Guests are in for a double dose of Knott’s hospitality with the return of the highly-anticipated Knott’s Boysenberry Festival and the grand unveiling of the new Knott’s Hotel. The annual festival inspired by the little berry that started it all opens March 8, and just steps away, the Knott’s Hotel debuts its multimillion-dollar transformation, a new distinctive farmhouse-style overnight experience inspired by park founders Walter and Cordelia Knott. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in more than 75 recipes at this year’s festival, ranging from savory to sweet; each food and drink item has a unique boysenberry twist that can only be found during this season. The Boysenberry on top includes a full lineup of shows, live music, and a wide selection of local crafters and artisans for guests of all ages to enjoy. Knott’s Boysenberry Festival operates daily through April 7 and Friday through Sunday, April 12 – 28.
Boy-OH Boysenberry
This year’s event will feature a blend of entirely new menu offerings and the return of fan favorites. Discover some truly inventive and original savory creations, including this year’s chicken tikka marsala with boysenberry curry sauce and pork loin slices over mashed potatoes with a creamy boysenberry mustard sauce. Indulge your sweet tooth cravings with berry-infused dessert items throughout the festival, including the new boysenberry and chocolate stuffed cookie, a lemon bar with a boysenberry compote, and a boysenberry brownie parfait. A great way to enjoy it all is by purchasing a tasting card priced at $55. The tasting card offers six tastings from a number of boysenberry-inspired dishes and drinks. A variety of signature boysenberry items will also be available for purchase a la carte. Tasting cards are available at Knotts.com or the theme park.
Boundless Boysenberry Entertainment
Knott’s Boysenberry Festival also comes with endless entertainment throughout the park. From musical performances to fun interactive games, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Guests are invited to celebrate the heritage of California’s original theme park with the show Knott’s Preserved. Through song, dance, and storytelling, the audience takes a musical journey from the little ghost town of Calico to the Seaside Boardwalk of the Roaring ’20s to commemorate the heritage of the park. All aboard for a boysenberry bon voyage at the legendary Bird Cage Theatre with a special presentation of the comedy melodrama Riverboat Revenge. Guests are challenged to try their berry best in Boysenberry Fun and Games in Calico Park or head over to Calico Mine Stage for the wildly entertaining Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest. Young ones and the young at heart are invited to cozy up to the cutest critters on the farm, including horses, goats, and other furry friends at Old MacDonald’s Barn, a tribute to one of the farm’s original attractions. Those unfamiliar with the berry that started it all are encouraged to grab a slice of history in the History of the Boysenberry Museum in Town Hall. Stroll through the streets of Calico and browse through all the unique boysenberry-inspired artisan products available at the Boysenberry Festival Craft Fair, with over two dozen local craft vendors.
Knott’s Hospitality Reimagined
Knott’s Berry Farm proudly unveils the completion of its multimillion-dollar hotel transformation, introducing a new name and overnight experience that honors founders Walter and Cordelia Knott. The Knott’s Hotel celebrates its legacy by blending invention, tradition, and imaginative style into a captivating 322-room guest haven for park and business guests alike.
This metamorphosis includes a redesigned guest registration that opens to the lobby great room, a charming new outdoor courtyard, an expanded gift shop, and a new coffee bar, The Pantry, featuring freshly brewed Starbucks coffee and grab-n-go items. Every guestroom and suite has been renovated, boasting hand-crafted accents that exude upscale farmhouse chic.
Thirty Acres Kitchen, the new full-service hotel restaurant, offers farm-inspired delights and classic American cuisine. Paying homage to the original 30 acres of the Knott’s farm and Cordelia Knott’s culinary finesse, the restaurant promises seasonal menu items to complement the park’s themed areas, festivals, and events as well as an expanded outdoor dining veranda. A spacious double-sided wrap-around bar seamlessly extends the down-home charm into the lobby. Here, guests can enjoy locally inspired craft cocktails and small plates, surrounded by the cozy and eclectic ambiance that defines the Knott’s Hotel experience.
Among the renovation highlights is the comprehensive redesign of all 20,000 square feet of meeting space, complete with updated cutting-edge technology, positioning Knott’s Hotel as Orange County’s premier destination for corporate meetings, weddings, special events, and seated dinners for over 300 guests.
For an enhanced Knott’s Berry Farm experience, the Knott’s Hotel offers an exclusive Boysenberry Package that includes park admission, a tasting card, parking, and overnight accommodation—providing the perfect blend of convenience and indulgence. For reservations, visit knottshotel.com.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter @iamcg83