Knott’s Scary Farm 2025 – Tips, Strategy, Worth It?

Knott's Berry Farm‘s annual Halloween event, “Knott's Scary Farm” kicks off this spooky season on select nights. The event has taken place for over 50 years with terrifying shows, mazes, attractions, scare zones, special foods, and more, including over 1,000 creatures lurking around the park.

Knott's Scary Farm began back in 1973 and has been horrifying visitors ever since as the longest-running Halloween theme park event in Southern California. This event is a far cry from the more family-friendly Oogie Boogie Bash party at Disneyland, predates Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood, and is intended for guests ages 13 and older, as much of the content can be overwhelming and scary for kids. This guide will focus on Knott's Scary Farm and our experience of the event, but there is also a family-friendly offering called Knott's Spooky Farm that takes place during the daytime on select dates.

We had the opportunity to attend Knott's Scary Farm, and we will take you through our experience, share tips and strategies, and provide information for everything you need to know about Knott's Scary Farm for the 2025 Halloween season!

This article has been checked for accuracy for 2025 and updated with all currently available information. Some of the information from previous years has been kept here to give you a sense of what will likely be offered in 2025.

Knott's Scary Farm Ticket Prices

Knott's Scary Farm is a separately ticketed event with a few different options that include various benefits, so Knott's Scary Farm ticket prices vary depending on which option you go with. Knott's Scary Farm requires guests ages 15 and younger to be accompanied by a chaperone, and every attendee must have their own ticket. For select ticket types, you can save by buying tickets online compared to front gate pricing. 

The 2025 Knott's Scary Farm ticket prices have not yet been announced, but you can see last year's prices below for reference. 

Knott's Scary Farm Tickets allow you admission to one night of Knott's Scary Farm. Pricing starts at $59.99 for this option, and discounted prices are available for Passholders.

Admission & Meal Bundle Tickets give you:

• admission to one night of Knott's Scary Farm
• a select entree and side from the Scary Meal Deal menu options and a regular-size fountain drink

Pricing starts at $74.99 for this experience.

Nightly All Inclusive gives you:

• admission to one night of Knott's Scary Farm
• a select entree and side from the Scary Meal Deal menu options plus a regular-size fountain drink
• Fright & Fast Lane (which gives you priority access to all mazes and select rides)
• General Vehicle Parking

Pricing starts at $199.99 for this experience.

2024 Scary Farm Pass gives you unlimited admission to Knott's Scary Farm for every event night during the season, with pricing starting at $159 for this experience. Discounted prices are available for Passholders.

Knott's Scary Farm Boo-fet (not valid for event admission) includes:

• All-you-can-eat dinner
• 2024 Souvenir bottle
• Photo with a monster
• Early access to select mazes

Pricing starts at $45 for this experience.

Fright & Fast Lane (Admission not included) gives you priority access to all mazes and select rides, with pricing starting at $150 for this experience.

Very Important Monster Tour is a VIP experience that gives you:

• a single night of admission to Knott's Scary Farm
• a private guide for up to 6 hours
• Boo-fet dinner
• an event T-shirt
• General Parking
• Priority access to all mazes, select rides, and select shows

Pricing starts at $550 for this experience.

Scary Farm Group Admission is available for groups of 15 or more tickets or student and youth groups purchasing 20 or more tickets. It includes:

• the opportunity to save up to $55 off the gate price 
• a single night of admission to Knott's Scary Farm

If you are looking for regular daytime admission, you can save using our exclusive link: Purchase Knott’s Berry Farm discount tickets!

Knott's Scary Farm 2025 Dates and Hours

The 2025 Knott's Scary Farm dates have not yet been announced, but you can see last year's dates below for reference. 

Knott's Scary Farm events take place on select nights during the Halloween season from September 19 – November 2. Knott's Scary Farm hours are 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. depending on the night.

The following are last year's Knott's Scary Farm event dates:

September 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29

October 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31

November 1, 2 

Crowds pick up as the season progresses in October, and the biggest crowds tend to be on Friday and Saturday nights. We would recommend visiting earlier in the season on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Sundays for the lowest crowds and less expensive tickets, as prices rise as the event dates get closer to Halloween.

