Knott’s Berry Farm has switched from Scary to Merry. The birthplace of the theme park haunt, Knott’s moves on from mazes and monsters to the more family-friendly yuletide cheer of Christmas. With that are a bevy of bountiful offerings from shopping to festive entertainment. All of this with the quintessential Farm Charm.

The Shopping

There are plenty of options and gift ideas at Knott’s at this time of year. You can aim for the park-branded merch, or you can hunt for something a little more personalized in the Christmas Crafts Village.

Christmas Crafts Village

Every year, Knott’s invites artisans and crafters to set up shop in the park and sell to guests looking for that extra special gift. There is no lack of hand-made keepsakes that suit a range of tastes.

The Food

Food is what originally put Knott’s Berry Farm on the map. With Christmas upon us, the culinary creatives at Knott’s have created another round of returning holiday edibles along with a few new surprises. Our favorite is still the Turkey Bites with gravy and Brussel Sprouts. Check the gallery below.

The Entertainment

The only thing that surpasses the wide range of food options is the line-up of entertainment for Knott’s Merry Farm. This year saw a rather seismic change with a brand new ice show, a rewritten show for the Birdcage Theatre, along with an absurd amount of additional diversions. To start, park guests can enjoy The Calico Carolers, The Sleigh Bells, Bluegrass Duo, Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies, Tinsel Top Club, and The Rockin’ Reindeer. Then there is the newly adapted version of The Gift of the Magi, 1885, and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol both performed in the Birdcage Theatre throughout the day.

Santa’s Christmas Cabin

The iconic red barn in Ghost Town has its doors open once more. this time it plays host to Santa and all of the warm, fuzzy charm that he brings. In Santa’s Christmas Cabin you can buy a refillable mug for hot cocoa or coffee, nab some traditional holiday treats, or speak to the man himself about what you might want for Christmas.

Snow and Glow experience

Snoopy’s Night Before Christmas

All-new for 2022 is Snoopy’s Night Before Christmas. Rest easy, the ice show measures up to the tradition set forth by its longtime predecessor. But, yes but, it lacks the stirring emotional impact of years past.

With a glitzy new production, we watch as Snoopy falls asleep atop his dog house on the night before Santa makes a visit. Gone are any major set pieces. Instead, the creative team has gone the Cruiseship route and utilized an array of digital projections to create the scene. The decision works just fine since it’s the skating that should take center stage.

Overall, Snoopy’s Night Before Christmas works. There are moments that recall the previous show, moments that work, moments that fall flat, and ultimately the lack of a show-stopping finale to send audiences smiling, back into the park.