Enjoying a Taste of Knott’s Berry Farm
Disneyland may be SoCal’s best known theme park but Knott’s Berry Farm holds just as much importance to me. Growing up in Orange County I visited each equally and looked forward to riding Kingdom of the Dinosaurs and Bigfoot Rapids just as much as Pirates of the Caribbean and Big Thunder Mountain. Since the beginning of the pandemic amusement parks have been decidedly off limits and I miss them much more than I thought I would. I suppose it’s only natural that when the world turns upside down we start to long for those things that made us truly happy. Luckily, Knott’s Berry Farm has allowed me to get a bit of that joy back by opening part of the park for the Taste of Knott’s.
It’s understandable that amusement parks have been closed through all of this but they are home to lots of open space that does allow for social distancing. But how to make it work? Well, Knott’s came up with the perfect solution. Open up a limited area of the park for al fresco dining, add some entertainment and souvenirs and allow a limited amount of people to return to experience the Taste of Knott’s.
When I first heard of the concept I was intrigued but before I had a chance to purchase my ticket the initial run sold out. Whomp whomp. Luckily, the event proved a success and the park decided to extend its run through September 13. This time I was quick on the draw and snagged a ticket and one Saturday afternoon I headed to Knott’s to check it out.
Here’s the scoop. In order to attend you need to purchase a tasting card in advance through their website. This card serves as your admission ticket and also allows you 5 tastings of a variety of food and drink options. In order to attend you must wear a mask when you are walking around and can only take it off when you are seated to eat. There are only a select amount of tickets available for each day which, as you can see above, allows for ample social distancing.
When I arrived at the park I was happy to find that parking was free and checking in was a breeze. Once inside I took a look at my tasting card and was overwhelmed by the options. I could enjoy such treats as Boysenberry BBQ Wings, Boysenberry Sangria and Mini Stuffed Churros with Boysenberry Filling (to name a few).
I had a hard time deciding an opted for a range of entrees, drinks and dessert including the above Steak Chili with a Boysenberry Cornbread Muffin. As you can see, the servings were ample and before I knew it I was quite full!
It was a beautiful evening and I spent a good part of it wandering around the park enjoying the scenery. Knott’s has used the pandemic well and the park is sparkling clean and every building sports a fresh coat of paint. Plus, the shops are open and I couldn’t help but purchase a few souvenirs to take home.
I had such a wonderful time at the Taste of Knott’s and it’s been a true bright spot in this ongoing pandemic. The event runs through September 13 and tickets are still available. In fact, the park has even expanding the dining options and now there’s even more food to chose from! I may have to return for a second round.
&nbs