Tips for Knott's Scary Farm 2025

1. Consider the Boo-Fet or Fright & Fast Lane if it's within your budget to maximize your time. We will discuss the benefits of these more below, but they will save you a substantial amount of time waiting in line for attractions and allow you to experience the most popular and new mazes with minimal wait times.
2. Don't rush while in the mazes or scare zones! While you don't want to hold up the entire line in mazes, be sure to walk at a reasonable pace so that you can fully appreciate every detail. If you're a fan of jump-scares, you might be missing out on some by sticking too close to the party in front of you. Each scare zone offers unique theming and a completely distinctive overall atmosphere. If you see several creatures coming in your direction, it's tempting to go the other way, but it's really interesting to observe their unique character quirks, motions, and interactions with guests. Sometimes, they interact with each other, which can be quite funny to watch. My personal favorite moments were when the sliding creatures would skid across the ground towards guests and send sparks flying, as that got quite a reaction out of people!
3. Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and supportive walking shoes. You'll be doing a lot of walking during the event, and you want to make sure you're not worried about sore feet or uncomfortable fabric on top of getting scared! You can also bring light layers in case it gets cold.
4. Go in with the right mindset if you are worried about jump scares. It's definitely true that the scare actors will target those who look afraid or who are giving a big reaction. If that's part of the fun for you, then definitely lean into it! But if you're worried that you won't handle the jump-scares well, know that they are fairly easy to anticipate, and if you look like you're having fun or are relaxed, the creatures will move to their next target pretty quickly. If you are starting to get mentally drained from all of the scares, which can happen towards the end of the night, you can always mix it up with a ride or show to get a breather.
5. Watch videos ahead of time to see what to expect. If you're unsure about the content of any of the mazes or don't know if this event is okay for you or your family, you can watch videos of the returning mazes and scare zones ahead of time for an idea of what to expect. I'm not great with heavy gore, so I scouted ahead to see which mazes have the most of that and avoided those, and this piqued my interest in certain other mazes. You don't have to spoil the whole thing for yourself, and just watching the first 10-20 seconds of a returning maze will give you an idea of what to expect.
6. On a similar note, you can try the “No-Boo” Necklace if you're uncertain about the event or going to chaperone a minor to get a break from the constant scares. This necklace decreases the likelihood that you'll be targeted by monsters in scare zones. While you won't get immunity in mazes, this can help give you a break if it is needed, as it can get exhausting walking from one place to another always having to be on guard.
7. Make a plan, and be especially deliberate about carving out time for shows. Decide ahead of time which attractions and shows are your priority, and download the Knotts Scary Farm app to see where attractions are located in order to effectively navigate the event during the Knott's Scary Farm hours. Make sure to budget walking time and know the placement of each attraction so that you don't find yourself zigzagging across the park and eating up valuable time. Keep in mind that for shows, in addition to the time it takes to see the performance itself, you'll want to line up ahead of time if you're intent on getting good seats. This can quickly take up a significant chunk of your night, so make sure you decide ahead of time which shows are important to you and the showtime you're trying to make so that you can plan mazes and rides around this.
8. Make sure you know Knott's Scary Farm's bag policy: “Clear plastic bags smaller than 12” x 12” x 6” as well as non-clear wristlets or clutches no larger than 5”x 8”x 2” are allowed at Knott's Scary Farm. All bags are subject to search prior to entry.” Make sure your bags are the correct size when you are preparing to go!

Is the Fast & Fright Lane Worth It?

The Fright & Fast Lane gives you priority access to all mazes and select rides. We were able to enjoy priority access as members of the media during opening night in a past year, and I can safely say that this saved us a significant amount of time on attractions and allowed us to experience much more than we would have if we were waiting in long lines, especially for the new mazes.

Our longest wait time was about 20 minutes for Room 13, one of the new mazes, and we only waited about 4 minutes for The Chilling Chambers, the new 50th-anniversary maze. On a couple of rides we experienced, we walked on with essentially zero wait time.

While we would say that the Fright & Fast Lane is worth it if it fits into your budget, the cost of this is quite high, with pricing starting at $150 per person (admission not included). If you're looking for an option that will allow you to experience most of the event without the expense, Boo-Fet might be a better choice.

Is Boo-Fet Worth It?

