Family friendly fun at Knott's Spooky Farm

We were invited to attend the media event. All typos, grammatical errors and opinions are our own.

By Christy Mindell 

​Don’t let the name fool you, Knott’s Spooky Farm is not as spooky as the name alludes to. It’s the more family-friendly fun side of Knott’s Berry Farm during the Halloween season, as compared to their annual, and widely popular, Knott’s Scary Farm event. 

We were invited to spend the day at the park to explore and celebrate all things Halloween. From the moment you enter the main gate, you are immersed into the festive sounds of the season. Ghosts, cobwebs, and pumpkins adorn the walls, kids are dressed up in costumes, and it’s a celebration of all things that go bump in the night. 
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Camp Snoopy

​Our first stop was Camp Snoopy. We rode on a few rides in the camp, but the highlight of our time was meeting the Peanuts Gang who were dressed up in their very own Halloween costumes. The lines to take pictures were very short so that meant you could spend a little more time with them, and get extra pictures to load up on your FunPix card – a photo pass system where professional photographs are stored to a card and you can buy all of them for a very affordable price.
The Camp Snoopy Theater featured two shows:

• “The Monsters are Coming, Charlie Brown” – a show that is sure to get you off your feet and dancing in a Monster Mash.
• “Calling all the Monsters Costume Contest” – a costume contest where the kids are the stars. Children of all ages are able to get on stage and show off their costumes in hopes to win a prize. The judges were three members of the Peanuts gang, Lucy, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy. They awarded three lucky children with a bucket full of goodies and balloons. Afterwards, the dance party began and kids of all ages are rocking out to even more Halloween tunes. 

Fiesta Village Celebrates Dia De Los Muertos

​As we headed for lunch at Boardwalk BBQ, we walked through Fiesta Village, where traditional statues of Day of the Dead skeletons are scattered throughout the area. We took our time to walk through and appreciate the colorful décor of pumpkins and flowers. It’s a cultural celebration fitting of this area and of the Halloween season. 

Lunch at Boardwalk BBQ

​We had a single meal dining plan for lunch and we were all in the mood for BBQ. As you walk up, the  smell of the smokehouse lingers in the air and you are soon in front of all your options. Some of us had the plated meals of ¼ rotisserie chicken or ribs, with a side of potatoes, mac and cheese or corn on the cob. The barbecue sauce is a little spicy but is used sparingly as to not overwhelm the palate. It comes with 1 side of cornbread as well and it was delicious. There is also a pulled pork sandwich option with a choice of 1 side. Don’t forget your “berry punch” as that is always the highlight of every meal in the park.  

Trick or Treating in Ghost Town

​We headed toward Ghost Town to do a little trick or treating, Knott’s Berry Farm style. Children dressed in costumes were given bags at the main entrance to the park to collect candy - which come in handy if you didn’t bring one. There are a total of six stations where friendly townsfolk are dressed up in an old-timey outfit and pass out candy. Each station is marked and are easily found at the entrance to shops.
There are other things to do in Calico too, like arts and crafts for the littles such as pumpkin decorating, cookie decorating and other activities. A masked Linus made an appearance where kids had another opportunity to take photos. The Creepy Critters of Calico are located in the middle of ghost town for viewing of animals like snakes, rats, and turtles. Totally creepy and fun. 

About Knott’s Spooky Farm

​This family-friendly event is available on Saturdays and Sundays from September 28th to October 27th and on Halloween Day, October 31st in 2019. The hours of operations vary depending on the day but close at 5:00 so the park can prepare for the evening festivities of Knott’s Scary Farm. The ideal age group are children between ages 3-11. Wearing costumes are encouraged. For tickets, Knott’s Spooky Farm is included in the regular park admission or a 2019 Season Pass. It’s a great value for a fun and festive time at the park. 

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​Christy Mindell
www.wildandcree.com 
Social: @wildandcree 
Southern California based family travel and lifestyle blogger who helps families get out of their comfort zones and find their next adventure, together.