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Summer is in full swing at Knott’s Berry Farm, and the beloved amusement park is kicking off its highly anticipated annual Knott’s Summer Nights celebration. With the return of this long-awaited event, visitors can expect an unforgettable experience filled with mouthwatering dining options, exciting entertainment, and countless fun activities that will keep the whole family engaged both day and night. From a backyard BBQ setting to live music performances, Knott’s Summer Nights is the perfect destination where guests can relish the warm summer days and nights.
Summer Nights at Knott’s Berry Farm
Every summer, Knott’s Summer Nights brings the fun of a family-friendly food festival and music celebration to the parks, with various live performances and music of all kinds. Guests can enjoy live music from the Calico Mine Stage and Calico Park, with performers like Tomasina, Hiatus, and Adelaide Pilar. The night continues with the Charleston Circle DJ spinning tunes late in the evening.
“Every year, we actually try to do our all our foods like a year in advance and switch up here and there. We do keep some that we try to like we incorporate into it just because they’re fan favorites,” Food and Beverage Manager Elizabeth Lab told us. Food offerings range from snack items to salads, cocktails, desserts, and cocktails. Food and Beverage Director Wilf Seymour recommended some of the unique food offerings, “We’ve got a popcorn lady that’s been in the park for a long time. She made this amazing strawberry and cream kettle corn.” Diners can select items a la carte, or purchase a tasting pass for $55 that gives passholders six selections from any of the 23 booths. Those who’ve purchased an all-day dining pass can also try eight of the summer items as part of their meal plan.
Knott’s Summer Nights brings a selection of food vendors to the park, with a variety of over 50 fun flavors like the Mini Fruity Pebbles™ Funnel Cake; Fried Green Tomatoes, Arugula, Corn Salad, and Chipotle Ranch; Elote Preparado or Loco Catracho or Loco Salvadoreño; and Mexican Pineapple Pork Sandwich. Beverage offerings include the Cucumber, Black Cherry, Mango, and Ginger Mint Agua Fresca; Cranberry Sprite™ Shirley Temple; and Peach Lemonade. Those over the age of 21 can also enjoy a variety of summer-themed adult beverages like the Sparkling Pineapple Mojito, Strawberry Moscow Mule, and Watermelon Wheat Beer.
Unlike years past, the dining offerings are located throughout the park, as opposed to centrally located around the Calico Mine Stage, making the fun spread out more evenly and cutting down on thicker crowds. “It’s a little more work to discover what’s out there, but it’ll give you a little more opportunity. The tasting parts are the same, and they’ve got everything, but you now can go throughout the park and get tastings,” Seymour said of the change.