Knott’s Merry Farm has returned with a lineup of Christmas shows, live music, atmosphere talent, seasonal experiences and a visit from Santa Claus that transforms the park into a winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights and miles of garland.
The Buena Park theme park hosted a media preview of Knott’s Merry Farm on Friday, Nov. 19, for the holiday event that runs through Jan. 2 at the park.
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The old fashioned “Home for the Holidays” musical revue featured popular seasonal tunes on the Calico Mine Stage.
The theatrical musical feels like watching an “Andy Williams Christmas Special,” “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade all rolled up into one holiday spectacular.
The 25-minute show is filled with Broadway-style choreographed dance numbers, 1915 period costumes and traditional holiday songs by a cast of 20.
In the Bird Cage Theatre, Knott’s melodrama company brought Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” to life as well “Marley’s Wings,” which tells the story of the ghost of Jacob Marley.
The “Merry Christmas, Snoopy” ice show starring the Peanuts gang and a cast of world-class ice skaters took over the Walter Knott Theater.
Over in the Camp Snoopy Theatre, the Peanuts gang offered tips on how to survive the holidays through song and dance during “A Peanuts Guide to Christmas” followed by a character meet-and-greet photo op.
The Snow & Glow nighttime experience mixed holiday lights, Christmas music and fake “snoap” snow in Ghost Town. Southern California children not accustomed to a White Christmas stuck their tongues out to taste the soapy flakes as the faux snow coated their hair. The brief three-minute show added a blinking, twinkling and dancing light show to the Wild West town rimmed with white lights on the building facades.
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It wouldn’t be Christas at Knott’s without Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies delivering their signature blend of country music and comedy in the Wagon Camp theater. The beloved and enduring band that has become a Knott’s staple throughout the year performed bluegrass, surf music and Elvis Presley versions of familiar Christmas tunes mixed a healthy dose of cornball antics and audience interaction.
The Rockin’ Reindeer musical duo played dueling piano and sang seasonal favorites near the Boardwalk BBQ restaurant. The pair offered up a Jerry Lee Lewis-style of 1950s rockabilly piano to accompany songs like “Run, Run Rudolph” and other upbeat Christmas tunes.
The all-female Mariachi Angelitas group performed on the Fiesta Plaza Stage — playing everything from love songs to put you in a romantic mood to faster numbers that got kids dancing in the aisles.
The Bluegrass Duo played fiddle, banjo, mandolin, guitar and harmonica on the Fireman’s BBQ Stage on a collection of finger-picking down home country tunes.
The Sleigh Bells a cappella group performed in Calico Park with synchronized dance steps that matched their synchronized lumberjack plaid outfits.
A lineup of swing bands played the Boardwalk Ballroom — transformed into the Tinsel Top Club for the holidays — while the Calico Carolers vocal quartet harmonized on the streets of Ghost Town.
KNOT radio personalities Wayne Deer and Ginger Snaps spun 1950s Christmas tunes and took requests near the Boardwalk Games.
And finally, Saint Nick dropped into Santa’s Christmas Cabin to snap photos with visitors in the Wilderness Dance Hall, which also offered holiday desserts and cookie decorating.
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Knott’s Berry Farm was forced to cancel the annual winter holiday event in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic that shuttered California theme parks for more than a year. Knott’s also canceled the replacement Taste of Merry Farm food festival in the middle of its run due to a December 2020 spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
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