Knott’s Berry Farm Fun grown local at California’s original theme park.

By Gretchen Pahia

Photos courtesy of Knott’s

Berry Farm

Summer vacation is just around the corner. It’s a great reason to get out of town for some quality family time.

A fun spot that is just a quick flight or drive away is Southern California’s Knott’s Berry Farm. Over the next few months, there will be several events taking place at the park for people of all ages to enjoy.

Starting this month, the annual Boysenberry Festival will be held until April 16. The event is an annual food and wine festival that celebrates the park’s historic roots by highlighting the boysenberry – the fruit that basically started it all. There will be several one-of-a-kind specialty dishes, desserts, and drinks. A variety of local crafters, live music, musical stage shows, and fun activities will be going on too!

The summertime activities at Knott’s kick off in May and end in early September. Not only will Knott’s Soak City Waterpark be open, there’s also fun to be had at the regular theme park.

During daytime hours, guests can take part in the immersive adventures of “Ghost Town Alive,” which gives visitors a chance to live in the western days through character interaction and storytelling. The great part is that each day a different story unfolds throughout Ghost Town, and you can visit multiple times and have different experiences.

This summer, the park is also unveiling an updated version of their roller coaster, Montezooma’s Revenge. This flywheel- launched shuttle coaster was the first of its kind and will be upgraded with exciting changes, while keeping the ride’s unique charm that guests have loved for generations. MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress coaster is in the newly designed Fiesta Village area, which offers new décor and food locations.

Once the sun sets, the park kicks off Knott’s Summer Nights with fresh live music shows, food, games, and other festivities. Photo opportunities, interactive experiences, and a family-friendly boardwalk with midway games abound. Knott’s Berry Farm also just renovated their on-property hotel, reimaging rooms and transforming the hotel. There are more than 300 guest rooms, an inviting lobby, onsite dining, and more. The hotel is currently taking reservations – rates and availability will vary depending on your stay dates.

For more information on the hotel, visit knotts.com/knotts-berry-farm-hotel. For information on park tickets, upcoming dates, and special events, check out the park website at knotts.com.