny sky.
A rustic, Western-themed building with a vintage train engine sits against tall, red rock formations under a blue sky, surrounded by desert plants and cacti.
A wooden sign labeled "Tunnel 2" hangs near artificial rock formations under a clear blue sky, with part of a wooden roof and a metal structure visible.
A cave scene illuminated by red, purple, and orange lights with jagged rock formations and mist rising from the ground.
Passengers ride a dark, wooden amusement park attraction while seated in a vehicle, surrounded by wooden beams and dim, warm lighting.
Passengers ride a dark, cave-themed amusement park attraction train, passing colorful illuminated rock formations and a lit animated figure in the distance.


Another ride that I finally got to do (three times!) on this visit was the Butterfield horse-drawn Stagecoach ride. Most of these are authentic stagecoaches from the 1800’s.

Wooden sign titled "1877 Rules for Stage Riders" listing ten guidelines for stagecoach passengers, including behavior, safety, and comfort expectations. Text is weathered but mostly legible.
A vintage stagecoach labeled "HOLLADAY OVERLAND MAIL & EXPRESS" with open doors, showing wooden seats and steps for boarding.
An older man sits and smiles inside a wooden train car, holding a rolled-up newspaper on his lap. Sunlight enters through the windows beside him.
A group of people ride atop a horse-drawn stagecoach on a dirt road beside a wooden fence and trees.

They are pulled by a team of four living, breathing, powerful horses that have the potential to behave in unexpected ways if something spooks them, so every ride is a real-life adventure, unlike a mechanical ride.

Two horses pull a carriage with two people on a wooden path as a roller coaster speeds overhead against a clear blue sky.
Four horses pull a stagecoach with two people on the driver's seat, passing a fence in front of a looping roller coaster at an amusement park.

In the GHOST TOWN, you’ll step back into the west’s early history with an abundance of themed entertainment. The streets of Calico are lined with authentic buildings — including a one-room schoolhouse, a western museum, a blacksmith’s shop, a town square, a saloon, the Bird Cage Theater where live stage plays are performed, and more — all while period-correct, costumed townsfolk walk around, actively interacting with park visitors and doing western townsfolky kinds of things, as exemplified by their Founders’ Day Celebration.

Last September, as a first-time Knott’s annual passholder, the Founder’s Day Celebration was my first themed entertainment experience at Knott’s. For 99 PHOTOS and a fun VIDEO, see “AutoMatters & More” #852, entitled: “The Performers are what make the Knott’s Berry Farm experience exceptional — with VIDEO” (https://automatters.net/the-performers-are-what-make-the-knotts-berry-farm-experience-exceptional-with-video/). It was great fun, complete with cowboys and assorted townsfolk roaming though Calico, encouraging the park’s guests to interact with them, and performing in family-oriented, fun skits throughout the day — including a thwarted robbery by bandits of the Calico bank, a trial, an election and more, all culminating with a lively hoedown with music performed by a banjo-picking, guitar-strumming, singing band on-stage, and line-dancing for all to enjoy and participate in.

A group of people dressed in Old West costumes pose outdoors, some smiling and holding newspapers, with hats and vests as part of their attire.

Additional themed, seasonal entertainment includes Knott’s PEANUTS Celebration, Knott’s Spooky Farm, Knott’s Merry Farm, Knott’s Summer Nights and more.

A funnel cake topped with whipped cream, strawberry sauce, and mixed berry sauce, dusted with powdered sugar, is shown up close.

Other themed areas include Fiesta Village — featuring Mexican-style architecture, food, works of art, thrilling rides and more; the Peanuts-themed Camp Snoopy — a 15-acre children’s playground with rides, a theater and more; and the Boardwalk, where you’ll find high-speed rides, my favorite Knott’s restaurant in the park (Boardwalk BBQ) and more.

People ride an inverted roller coaster with red tracks and support beams, passing through a curve on a clear day with trees in the background.
Boardwalk BBQ restaurant with neon signs, including a large "PORK BEEF CHICKEN" sign, and a roller coaster visible in the background under a clear blue sky.
A person wearing gloves serves saucy boysenberry meatballs from a large pan into a plate at a food counter labeled "Boardwalk BBQ Boysenberry Meatballs.
A person wearing a blue glove uses tongs to stir assorted cooked carrots and root vegetables in a roasting pan with sauce.
A hand holds a plate with glazed meatballs, roasted carrots and potatoes, and a plain muffin. Condiments and jars are visible in the background.
A water log ride descends from an artificial mountain surrounded by trees, with a splash pool and wooden fencing in the foreground.

Ghost Rider is the tallest, fastest, longest wooden roller coaster on the West Coast. In the winter Knott’s also has an indoor ice-skating rink with professional ice-skating shows.

Late in my day, I enjoyed watching a performance of the “Knott’s PRESERVED” musical stage show, filled with energetic, talented performers who danced their way through their story about Southern California history.

Calico Mine Co. Outdoor Stage sign at Knott’s Berry Farm, listing showtimes for "Knott's Preserved: A Musical Celebration" at 4:30 PM, 6:30 PM, and 8:00 PM.
Poster for "Knott's Preserved: A Musical Celebration" and "Boysen Beats Pie Eating Contest" at the Calico Mine Co. Outdoor Stage at Knott's Berry Farm.
A man in a vest and cap plays an acoustic guitar on an outdoor stage, with performers in colorful costumes and two men holding axes in the background.
A group of performers in period costumes pose on an outdoor stage, with some standing on a wooden wagon and all shading their eyes as if looking into the distance.
A group of performers dressed in Western-themed costumes stand on an outdoor stage with arms raised, in front of a rustic set and backdrop reading "Preserved.
A group of performers in plaid shirts and suspenders, with one person mid-air jumping over a saw on stage, in front of a forest backdrop.
A group of performers in plaid shirts and vests strike dynamic, joyful poses on a rustic stage set with wooden props and outdoor-themed backdrops.
A group of performers in colorful costumes pose and smile on an outdoor stage decorated with vines and wooden crates.

