Knott’s Scary Farm—the Halloween event that begins after the sun goes down over Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Vista–is not a theme park event to take a young child to, trust me. The special program runs from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. through Nov. 1, and more than just the lights are dimmed at the theme park, which toes the tenuous line between horror-movie style fiction and reality.
After making it into the park among the large crowd of eager attendees, it becomes apparent that something is different about Knott’s Berry Farm and its staff. Guests visiting Knott’s Scary Farm are advised to leave their costumes at home, so as not to be confused with any of the grotesque, roaming creatures and villains found there. These talented professionals have a host of tricks up their sleeves, with none as potent as a simple lunge and grunt, which sends a steady stream of screams into the night air throughout the evening.
Knott’s Berry Farm wins me over as a theme park for a few reasons. First of all, it’s not built on a mountain, so the amount of uphill climbing is kept to a minimum. The park is smaller than Disneyland and Magic Mountain, but makes up for it with a wide variety of rides, attractions, and themed sections of the park. The different sections allow for several classes of monsters, from the haggard and horrific characters in the Old West area to the evil clowns cavorting through the carnival rides.
The rides, as always, are lots of fun, but Knott’s Scary Farm has more to add to the park’s usual lineup. The haunted maze attractions easily had the longest lines, but they are lines that move quickly. The Gunslinger’s Grave, for instance, was a heart-stopping stomp through spooky mine shafts and a murderous saloon scene. All the while, grizzled-faced gunslingers were lying in wait, ready to pop out of any corner. The many dummies strewn about the maze attractions were powerful misdirects, successful in calling your attention away from a looming costumed actor ready to pounce.
Nobody enjoys standing in line for a ride, but thankfully, Knott’s Scary Farm offers several large screens that broadcast a variety of spooky movie trivia, park information, and music videos. What would otherwise be a boring wait becomes absolutely worth it if Michael Jackson’s Thriller is playing, not to mention the mood it contributes to the overall experience.
Rides, mazes, fright zones, and other interactive experiences are designed to get the adrenaline pumping, but not everything is geared toward fright alone. Elvira’s Big Top is a live performance with none other than the Mistress of the Dark herself acting as ringleader to a series of freaks, from sword swallowers to contortionists in the Charles M. Schulz theater. An open-air performance that is a favorite is The Hanging, which lampoons this year’s pop culture icons by hanging them. The macabre and dark humor found in these shows rounds out Knott’s Scary Farm’s frights with laughs, making it a worthwile experience for even the most jumpy of us.
Arts Editor Joe Payne was most afraid of the clowns. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.