There are a lot of people who simply don’t want to accept that Christmas is over. For some diehards, December 25 may have passed, but they continue to celebrate at Knott’s Berry Farm where there are live holiday-themed shows, strolling carolers spreading good cheer, favorite foods of the season, a Christmas crafts fair and festive Yuletide decorations throughout the park.
One of the shows, “Merry Christmas, Snoopy!” is an ice show extraordinaire. Presented in the 2,100-seat Charles M. Schulz Theatre, to the sound of Christmas carol favorites, this full-scale production has professional skaters executing some of the most spectacular and challenging figure skating moves.
Veteran skaters Bob Moskalyk and Delene Mackenzie never fail to wow the crowd with their electrifying bounce spin. Snoopy himself garners applause and cheers, with just about every move he makes.
What’s ahead in 2017
Rides abound at Knott’s, whether it’s in a log, train, stagecoach, car, or raft. With the theme park’s ten roller coasters, thrills are plentiful, too. This spring, Sol Spin will be the newest ride added to the list of adventures. With six spinning arms that rotate in all directions, excitement awaits six stories above the ground, although it still will not be quite as high as Supreme Scream, which transports riders 252 feet up into the air only to drop them back down again.
This past summer, Knott’s introduced Ghost Town Alive!
, an interactive attraction that allows guests to experience some old west fun. Filled with bandits and cowboys who don’t hesitate to battle it out, the show returns this year with new characters, storylines and some surprising plot twists.
As well, throughout the year, there are special seasonal events coordinated with specific Holidays, including Spring Break, the Fourth of July and Knott’s Scary Farm.
In honor of those folks who are dedicated to serving the public, Knott’s continues to sponsor its Fire and Law Tribute Days. This year, from January 9 – January 31, all active, full-time fire and law enforcement personnel may receive free admission for themselves and 1 guest (additional admission tickets are available at a discounted rate).
A little about Knott’s Berry Farm
What started out in 1920, as an actual farm owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Walter and Cordelia Knott, today, Knott’s Berry Farm is a 160-acre theme park that is visited by more than 3.6 million people each year. It was Cordelia’s chicken dinners and Walter’s boysenberries that put the couple’s farm on the map. By 1940, with hungry patrons customarily lining up at the Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, Walter had a brainstorm to entertain folks while they waited. Thus was born “The Covered Wagon Show,” the farm’s first attraction and the basis for Knott’s Berry Farm’s Ghost Town.
Today, Ghost Town remains an intrinsic part of the amusement park, serving to keep history alive.
There’s a one-room schoolhouse there that teaches visitors what school used to be like, while the Western Trails Museum has a sizeable collection of historical memorabilia, including Civil War revolvers, mining dinner gongs, prospectors’ scales, ox and mule shoes, branding irons and a variety of other obsolete items.
The park’s annual Boysenberry Festival is proof-perfect that Walter was on to something. With its boysenberry-inspired dishes, drinks, merchandise and more, the Knott’s legacy lives on.
What the patrons say
Knott’s offers a full-fledged New Year’s Eve celebration as part of the holiday season, which attracts patrons both young and old. Among those ready to welcome 2017 was high school student Sam Cabunag of Orange County, along with five of her friends.
As they danced to the swinging sound of The Jumpin’ Joz Band in the Boardwalk Ballroom, Cabunag was overjoyed.
“This is wonderful,” she said. “It really is…it’s wonderful.”
Knott’s Berry Farm is located at 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, CA 90620. Dates and times of live performances vary.