Just before park closing, I ended my day with a ride on the arcade-style shoot-em-up ”Knott’s Bear-y Tales — Return to the Fair” — with no wait time to get on!

People sit inside brightly colored red and yellow ride cars at the boarding area of an indoor amusement park attraction called "Knott's Beary Tales: Return to the Fair.
Brightly colored, animated scene of a whimsical village with market stalls, barrels, flowers, and festive flags, likely from an amusement park or themed attraction.

Then, as I walked towards the exit, I checked out the local vendors, as well as the Boysenberry Festival and other merchandise in Virginia’s Gift Shop.

Several plush gnome dolls with white beards, plaid shirts, brown hats labeled "Whittles," and yellow "KC" belt buckles are displayed on a wooden shelf.

Much more distinguishes Knott’s Berry Farm from that other big, Southern California theme park. Knott’s has: an abundance of unique, live, themed, seasonal and interactive entertainment – most of which is included at no extra cost, avoiding that other park’s frequent park closures during otherwise normal operating hours for guests who have not bought expensive, extra-cost experiences; the nostalgic authenticity of a large Wild West town; much lower cost of admission and meals, offering inexpensive annual pass add-ons that include a terrific, All Season Dining meal plan (I had two meals during my visit) and parking; NO BLACKOUT DATES; and NO required (or even offered!), hard-to-get, kill-joy RESERVATIONS — just go there whenever you feel like it or change your mind if the weather turns bad or if something else comes up that day. Really, that’s the way it should be, right? These are features that encourage, rather than discourage, frequent visits to the park.

Nighttime view of the Bird Cage Theatre’s entrance with double doors open and a decorative red circus wagon parked nearby.

I had a wonderful day at Knott’s Berry Farm and I am sure that you will, too. It is a wonderful theme park and an incredibly good value — especially with the meal plan add-on: two meals per day, every day (beverages are extra or with their own plan, or just drink ice water, as I do) for the duration of the accompanying annual pass.

Pasta bar menu with steps: choose pasta (penne or spaghetti), sauce (four options), and topping (three options); price for pasta bowl is $18.50; pizzeria branding shown.
A neon-lit sign reads "Prop Shop Pizzeria An Italian Kitchen" above the entrance to a brick building at night. A person with a stroller stands outside.
Several workers prepare food behind a glass counter in a modern pizzeria, with a red pizza oven and digital menu screens visible overhead. Customers wait in line at the counter.
Cooked rigatoni pasta topped with chunks of cooked chicken breast and tomato sauce on a plate.

I bought my annual pass, plus meal plan and parking add-ons, late last summer. That pass was valid for the rest of 2024 and continues through all of 2025 — with no blackout dates! Incredibly (if I lived closer to Knott’s than I do, instead of in San Diego), realistically I could have had over 900 meals there (455×2) from a wide variety of Knott’s Berry Farm restaurants, in the year-and-four-months of the term of my annual pass. Of course, I do intend to renew it. I’ll bet some locals who live in or near Buena Park do just that.

A wooden windmill decorated with purple lights, artificial grapes, greenery, and a pink ribbon, photographed outdoors at night.

For more information, including schedules of the seasonal live entertainment, and affordable annual pass information with meal plan and parking add-ons, visit Knott’s Berry Farm at https://www.knotts.com.

A steam locomotive with the number 41 emits steam and light while stationary at night, near a wooden platform and fence.

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Copyright © 2025 by Jan Wagner – AutoMatters & More #882r3

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Jan Wagner

4 Comments

  1. David Sperry on May 18, 2025 at 5:18 pm

    Jan, I find it amazing that Knott’s Berry Farm grew from an actual family farm, and was not purpose built like the Disney locations, Universal, Sea World, etc. The original Knott family had vision.

    I’m a sucker for Strawberry Shortcake like my mother and grandmother made… the real deal, Nova Scotia style. Your food photos are mouthwatering, especially the strawberries and whipped cream. David.

    Reply
    • Jan Wagner on May 18, 2025 at 6:32 pm

      As good as that strawberry and boysenberry shortcake looks in my photo, it looked absolutely delicious in-person — and it was huge. I had to ask them how much it cost? They told me $20.
      I believe that a lot of what makes Knott’s Berry Farm so wonderful is its originality, authenticity and affordability. Its old-time rides are timeless. Knott’s creators clearly had a creative vision that eludes the big commercial operators. I hope that Knott’s does well and does not get too commercialized.
      Jan

      Reply
  2. Alberto on May 18, 2025 at 2:19 am

    I usually go to see the lighting of the Xmas tree or New Year eve. But forget for whatever reason I didn’t go the last 3 or 4 years. Another fun time to go is during Halloween time!

    Reply
    • Jan Wagner on May 18, 2025 at 3:48 am

      Thanks for commenting, Alberto.
      Even though I’ve lived in Southern California for many years, I hardly ever had gone to Knott’s Berry Farm until I purchased an annual pass late last summer, in response to someone telling me about a sale (my purchase included all of the rest of 2024 and all of 2025). I’m glad that I did that. It is a great theme park and a super good value. As do you, I like that they have different seasonal, themed, live entertainment throughout the year.
      Jan

      Reply

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