Last night, August 29, Knott’s Berry Farm held their annual Scary Farm announcement presentation. This year was unlike any other with some spectacular performances and some announcements that would bring chills to guests.
The Scary Farm Presentation
The night opened with a song and dance performance to Sweet Dreams. It was an amazing scene with great dancers, and a surprise reveals of the Scary Farm monsters. The monsters jumped from underneath a large sheet that hid their entrance. They leaped into the audience during the performance to stir up some scares.
The presentation carried on with Jeff Tucker coming on stage to introduce all that was coming to this year’s festivities. After a video showing behind the scenes of the event and thanking all the production crew who were in the audience, Tucker went right into a new maze for this year. Wax Works was announced as the first new maze for this year’s Scary Farm. More on that later. Right after a video of the behind the scenes of this new maze, another performance featuring vats and helpless victims took the stage. Each victim was put in the machinery and came out a new wax-like version of themselves teasing what was coming to the maze.
After the announcement of Wax Works was a plethora of announcements of what is coming back. All the scare zones from last year are coming back. Conjurers – a nightly magic show will return, as well as Awaken the Dead in Fiesta Village. Mazes coming back are Paranormal Inc., The Depths, Dark Ride, Dark Entities, Shadowlands, and Special Ops: Infected. It was also announced that Shadowlands and Special Ops will have their last run this year.
All the details on how to experience the night were given including how much tickets, passes, and Fright Lane will cost. In addition to all of these is Into the Fog, the returning art showcase that is in the Bizarre Bazaar. One of our own DAPs team, Annie, has artwork featured, and it is all worth looking at. It’s a wonderful way to see some of the history of Scary Farm, and even get a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home. Speaking of souvenirs, the two mazes that are departing will have special pins to purchase.
Next was a showcase of a new show from the Brian Henson company called Puppet Up! Uncensored. This stole the show as puppeteers came on stage to demonstrate their improvability. It was shown how the nightly shows will go where the audience will get to see the behind-the-scenes and final product.
Last, but not least, was the other new maze debuting this year. Origins – The Curse of Calico incorporates the famous Ghost Town into its maze. It was touted as being the first to have a scare zone, a show – The Hanging – and a maze all within the same mythology. We’ll get to the details in a bit, but the night ended with a performance of some characters we commonly see in Ghost Town Alive all explaining the witch, Sarah Marshall, who is guilty and to be hanged. She is revealed behind a projection, hovering in the air. It looked and sounded like the infamous witch that has haunted Scary Farm for a long time. It made me think the name Origins is really about the witch herself and how she’s been in Scary Farm all this time.
The Mazes
Of the returning mazes, there are some that will feature new effects. The Depths will have some added features to it from last year. Dark Entities was teased to have some added effects, but they did not want to give exactly what away. Dark Ride has the most new features coming in with a couple of new characters, and an “exit through the gift shop” ending.
Wax Works is the most cringeworthy maze this year. The premise is that a diabolical wax museum operator turns people into wax creations. Guests must escape before they become part of it. In the video that discussed the making of, it was said that this will have one of the largest facades ever created for the Scary Farm, with some projection effects.
Origins will feature a color palette that sets it apart from the rest of the town. Residents of Calico will inhabit the maze in ghoulish ways. The witch has cast a curse on the town before she is hanged, and it brings out the inner monsters of the citizens. It will feature the Green Witch and will reveal the beginnings of both her and the fog that rolls through the town.
What to Expect
Scary Farm is going to be big this year with the two amazing new mazes and returns of fan favorites. Having Shadowlands and Special Ops leaving after this run means this is the time to experience some great mazes. And it’s something to not just do once, but come back with the Scary Farm pass. Of course, there is the great Fright Lane pass that allows easy access to the mazes. This is a year not to be missed! For more information, the press release is down below.
Buena Park, Calif. (August 2019) – New nightmares and original thrills emerge as Knott’s Scary Farm returns for its 47th frightful year with a completely transformed park that brings terrifying nightmares to life at Southern California’s largest immersive Halloween experience. There’s nowhere to hide as every inch of the park is eerily transformed with an abundance of blood-curdling beasts, spine-chilling scares, and unearthly surprises waiting around every corner. This year, guests will face their deepest fears with the park’s 14 haunted attractions, including 4 spine-tingling scare zones, 9 menacing mazes and a seasonal overlay to the Timber Mountain Log Ride. Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 26 frightful nights fromSeptember19 – November 2.
Innovative and immersive scares await guests around every corner with the debut of two new terror-filled mazes. These new attractions will bring the mind’s most twisted delusions to life as guests are forced to confront frightening new life-like nightmares designed by Knott’s Scary Farm’s evil masterminds.
