What You Need To Know About Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

Share!

Knott’s Berry Farm is already a fantastic theme park. Throw in a month-long food festival that features over 75 one-of-a-kind boysenberry-inspired dishes and now you have an AMAZING theme park! But it’s not all about the food, as there is also special entertainment, springtime decorations and historical influence. Find out more about the must-do events during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival.

My family and I were hosted as a guest at the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival. We received complimentary park admission and tasting cards. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Mom Rewritten uses affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through the links in these posts. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see the Privacy Policy and Disclosures tab.

This article is based on previous experience with the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival and some aspects may have changed for 2022.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival – A History

Knott’s Berry Farm isn’t just a name, there is a history behind this unique theme park. It’s located on the spot where the Knott family farm used to stand. The boysenberry is a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry. It was named after its originator Rudolf Boysen, then successfully harvested and sold by the Knott family.

While my family and I have been going to Knott’s Berry Farm for many years, this was our first time visiting during the popular Boysenberry Festival. Fortunately for us, boysenberries are a favorite fruit and we were so excited to try all the delicious foods during this special event!

In 2022, this celebration of all things boysenberry is taking place at Knott’s, starting March 18th and running through April 24th, 2022.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival 2022

During the theme park closures, Knott’s was flexible and popularly introduced a variety of food festivals that welcomed guests back into the park. The Knott’s Taste of Boysenberry Festival in 2021 included boysenberry-infused food and drink offerings, shopping and handmade gifts, even while the amusement park rides remained shuttered.

With the traditional Knott’s Boysenberry Festival returning the park in 2022, expect to find all the berry-good fun from years’ past! Here’s what you need to know about attending this popular spring time event in Buena Park.

Discount Tickets for Knott’s Berry Farm

Tickets can be purchased ahead at a savings off the gate price. Buy Knott’s Berry Farm tickets and the fun of the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is included in admission. Additional charge to enjoy drink and food tastings.

How to Balance Rides and Food at Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

It’s very easy to overdo it on the dining during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival – everything is sooo good! But a good balance of treats and rides is your best option for visiting Knott’s Berry Farm in one day. Here’s how to maximize your time!

• Arrive at opening to the theme park and take advantage of lower crowds before it gets “jam-packed”. Visit Camp Snoopy and hit a few top roller coasters.
• Take note of when Knott’s Boysenberry Festival marketplace kiosks open for dining. The later you arrive in the afternoon, the longer the lines to get food.
• Purchase Fast Lane, Knott’s Berry Farm’s paid line skipping service. The added cost is worth it when the park is busy, especially on weekends.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card

There are many unique boysenberry foods available during the festival. This includes savory foods, sweets, drinks, alcoholic beverages and more, all with a boysenberry twist. These foods are sold at various locations through the park, with popular options available with the tasting card.

There will be 25 available choices on the Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card for 2022. Purchase for $50 and then choose 6 items from the 25 items offered during the festival. Guests may mix and match between the six options (meaning you can get six different things or all six of the same if you wish). There’s also the ability to purchase items à la carte but you’ll for sure get a better value with the card.

These are the foods that were available on the tasting card in 2018. Some of the dishes available in 2022 are the same. Flip the tasting card over to see a numbered map that shows where each stand is located. Most are in the same area. Simply snap off one tab then present it when ordering at each stand.

Some of the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Foods in 2018

Boysenberry Cheese Quesadilla – A boysenberry flour tortilla is filled with cotija and mozzarella cheese. It comes with sides of boysenberry salsa and sour cream. The salsa has a little kick (not joking, we licked it clean, it was delicious!) I give this a Knott’s Blue Ribbon as my favorite dish!

Boysenberry Sausage on a Bun – A savory sausage in a freshly baked bun. Add your own toppings (boysenberry ketchup, mustard and relish). Unfortunately they had run out of the boysenberry ketchup but it was still very tasty with the mustard! This is a great value, it’s quite filling. This was my eldest son’s favorite item.

AVAILABLE FOR 2022 – Boysenberry Elote –  This popular Mexican street corn is grilled, then rubbed with a coating of boysenberry butter and boysenberry mayonnaise. It’s then rolled in Parmesan cheese, wow! You can sprinkle on your own lemon pepper or cayenne. The boysenberry flavor is pretty light. This one gets a little sloppy!

More Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Foods

Boysenberry Pierogies –  Dough is stuffed with a blend of Canadian cheddar cheese and Yukon potatoes. A generous helping of applewood bacon, sauteed onions, sauteed boysenberries and sour cream makes this another large dish that’s a great value.

Slow Cooked Boysenberry Short Rib – Ribs are marinated overnight and braised slowly. Served on a generous amount of rice and topped with boysenberry hoisin sauce and green onions. A fantastic value and a wonderful dish! This was my husband’s favorite (he ate two!)

Boysenberry Coconut Macaroon –  This rich dessert is deliciously sweet. The coconut cookie is dipped in purple chocolate ganache and was the top voted dish of my six-year old. You’ll receive one cookie and they will box them for you to-go if you wish.

Boysenberry Chicken Wings – Slathered in boysenberry Buffalo sauce, these sticky wings were my eldest daughter’s fav.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Tip: Stands were much busier mid-afternoon. Get there early to avoid the crowds!