Boo-Fet can be a great way to get two birds with one stone, as you'll be able to enjoy both an all-you-can-eat dinner and Early Entry to select attractions. This add-on is also a bit more reasonable in price than the Fright & Fast Lane considering that you will also have to get separate admission to the event on top of it.

When we attended the event, the lines that we saw were the longest on opening night were not the four included in Early Entry. However, this year, the Early Entry mazes include Bloodline 1842 (final year), Wax Works (final year), and the two new mazes. With the new mazes included, you get a lot of value out of this offering. 

Knott's Scary Farm Mazes

The 2025 Knott's Scary Farm mazes have not yet been announced, but you can see last year's mazes below for reference. 

There are ten Knott's Scary Farm mazes, with each featuring unique theming, an immersive setting, and frightful premises. Eight are returning mazes, while two are brand-new ones. Some of the mazes drop you into a horrifying world of monsters and sinister premises for you to navigate on your own, while others feature characters that act as guides who pop up every now and then in the maze. I really appreciated how certain mazes emphasized certain aspects of design like sound or lighting, and there are some sensory details like vibrating and shaking floors that really up the adrenaline in some experiences.

Windows (NEW!) (Early Entry): Can you hear that? The spider possessed residents of the convalescent home are preparing a special place for you. Enter their web and succumb to their dark desires.

Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogyman (NEW!) (Early Entry): Step inside a living fairy tale in a colonial township that's under siege by an inhuman monster that preys from the dark. As night descends, Eight Fingers Nine emerges from the shadows in search of fresh meat. His vicious bite penetrates deep, causing sleep paralysis which holds his victim in sway while he slowly consumes their flesh. Step lively and beware the dark, or you may be the main course at his next meal! 

The Chilling Chambers: Honoring Scary Farm's inaugural maze, “10 Chilling Chambers,” began in 1977. This unsettling attraction pays tribute to its past while horrifying today's audience. The Keeper leads you through a foreboding cathedral, encountering classic maze themes. Unleash 50 years of modern terror, reliving the eerie collections and diabolical characters of seasons past.

The Chilling Chambers is truly visually impressive and takes you on a rollercoaster of the senses, but it might be a lot to handle for certain guests. None of the content is overly disturbing, but the smells, strobing lights, and colorful settings might lead to sensory overload. I found myself very impressed but also a bit nauseous leaving this maze!

Cinema Slasher: Embark on a journey through the Midnight Theater, entering horror film worlds where you must survive the deadly Slasher's rage. Can you escape these movie nightmares, or will you be trapped among decaying corpses in the ruined theatre? The sinister Midnight Theater beckons the brave into Cinema Slasher.

Room 13: Violent murders at The Blind Tiger interrupt the Prohibition-era revelry on Memory Lane. A dangerously addictive new cocktail named The Devil’s Elixir seems to be at the root of the mayhem, but where did it come from? The answers may lie at the heart of the extravagant Argive Hotel, where many have checked in… but none have checked out.

Though this maze is new and had the longest line that we experienced on opening night, I personally thought it was not as memorable as the others. There were some nice design elements, but the storyline was a bit hard to follow and the pacing of it felt rushed.

The Grimoire: In this maze, guests enter the world of an ancient relic where evil creatures have been released by a mysterious book.

The Grimoire was incredibly popular on opening night with an extremely long line, and for good reason. The storyline is heavy but gripping, and you might find yourself more disoriented than in the other mazes as you navigate a wide range of scenes. I could easily see this maze being one that you'd want to experience several times just to catch every detail.

Bloodline 1842 (Early Entry) (Final Year): Guests will find themselves caught in a battle between the Daybreakers and the Valhymphri vampires in the steampunk Neo-Victorian city of Valdonia. The vampires have sacked the city and left destruction in their wake, and guests must help find and destroy the kind of the Valhymphri. This maze is available during Early Entry.

Bloodline 1842 was quite an interesting maze that went by quickly and wasn't quite as intense as the others, partially due to the presence of the Daybreakers and how they serve as a neutral presence while guiding you through the story. The costuming and ambiance for this maze were really nicely done!

Origins: The Curse of Calico: Guests will encounter the paranormal activity of the town as a woman is put on trial for suspected witchcraft. The Green Witch curses the townsfolk, turning those who have accused her into vicious creatures.