Wax Works (New for 2019) – Mysterious lights and strange noises have begun to emanate from the eerie abandoned wax museum. The once prominent plastic surgeon, Dr. Augustus Scratch, has been seen tinkering at night and is now ready to show off his beautiful yet terrifying life-like masterpieces of hot molten wax and bloody flesh. It’s rumored that blood-curdling screams can be heard echoing through the halls of Wax Works as victims are horrifyingly submerged into a scorching hot cauldron of bubbling wax. Take a closer look at his gruesome works of art and try to escape his deadly grip or become the newest masterpiece in his collection.
Origins: The Curse of Calico (New for 2019) – Pierce the veil of time to discover the secret of the evil fog that hangs over Knott’s Scary Farm’s Ghost Town streets in the new maze Origins: The Curse of Calico. Unearth the sinister paranormal activity that plagues the town as Sarah Marshall is put on trial for her suspected crimes of witchcraft. All will be unveiled when the Green Witch rises up and curses the townsfolk, transforming all who have accused her into a wicked horde of malicious creatures with an eternal quench for the living.
New Show for 2019
Exclusively performing nightly at Knott’s Scary Farm for the 2019 season, Puppet Up! Uncensored is an outrageous, off –the-cuff live show featuring a combination of improvisational comedy and the magic of puppetry performed by a cast of world-class comedian puppeteers from The Jim Henson Company. Created by legendary puppeteer and award-winning director Brian Henson and directed by Patrick Bristow (Ellen, Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Puppet Up! – Uncensored is no ordinary puppet show. In true uncensored form, the content is driven by audience suggestions and participation, topped with the zany antics and bawdy shenanigans of the colorful and brazen puppet cast. Puppet Up! – Uncensored will be performed three times each night at Knott’s Scary Farm and is intended for mature audiences.
Returning Favorites
Special Ops: Infected – Enlist to fight the zombie apocalypse in an all-out war against the undead in the interactive experience, Special Ops: Infected. Armed with specially designed laser guns, brave groups of guests embark on a mission of navigating through the city in a quest to find the infection cure. Take your last shot at saving mankind as this heart-stopping attraction is going out with a bang of new surprises, including two brand-new show scenes and characters for its final year at Knott’s Scary Farm.
Shadow Lands – A fulfilling life ensures a souls safe passage into eternity but what happens to the souls of soldiers slain in battle? Enter the hair-raising Shadow Lands maze for its final year at Knott’s Scary Farm and fight off demon samurais whose souls are cursed to rot within the depths of purgatory. Guests will embark on a quest through a sacred shrine, an ancient Japanese temple and into the midst of the shadow lands.
PARANORMAL, INC. – The Haunting of Hayden Hill: Paranormal Inc. maze once again reopens its doors to those brave enough to uncover an eerie and supernatural adventure. Guests investigate a haunted hospital where the patients were tortured for decades by deranged doctors and nurses. Demonic spirits of the murdered victims have been detected throughout the mysterious halls, while evil medical staff prowl for new patients to torture.
Pumpkin Eater – Survive the wrath of the murderous 7-foot tall creature that haunts the old woods surrounding The Hollow in the Pumpkin Eater maze. The notorious creature is on the prowl hidden within the dark confines of the haunted town he once terrorized. To escape the sinister Pumpkin Eater’s wrath, all who enter must go on a quest through the silent town of victims, face a cave of crawling insects and solve the labyrinth of thorns that blocks the way out.
Dark Ride – Journey through an abandoned carnival ride where cruel carnie folk still linger in the shadows in Dark Ride: Castle of Chaos. The carnival has become a refuge for freaks and carnies. Now those shunned performers have created a dark world of terror which they plan to unleash on those who enter. Dark Ride will lead brave visitors through a treacherous path and into the bowels of a long-neglected attraction, as sinister shadows and horrifying scenes cast the gloom over the once pleasant ride. It’s everyone’s worst nightmare, being helplessly trapped inside an abandoned carnival ride without a way out. New for 2019, Dark Ride will be debuting a brand-new ending show scene where guests can walk through the rides attached Gift Shop and come face to face with Smiley Sam and Baby Fool.
The Depths – A heavy fog drapes over an abandoned port village where ancient creatures lurk inside the pitch-black underground caves hidden below the seaside shores. The Nightwatch Mining Crew has mysteriously disappeared and village rumors point to the eerie tunnels the town sits upon. Myths of the terrifying horrors that lurk within the cave have often been whispered but never confirmed. Did the crew meet their demise at the hand of vicious creatures that live within the cave? Journey into the ominous caverns to discover if the superstitions revolving around the cave is true or not. But be warned all who have entered have never resurfaced.
Dark Entities – Teleport beyond earth into a realm where the darkness is absolute. In the depths of space, a lone station faces terror beyond all imagination. An extraterrestrial mutation has invaded the station, and it’s on the prowl for new hosts. The unearthly inhabitants’ force increases as it feeds on its unwilling victims. Escape the dark entities before its deathly force eliminates all living form aboard the station. There’s nowhere to escape when time is running out!