READ MORE: Great Things to Do In Southern California

---

Snoopy the Easter Beagle & Boysenberry Decor

There are so many pretty places at Knott’s Berry Farm to take photos. There are spring flowers everywhere, including right at the front entrance. In the morning Snoopy is dressed as the “Easter Beagle” and he greets guests for photos.

Drinks at Knott’s Boysenberry Festival

Getting thirsty after all that rich food? You can grab non-alcoholic beverage drinks including classic boysenberry punch, Calico Soda, Boysenberry Soda, Cream Soda, Mint Soda and Ginger Ale. Step inside the Calico Saloon for boysenberry beer, boysenberry cider, and boysenberry wine.

Knott’s Craft Beer Tasting Garden

If you want a more choices, check out the Craft Beer Tasting Garden inside the Wilderness Lodge and patio area. Purchase a 5 drink wine and craft brew tasting card inside the Wilderness Lodge. You’ll be able to choose from a variety of craft brews including some drinks with a boysenberry twist (naturally!) With your drink, you’ll also receive a commemorative cup. You can bring the kids inside too.

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Tip: Check out the art show inside Wilderness Lodge. “Tied Up in Knott’s!” celebrates the history through original art work.

READ MORE: SoCal Guide: Knott’s Berry Farm with Kids

Boot Stompin’ Entertainment

There’s special entertainment taking place during the Boysenberry Festival including fan favorites, Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies on the Wagon Camp stage. Inside the legendary Bird Cage Theater, Riverboat Revenge is the newest comedy melodrama. Listen to the Boysenberry Blues at the Boardwalk BBQ. Mariachi Angelitas offers up live music on the Fiesta Plaza stage.

In addition, check out these kid-friendly shows and attractions. On the Calico Mine Stage, the entire Peanuts gang presents an audience-interactive musical revue called Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree. Kids can get up close to horses, sheep, goats and other animals at the Old MacDonald Petting Zoo.

Join the party at the Totally Tubular ’80s Dance Party in the Boardwall Ballroom. At the Camp Snoopy Theatre, Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang sing, dance, and celebrate.

Additional Boysenberry Delights

Didn’t get enough boysenberry with your tasting card? There are so many MORE treats to try!

• Boysenberry Boba Tea – This light and refreshing tea has boysenberry flavor with lots of boysenberry tapioca beads.
• Boysenberry Pie Milkshake – Literally a slice of boysenberry pie blended with vanilla ice cream, wow!!
• The Fun Stick – Deep-fried cheesecake on-a-stick drizzled with boysenberry icing.
• Boysenberry Fun Bun – This is a must-do! A cinnamon roll slathered with boysenberry frosting…hello!

• Mrs. Knott’s Cookie Decorating– Cordelia Knott’s kitchen helped make Knott’s Berry Farm what it is today. Guests can step inside a replica of Cordelia Knott’s first kitchen and decorate their own treats.
• Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant – Highly recommended to schedule reservations ahead of time on the website for this popular restaurant.
• Country Festival Fun in the center of Ghost Town – Games and fun every hour, where guests can compete in a Pie Eating Contest or participate in a Pie Walk (the prize is a whole Knott’s Boysenberry Pie!)

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Tip: There are 75+ boysenberry foods. Be sure to look at the guide map to the Boysenberry Festival so you can track down your favorites.

Crafts Fair & Boysenberry Festival Merchandise

Local artisans are offer unique products at the Crafts Fair during Knott’s Boysenberry Festival. These handmade items including bath products, crafts, candles and candy. Some shops will have demonstrations like live glass blowing and chainsaw wood art carving.

My daughter fell in love with the handmade boysenberry pie hat and just had to have it! Can’t make it to the Boysenberry Festival? MissDooLittles makes the boysenberry pie hats to sell at Knott’s and has them in her Etsy shop as well.

A limited supply of boysenberry plants will be offered at the Festival and it’s recommended to purchase early. The official Boysenberry Festival T-Shirt comes with a limited edition festival pin. Purchase festival shirts at the merchandise booth across from the GhostRider entrance.

All of the entertainment for the Boysenberry Festival is included in your Knott’s Berry Farm admission ticket. Food and tastings are additional.

Where to Stay near Knott’s Berry Farm

There are several hotels in the Buena Park area in which to stay overnight. For additional accommodations, including 4-star hotels, consider the surrounding area. Anaheim hotels are only about 15 minutes driving distance and near Disneyland, if you’re visiting both theme parks on the same trip.

Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel – location can’t be beat, within walking distance of the front gates.

Holiday Inn Buena Park – great budget-friendly choice, with a pool, shuttle service and a kids-eat-free promotion.

Buena Park Grand Hotel and Suites – larger rooms are ideal for big families. Hotel is within walking distance to other area attractions including the Medieval Times and Pirates Adventure Dinner Theater.

Save Money on Your Knott’s Berry Farm Vacation!

Buy Knott’s Berry Farm tickets at a discount ahead of your trip. The Holiday Inn Buena Park is within walking distance of the front gates. Kids eat free with a paying adult at the in-house restaurant when booked through the link.

Purchase discounted tickets and vacation packages from my affiliate Get Away Today. Use the Promo Code REWRITTEN and receive an extra $10 off any 2-night or longer Southern California package. (Hotel and 2 ticket minimum purchase to qualify for the discount).

---

Read more about Knott’s Berry Farm, including the rest of the theme park and rides on my TravelingMom post.