Origins: The Curse of Calico was one of my favorite mazes due to its lighting effects and design. It's incredibly immersive, and each detail of the maze feeds the overall ambiance really nicely. You might find yourself wanting to linger longer in several scenes just to fully appreciate all of the effects.

Wax Works (Early Entry) (Final Year): In this abandoned wax museum, former plastic surgeon Dr. Augustus Scratch shows off his horrifying “artwork” of human flesh and wax to guests, who must escape without becoming part of the collection. This maze is available during Early Entry.

Mesmer: Guests will encounter the hypnotist Mesmer, who takes you into a world of “madness, torture, and eerie enlightenment” in his horrifying show.

Knott's Scary Farm Shows

The 2025 Knott's Scary Farm shows have not yet been announced, but you can see last year's shows below for reference. 

The Knott's Scary Farm shows feature music, comedy, and action, and they can be a great break from the mazes and scare zones during your night. Here are the shows and their descriptions!

The Hanging (Wagon Camp): The Lawman has returned to track down the vilest villains of the past year in this pop culture parody stunt extravaganza. No one is safe when the gates of the Wagon Camp swing open.

Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque (Calico Mine Stage): Step right up and walk into the mystique and darkness of the malevolent “Le Magnifique Carnaval Du Grotesque.” A collection of death-defying feats and carnival acts that will delight your darkest desires and fill your senses with terror and delight. 

Conjurers (Bird Cage Theater): You won’t believe your eyes when our skilled Illusionist takes the stage in the heart of Calico. Get there early as seats have been known to vanish.

Into the Fog: A Scary Farm Tribute Art Show features a collection of original art from artists across the country inspired by Knott's Scary Farm's history. You can look for originals or prints to take home with you.

Knott's Scary Farm Scare Zones

There are five scare zones throughout the parks with different themes, where there is no place to hide, and characters and creatures scare you as you pass through the fog. While the scare actors can stalk you and scare you with noises and movement, they are not allowed to touch guests. Each scare zone had a distinctly different feel and different levels of intensity and spoken interaction. CarnEVIL and the Gore-ing '20s felt less frightening and were better-lit, while the Ghost Town Streets were definitely the most intense.

I really enjoyed observing the creatures to see all of the different tricks they had up their sleeve and how flawlessly they executed their scares and movements!

The Gauntlet features the King and Queen of the realm, maniacal Jesters, brutal Barbarians, wicked Wizards, and lawless Peasants in this reimagined scare zone.

Ghost Town Streets is the original and most terrifying scare zone with monsters roaming through the fog and Sliders, who will lunge at you. This was definitely our favorite scare zone!

Forsaken Lake features “gothic characters” who have “been ravaged by the dark and murky waters” as they roam the area looking for victims.

Gore-ing '20s scare zone invites guests back in time to the Gore-ing '20s, where “gangsters run illicit hooch for the ghostly revelers” while musicians play.

CarnEVIL features deviant clowns lurking who are seeking your “undying attention.”

Knott's Scary Farm Merchandise

The “No Boo” Necklace is available for $14.99, featuring a blue glowing spider design on a lanyard, and it decreases the likelihood that you'll be targeted by monsters in scare zones. The “No Boo” Necklace does not give you immunity in the mazes. This addition was controversial upon its introduction but was added for good reason. It's a great option for chaperones who need to attend the event but do not want to be constantly scared, those who want a bit of a break from the scares, or those who are testing out the experience for the first time and aren't quite sure what to expect.

Knott's Scary Farm Merchandise includes apparel and collectibles celebrating the past and present of Knott's Scary Farm. Past merchandise has included items like themed hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, plushies, water bottles, pins, and more that you can explore. 

Knott's Scary Farm Park Interactive Lantern interacts with the environment in mysterious ways, and it reacts when brought in close proximity to “cursed locations.” The lantern may even trigger a reaction in the park, and it can be a fun way to further engage with the event.

The Legacy Haunt Store and Museum offers exclusive specialty merchandise, while the museum showcases exhibits highlighting the events' “frightfully rich past.” New this year, it will have a collection of exclusive merchandise from Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

Can Kids Go To Knott's Scary Farm?

