I was born and raised in Orange County. That means that we were only a stone’s throw away from some of the best theme parks in the country. We spent a lot of time walking across every inch of theme parks all year long. However, my favorite time to visit always was, and continues to be, during the holidays. Today I wanted to share about our family’s recent trip to Knott’s Merry Farm, happening now through early January. These Knott’s Merry Farm tips will make your visit even better!

Knott’s Berry Farm

Although everyone always gives a lot of love to the Happiest Place on Earth, California’s First Theme Park holds a special place in my heart. It makes for a great park experience for all ages and the perfect family destination! It’s been the host of Knott’s Merry Farm since 1985 and just gets better with each year.

| California Theme Park Bucket List |

Knott’s Merry Farm tips

Festive Decorations

My favorite part of any theme park during the holidays are the decorations and Knott’s Berry Farm is no different. Every section of the park has unique holiday décor but my favorite areas are Ghost Town and Camp Snoopy. Ghost Town features simple and rustic Christmas decorations and greenery. Camp Snoopy comes alive at nighttime with a plethora of colored lights.

Insider tip: Catch the Christmas tree lighting at 5:15 nightly, then head over to the streets of Ghost Town for their ‘Snow and Glow’ experience!

Food Options

There are so many yummy seasonal food options during Knott’s Merry Farm and we wish we could have tried more! Many of the seasonal dining options are available as part of your seasonal dining plan too, like the Santa’s Pulled Pork and Onion Pizza at Prop Shop Pizzeria. Of course there’s also lots of adorable cookies, cupcakes, and other sweet treats scattered at vendors throughout the park and even outside at the bakery. One really reasonably priced treat that we loved was the Jingle Bell Cake Ball.

| Read: 5 Locations to Spend the Holidays |

Christmas Craft Village

I remember going to Knott’s Christmas Craft Village as a kid and it was still just as special as it was then. During Knott’s Merry Farm the streets of Ghost Town are lined with booths selling everything from beeswax to bath bombs to beanies. My kids loved walking around the beautifully decorated streets and seeing what all the vendors were selling. Don’t forget to stop and watch the glass blower and chainsaw woodcarvers during your visit also!

Nightly Snowfall

We were able to catch the snowfall twice and my kids were thrilled with the soapy snow. It truly did look so magical as it was falling on the wooden structures of Ghost Town. Luckily, the snowfall happens hourly every evening starting at 5:30 pm. Be sure to check your Knott’s Berry Farm app for updates and changes for all events and showtimes!

| Read: Simple Christmas Traditions to Start |

Seasonal Shows

There were so many fun shows during Knott’s Merry Farm that we couldn’t even come close to seeing them all! We did happen to catch a few while we were there. Our family favorite was the Snoopy’s Night Before Christmas ice show that happens in the Walter Knott Theater. We loved the skating, the aerial tricks, and all the impressive surprises during the show. There’s also two different shows in the Birdcage Theatre, and a fun Home for the Holidays show at the Calico Mine Stage.

Insider Tip: You must line up for the show at least 30 minutes early and your whole party must be together. Try to sit in the middle of the lower section for a snowy surprise during the show!

Have you ever been to Knott’s Merry Farm before?