Halloween Hootenanny – The residents of the Timber Mountain Log Ride celebrate the Halloween Hootenanny which adds a seasonal twist to a park favorite. Mysterious creatures of Timber Mountain that live out in the woods and caverns join the citizens as they honor the season at the Halloween Hootenanny. The ride’s interior features unexpected surprises as guests venture past the Calico Coffin Creeper band, the town’s green witch and splash down Skull Mountain through a labyrinth of jack-o-lanterns.
The Hanging – It’s Knott’s Scary Farm’s annual live stage show that looks back at the year’s pop culture with some killer comedy. Notorious for its special effects and high-flying stunts, The Hanging is a no holds barred assault on pop culture’s most infamous moments of the past year. A must see parody!
CONJURERS– Magic and Mirth in the Birdcage Theatre – The Bird Cage Theatre will once again become the home of comedy and magic. Join award-winning magicians and CW’s Masters of Illusion regulars as they take the stage to amaze and amuse. Witness magician Chipper Lowell and Dana Daniels front and center as they perform on select nights.
AWAKEN THE DEAD – A non-stop DJ dance party has taken over Fiesta Village, where guests can jam with candy skull go-go dancers and dance to music so popular it’s sure to Awaken the Dead.
Scare Zones
Knott’s Scary Farm is far more than a collection of haunted attractions. Every night monsters spill out onto the streets and turn theme park midways into murderous scare zones. From the world famous Ghost Town Streets to the Boardwalk area filled with evil clowns, there’s nowhere to hide in Knott’s Scary Farm. Ghost Town Streets is the original and largest, most terrifying scare zone that started it all. Bands of half-human, half-animal monsters prowl the streets and inhabit the fog, and beware the notoriously startling sliders, who lunge from fog-filled corners of the land. On the Boardwalk, deviant clowns crave your undying attention in the CARNEVIL scare zone. The Hollow scare zone will terrorize guests as the Witches of the Hollow along with their armies of creatures have risen once again to battle with the Witch Hunter. The Lake underneath Silver Bullet recedes to reveal the Forsaken Lake scare zone, where gothic creatures ravaged by the dark and murky waters wander from their crypts preying on unsuspecting visitors, looking for victims to drag back to their watery graves.
Knott’s Scary Farm Pass & Admission
– The Knott’s Scary Farm Pass returns for the 2019 season and offers unlimited visits to all 26 event nights. Current 2019 Knott’s Berry Farm Season Passholders can purchase the pass at the limited time price of $90 and non-passholders can purchase the Scary Farm Pass for just $100. Prices are valid through Sept. 15 or while supplies last. Plus applicable taxes and fees.
– Single night tickets – Buy tickets at KnottsScaryFarm.com and save up to $41 off the regular main gate price of $84. Knott’s Season Passholders receive a discount on single night tickets. Applicable taxes and fees apply to online orders.
– Fright & Fast Lane – Ride and scream all night long with unlimited priority access to all mazes plus priority boarding on all Fast Lane rides. Fright & Fast Lane starts at $90 and varies by night. Separate Scary Farm park admission required, and not included.
– Combo Tickets offering admission plus Fright & Fast Lane are an especially great value starting as low as $125 plus applicable taxes and fees. This combo is only available online. Save up to $49 with this admission plus Fright & Fast Lane Combo and Knott’s Season Passholders save up to an additional $5.
– Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-Fet – Offered at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Spurs Chophouse, munch with monsters before Knott’s Scary Farm opens each night. Meals include a 2019 souvenir bottle, which gives unlimited complimentary refills on the event night and $1.00 refills for the rest of the 2019 season. After dinner, enjoy early entry into select areas of Knott’s Scary Farm a few minutes before it opens to other mortals. Boo-fet early entry will be to Paranormal Inc., Dark Entities, The Depths and the brand-new maze Wax Works as well as allow for exclusive photo opportunities with the monsters. The Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-fet dinner is $34.99 + applicable taxes and fees when purchased online. Separate theme park admission required, and not included.
– Knott’s Scary Farm general parking is $22 per vehicle and can be purchased online or at the parking booth upon arrival. Applicable taxes and fees apply to online orders. All Season Long Parking is valid for Knott’s Scary Farm nights.
Knott’s Scary Farm has welcomed millions of visitors over the past 46 years and has become an institution in the Southern California theme park landscape. This year, the event returns September 19, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, October 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, November 1, and 2. Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00pm – 1:00am on select Thursdays and Sundays, and 7:00pm – 2:00am Fridays and Saturdays. Due to the explicit and frightening nature of the event, it is not recommended for children under 13. This year’s Knott’s Scary Farm experience is Where Nightmares Never End!
For more information on Knott’s Scary Farm, including admission, park hours and events, visit knottsscaryfarm.com or download the Knott’s Berry Farm app for your smart phone. Join the scary conversation by using #ScaryFarm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.
