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Strains of the music from ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ swirled around me as I stepped into Knotts Merry Farm all decked out for the holidays. Memories flooded in. I’ve always loved theme parks. Riding rollercoasters, seeing shows and running around with family and friends was easy growing up in Southern California. Knotts Berry Farm was fun no matter what age and visiting the fun park kicked my holiday spirit into overdrive.
Photo Opp with Snoopy
Snoopy and I go way back. As a young graphic designer IÂ worked for Determined Productions adapting the beloved Charles Shulz characters for toys and accessories. Snoopy and Woodstock were the most popular and I met them once again in the fun park.
Snoopy dances in the holiday show!!
Knotts started in the 1930’s when Mrs. Knott started serving home-fried chicken and berry pies for pennies to locals. The home kitchen expanded, the hybrid Boysenberry was discovered and grown on the farm and Mr. Knott built a small ‘ghost town’ to entertain visitors while preserving local history. It’s all still there, if you look.
Mrs. Knott cooking.
Boysenberries are still grown on a memorial plot inside the park but today kids run around Camp Snoopy, teenagers get their thrills on towering rollercoasters, adults do too when they’re not taking in the Ghost Town sights and shops. Trains, stage coach rides and saloon shows run all day.
During the holiday season a tall Pine tree stands decorated in the main square and each evening at dusk a small crowd draws near. Carolers, dressed in Victorian garb, cover the stage. A ‘sheriff’ steps up to the microphone to address the good people and signals the lighting of the tree. It’s a lovely ritual in the middle of the fun park.
Here’s a short video of the fun park:
Snoopy dances and serenades families in a holiday show running November 19th to January 8th. There’s hot cider and chocolate in Santa’s Barn (and a fortified version for the grownups!) but most families gather for snow. Each evening right on schedule it falls from overhead. Even in warm Southern California the wintry spirit of the holidays perseveres.
The show inside the Mystery Lodge is a thrilling nod to Native Americans who once lived nearby.
Ride the train through the Calico Mine
One thing I discovered is how affordable Knotts Merry Farm is compared to other parks. It makes sense that families and friends of all ages filled the fun park. Entrance is less than half of the other giant theme park near by and the experience is less crowded and more intimate.
Discount tickets can be found online and inside the California Welcome Center (see links below.) Housed in a historic building on the original stage coach line, it’s worth a visit on it’s own. There are tours, maps, brochures and ticket specials for all the Buena Park activities.
Photo opp outside the historical California Visitors Center Buena Park
Whatever the reason or season, I look forward to visiting Snoopy again and eating more of Mrs. Knott’s famous berry pie in the fun park, Knotts Berry Farm.
Links for visiting the fun park, Knotts Berry Farm
Knotts Website: https://www.knotts.com/
Tickets at the Buena Park Visitors Center:Â http://visitbuenapark.reservedirect.com/da/knotts-berry-farm-buena-park
California Welcome Center: http://www.visitbuenapark.com/
Lovely park Elaine! I love to visit such a fun -filled parks. I would like to visit & enjoy there. My kid will be so much happy to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Your kid would love to visit Knotts Berry Park – no matter what time of year. In summer they also have a huge waterpark open as well as the rollercoasters! What kid (or the young at heart wouldn’t love that?!)
I love when theme parks get all festive around the holidays! Great photos, thanks for sharing. Happy travels 🙂
It’s a delight seeing all the decorations. Glad you liked the post. Happy holidays, Carmen.
Ha! I have never been there and always wanted to go to there. Living in Sonoma County, I see a lot of Snoopy. How fun!
It’s a sweet park. Low key compared to some of the big flashy theme parks but still such fun.
Ha,ha, I haven’t visited this place since my son was 5 years old. I wish my grandchildren were here so that I would have a reason to go back.
It’s really a delight with little ones. I hope they come visit.
We love Knott’s Berry Farm. I think Jenn and my first trip as a couple was to travel there from Arizona. Ahh memories. The do a great job without all the lines (and price) of other So Cal theme parks. What a wonderful way to celebrate a California Christmas.
So glad to hear about your memories at Knotts. It’s a modest park and fits the holidays so well.
I’ve never been to Knott’s Berry Farm, but who doesn’t love the Peanuts. Seems like Christmas would be the perfect time to visit.
The Camp Snoopy kids park is full of Peanuts inspiration. I so enjoyed spending time there during the holidays.
Thanks for the heads up on Knotts Merry Farm – I hadn’t come across the park before, but it sounds like a wonderful way to celebrate the season, especially as a day out with the family 🙂 Happy holidays!
Knotts is perfect for the holidays and they do other seasonal events year round too.
Snoopy, my favorite character of all times. The best scenario is Snoopy and Charlie Brown Christmas together. Recipe for a lot of fun any aged person.
Snoopy is adorable for sure and matching him at Knotts is such fun.
I haven’t been to Knott’s in years and don’t think I ever when for Christmas. Always a great park and looks like a fun place for the holidays. The Calico Mine Ride was always one of my favorites.
The Calico Mine Ride is a tickle still!
Knotts Merry Farm sounds like a lot of fun for everyone in the family. And especially a great way to feel feel the spirit of Christmas! It is good to know that tickets are reasonably priced too, since most amusement parks can be incredibly expensive for entire families.
It’s a nice play day and affordable plus packed with history and great food.
Looks like a fun place for adults and kids alike! Anything with Charlie Brown is a sell for me, so many great childhood memories for me!
Charlie Brown will always be a favorite of mine. Childhood all over again!
I’m going for the first time in a couple weeks! Very excited!
You’re going to love the roller coasters!
That is a great park . I haven’t heard of it before but it seems so fun and interesting! Thanks for sharing!
Full of surprises for sure. Glad you found it interesting, Chrysoula.
This is the most unusual place I have seen. I can imagine it would be wonderful during the Christmas season and absolutely wonderful for families to visit.
The park is aglow with decorations and special activities during the season – then they turn it around for summer as well.
Aww, I wish we lived closer to California. Knots Merry Farm sounds like a fun place to visit to get in the spirit of the season. My favorite part has to be the timed snow!
Truly, Christina. The snow is so trippy!
Ooh Charlie Brown Christmas- what a classic. Love old historical places like this that do special events during the Christmas season, especially since they seem to be keeping with the old, traditional themes. How fun!
It’s a sweet spot to visit, especially with little ones.