At long last Knott’s Scary Farm has returned to the delight of Halloween fans in Southern California and beyond. As the birthplace of the theme park haunt, Knott’s has quite a bit to live up to. As a world-famous, Southern California staple in its 53 year, it certainly serves up the scares.
The event features Five shows, five scare zones, and a total of 10 haunted mazes. Among that collection we have three new shows and two new mazes. In this review we will give you our take on each maze and scare zone along with as many shows as we can see.
Shows
This year Knott’s Scary Farm has a slate of five separate shows of terrortainment.
Occultum Curated by Magic Castle (Birdcage Theatre)
Official Description reads: Step inside the beautifully restored Bird Cage Theatre and experience an evening of wonder. Featuring magicians from the world-famous Magic Castle, these acclaimed wizards will leave you amazed with surprise, delight and mystery.
We did not review this show.
Fireman’s Duo (Fireman’s BBQ Stage)
We did not review this show.
Blind Tiger Balcony Soiré
The Gore-ing 20’s is a lively scare zone only made more spectacular by this brilliant show. Singing, dancing, and the Devil’s Elixir. If you are in the area, stick around and catch this one.
Voodoo: Bayou’s Edge (Calico Mine Stage)
Official Description reads: The dead keep rhythm. A slow drumbeat calls — and Marie Laveau, Voodoo Queen, guides you past the gate into the court of Baron Samedi, Lwa of the dead. Dancers drift through the mist, flames rise, tombs drum and the cemetery wakes.
We did not review this show.
The Hanging – Noose Maxxxing (Wagon Camp)
Love it or hate it, The Hanging is back. Once again the Lawman and the Hangman are back to search out the most egregious offender in pop culture in order to put them out of our misery. We get a show that makes fun of everything from Taco Bell lettuce to the Backrooms. If it happened in the past 12 months we see it.
Noose Maxxing is an interesting iteration of The Hanging tradition that really ups the spectacle and camp to another level with a set piece called Castle Gay Skull, a sword that needs to be pulled from a statue’s butt, and a musical tribute to both Dolly Parton and Tim Curry.
Fair warning though, if you are easily offended or can’t stand corny jokes, just don’t bother.
SCARE ZONES
Five scare zones keep the fear going in between mazes and rides. While there are no new scare zones one has been wonderfully refreshed.
Ghost Town Streets – DO NOT MISS
The fog rolls in as night falls to create an inescapable nightmare in Ghost Town. This is the pinnacle of street scares. The very best talent and the most frightening characters are here. We dare you to walk through Fog Alley alone.
CarnEVIL – DO NOT MISS
Clowns are a staple at haunt events. But after 26 years, it was time for a refresh. Thankfully the creative team has done right by this scare zone and given everything a dark and dusty patina straight out of Nightmare Alley. Of course, the talent here has to work extra hard to scare in full lighting but they pull it off.
Forsaken Lake
Once again, the lake underneath Silver Bullet reveals the horrors and creatures it’s kept hidden, until now. Forsaken Lake unleashed gothic creatures who have crawled from the murky waters of the nearby lake, hoping to take a few victims home. The talent here is wonderful and they really understand the assignment.
The Gore-ing ’20s
The Gore-ing ’20s is back and as good as ever. Situated at the back of the park, this lively scare zone is crawling with undead gangsters, ghostly bartenders, and an assortment of nefarious characters. The area is tent-poled by brilliant actors who never seem to stop moving, and the Blind Tiger Balcony Soiré show high above.
The Gauntlet
At the front of the park, in Camp Snoopy, we have the medieval scare zone The Gauntlet. A scare zone is only as good as the actors in it and they do not disappoint here. The approach, however, is less terror and chaos and mayhem. Huzzah!
MAZES
The one thing that Knott’s does exceedingly well are original concept mazes. For 2026 we have a total of 10 nightmarish walkthroughs. Two are brand new, two are enjoying their last year, and 6 are returning to flesh out the line-up.
MARY: The Haunting of Worth Home
Returning for 2026 is MARY: The Haunting of Worth Home. This haunted maze is impressive in regard to sets and production, but it is lacking in any coherent story. From what I can tell it is Halloween night and Bloody Mary is on a tear at the home of the Worth family. We conga line past scenes of teenagers warning us not to say her name and impressive if confusing animated figures. I want to love this one but it’s just sort of there.
The Zoo – DO NOT MISS
The Zoo is back ladies and gentlemen. Back for another round of hybrid monster animal goodness. We begin at the gates of an abandoned zoo that is flanked with menacing mutants who welcome is in. What I love about this maze is the extensive detail We feel as if we are in an abandoned zoo. At every turn there is another abhorrent monster animal waiting to attack.
In a change from last year, The Zoo will not go dark at a certain time. A choice that has an upside and a downside. While the switchover to darkness and giving guests flashlights to make their way through was terrifying, it kept us from enjoying the remarkable sets. That’s not to mention the darkness had me concerned for actor safety.
The Zoo still rocks.
Eight Fingers Nine
Eight Fingers Nine returns for another round of folklore frights. Here we come face to face with the boogeyman as he terrorizes a quaint village. After stopping off for a snack or two at the orphanage, the Boogeyman leads us to his lair in the forest, deeper into his darkly magical world.