While per Knott's Scary Farm's chaperone policy, all guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old, we wouldn't recommend bringing kids to Knott's Scary Farm for a few reasons.

1. First and foremost, the event is scary enough that it can be too much for even adults, which is why the age recommendation is 13 and older. Some of the content of the mazes can be incredibly disturbing, which may not be appropriate for kids.
2. It's incredibly easy to get sensory overload at this type of event between all the light effects, loud sounds, smells, and jump-scares. To be in constant fight-or-flight mode for several hours can be incredibly exhausting and make for an unpleasant experience for your entire party but especially a younger kid.
3. Knott's Scary Farm hours take place late at night, so it might be difficult for kids to stay awake for the whole event until 1 or 2am. 

If you have a kid who is super laid-back and loves thrills, that may be a different case, and I noticed that the scare actors in the scare zones are really perceptive and won't go out of their way to scare someone who is clearly unhappy, so it's reasonable to assume they wouldn't target children in the same way they do adults. However, in the mazes, there is often no way for the scare actors to see who is coming and their age, so all bets are off in the same way that they are for wearers of the “No-Boo” necklaces, making this a non-ideal situation for kids.

We would recommend leaving kids at home for this event and bringing them as they get a bit older if they are interested and try out the less scary “Knott's Spooky Farm” during the day.

Knott's Scary Farm 2025 Strategy

The 2025 Knott's Scary Farm details have not yet been announced, but you can see last year's tips below for reference. 

The new mazes are always going to be the most popular and have the longest lines, as everyone wants to experience them for the first time, so we would recommend deciding which one you would like to prioritize first and then designing your journey from there.

If you decide to opt for Boo-Fet, the two new mazes this year, Windows and Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogyman, are included in Early Entry in addition to Bloodline 1842 and Wax Works. With Boo-Fet, you could get a head start accessing these two new experiences 30 minutes before regular entry at 6:30pm.

When we attended the event during the 50th anniversary on opening night, we got to the area of the park with The Grimoire, Origins: Curse of Calico, and Room 13 (which was new that year) around 9pm and the lines were incredibly long for The Grimoire and Room 13 especially. It would make sense to prioritize these after the new mazes before the lines start building up. Without Boo-Fet, you may find it worth it to head to this part of the park first before the lines grow as the night goes on. 

With Fright & Fast Lane, you have the most flexibility as wait times are not as much of a barrier with this option. Keep in mind that Fright & Fast Lane does not include park admission.  

Knott's Scary Farm Rides

Typically all thrill rides are running during Knott's Scary Farm unless they are down or in the middle of a refurbishment, and there is a special overlay during the Halloween season: 

• The Timber Mountain Log Ride transforms into Halloween Hootenanny, where guests should be “on the lookout for aliens, ghosts, and more” as the citizens of Timber Mountain invite mysterious creatures of the woods and caverns to help celebrate the season.

Knott's Scary Farm Food and Drink Offerings

The 2025 Knott's Scary Farm foods have not yet been announced, but you can see last year's foods below for reference. 

Knott's Scary Farm will feature a variety of themed seasonal food and drink offerings. See some of these food offerings below: 

Boardwalk BBQ

•  Monster Mash
• Zombie Tri Tip Baguette
• Ghoul at Heart Salad
• Headless Horsemen Pecan Hand Pies
• Graveyard Mousse Cup 

Ghost Town Bakery

• Carrot Cake Bars
• Halloween Cake Pops
• Witches Cupcakes
• Halloween Snoopy Cupcakes
• Graveyard Mousse Cups
• The Queen of the Undead

Wilderness Dogs and Drinks

• Frankenstein Falafel Wrap
• Grimoire’s Pastrami Burger

Prop Shop Pizzeria 

• Gore-ing Mobster Pizza
• The Boogeyman’s Chicken Meatball Sub
• Crème Brule Gourmet Cookie
• The Queen of the Undead
• Nightshade Glow Seltzer 
• Enchanted Elixir

According to the Knott's site, you can find more offerings in the Knott's Scary Farm event guide and located throughout the park. 

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• Knott’s Berry Farm – Everything You Need to Know
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• Beyond Disneyland for Kids: 9 Stops in Anaheim & Nearby For Rest Day From Disney
• Universal Studios Hollywood: Rides, Entertainment, Discounts

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