The talent that we got to experience in the maze on opening night was on fire with energy. They were after us and we loved it. This is a fun, spooky walkthrough.
Widows – DO NOT MISS
Good lord. Old people and Spiders. What an odd combo, but it works. Here in Widows we visit a dilapidated old folk’s home only to discover that spiders have overrun the facility. What initially begins as creepy and crawly suddenly becomes downright ghastly with scenes of spiders bursting from bodies and crawling out of every orifice. Of course there is a reason why spiders have made a home here and we end up in an underground lair to make the discovery.
This one is just a high-energy, creepy crawly creation and it’s still as good as ever.
Chilling Chambers
When Chilling Chambers first landed on the scene for Knott’s Scary Farm’s 50th anniversary, it was a thrilling homage to the brilliant horrors of years past. Each subsequent year the maze has seemed to lose a little more magic. There’s no questioning the brilliant layout that seems to go on forever and the clever choice of highlights. But the novelty of seeing Club Chupacabra and The Doll Factory has faded. Do catch this one last time, but only because it is celebrating its final season.
Cinema Slasher – DO NOT MISS
Cinema Slasher still works. A 50th Anniversary addition, this spectacular walkthrough takes us into the scenes of a slasher movie franchise. We enter a sorority house under siege, a cursed campground, and a carnage-filled butchery all victim to The Slasher. Playing on 80’s slasher tropes we become the final girl in our very own movie. What’s more, they saw fit to give the fan favorite, Stabby, a special moment in the maze. A true classic that has withstood the test of time.
Room 13
Poor Room 13. A creation from the 50th Anniversary, this walkthrough has never seemed to catch its stride. We enter a speakeasy where all hell has broken loose over the consumption of a green liquor. As we wind our way through the connected hotel, we see that everyone who has enjoyed the Devil’s Elixir has succumbed to possession or insanity. What could possibly be the cause of it all?
Since this maze was first announced I was thrilled at the prospect of a 1920’s themed haunted maze and scare zone just outside. There is so much to work with. But everything from a lack of scares to crowd pulsing issues has marred this unique creation. Since we know it’s coming back next year, I suggest that they really consider addressing the crowd control and pinpoint what would make a hotel maze terrifying. It sure isn’t The Devil’s Elixir.
Origins: The Curse of Calico – DO NOT MISS
After 7 brilliant years, Origins: The Curse of Calico is taking its final bow. The maze tells the backstory of the famed icon of Scary Farm, The Green Witch. Known as Sarah Marshall, she is captured by the townsfolk and accused of witchcraft. Of course, a broken clock is right twice a day and in this case the town was right. But The Green Witch seizes control and curses the town.
What blew me away every year with this maze is the amount of walkthrough that they pack into this relatively small space. This is a long experience and one that simply doesn’t let up. Between the layout, the story, and the talent, this is a perfect maze. Catch it before it rides off into the sunset.
INKED! (new maze) – DO NOT MISS
Inked is the best maze at Knott’s Scary Farm and it may very well be the best maze at any haunt this year. There, I said it. Here we visit the animation studio of Mortimer Morbid only to discover that his rubber hose animation creations have murdered the animators. What’s more, we are pulled into the surreal world of cartoons that is rife with gags and punchlines ending in murder.
Killer cartoons are nothing new, but designer Daniel Miller here creates an enticing world of mischief. Sucked into the cartoon world via a swirling portal we visit a black and white graveyard, a neighborhood of houses with leering eyes, and a journey to hell and back. Miller’s keen sense of aesthetic keeps the illusion going from beginning to end. It’s part Roger Rabbit, Part Forbidden Zone, and a hint of Mr. Toad.
There are few mazes that at Knott’s or any theme park haunt that has impressed me like this. Inked! is one of those rare moments where concept, execution, and talent rise to the occasion for a jaw-dropping experience. Well done Mr. Miller.
Unearthed (new maze)
Unearthed takes the idea of an archeological dig gone bad and hopes to mine it for as much terror as possible. It is only mildly successful. This is a visually impressive maze to be sure, and one that has several enormous set pieces meant to evoke a sense of awe. But frankly, even with a simple premise, I had no clear understanding of what was happening and why.
Situated in the former space of the Grimoire maze, nestled in and around the Mystery Lodge show, we have Unearthed. Visitors stumble upon a confused and terrified archeologist at the beginning of the maze. The dig is not going well and it is clear that an evil force has been discovered. While the opening scene doesn’t exactly sell the idea we get it.
Further along we see that moribund creatures have attacked the scientists and are beginning their evil return to life. I didn’t hate Unearthed, I just didn’t love it. Performers, one and all in this maze gave it everything. Yet I left the dig site confused and hardly disturbed.
Knott’s Scary Farm maintains its place as a world class Halloween event. The mix of mazes is varied and the entertainment offerings are plenty. It’s just so good to be back in the fog.
Ticket Advice
If you are a local we highly suggest grabbing the Scary Farm Pass at $164 and just popping in when you can take your time and stroll through the fog. However, if you have one night to do it, make sure to just grab the ticket with Fright and Fast Lane starting at $139. Another tip: If you were dying to eat at the Pre-Scare Boofet but it’s sold out, another option is to check out the pre-scare dinner at the Knott’s Hotel. They often take walk-ins at $59 a person. Finally, if you are visiting from out of town, the Hotel Packages are an absolute steal.
