There are some big changes ahead for Knott’s in 2020. The park is kicking off their 100th anniversary with an upcoming family attraction, new merchandise, and expanded festivals. Let’s take a look around the Farm to see what’s been happing since the new year, and look ahead to what’s coming to celebrate 100 years at Knott’s!

Not everything has been announced yet, but there are clues.

Christmas Wraps Up

This past holiday season at Knott’s Berry Farm was truly fantastic, not just for guests, but for the success of the park as well. Guests turned out in droves for Knott’s seasonal offerings, food and entertainment. We particularly appreciated how Knott’s encapsulates the magic of an old-fashioned Christmas. If you weren’t able to make it for the holidays, you really missed out.

One of the main reasons to come to Knotts during the Christmas season is to experience the array of entertainment. This past season featured longstanding favorites, as well as a big-budget new show that embodied the very essence of an old-fashioned Christmas.

“Home for the Holidays” was a real treat . . .

It was like watching a stage version of a Hallmark holiday film set in the 1900s. It utilizes a massive set that opens up like a dollhouse to reveal the Harper’s home. The show was very much like Knott’s itself —it was charming, down to earth, and full of life. We hope it sticks around for a long time.

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But the real star of the holiday season was the ice show, Merry Christmas Snoopy.

Merry Christmas Snoopy is one of the most impressive shows presented at any theme park this holiday season. We love the nostalgia of the ice skating show, especially now that it has completed its 5th season at the park. It would be nice to see an update in future seasons, but it still draws in large crowds to watch this spectacle.

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Christmas is when Knott’s shines the brightest, but all good things must come to an end. And this year Knott’s has some big things planned. . .

2020 is Knott’s Family Reunion

We’re almost two weeks into 2020. What are you doing this year? Well, Knott’s is kicking off their Centennial Celebration with a huge Family Reunion. Expect a lot of retro throw-back themes throughout the year. Speaking of which…

Voyage to the Iron Reef Closes for Bear-y Tales Makeover

The first sign of things to come is the closing of the Voyage to the Iron Reef for its change-over to Knott’s Bear-y Tales.

Iron Reef was a video-based shooter ride. We know that the updated Bear-y Tales version will continue to be a screen-based shooter, but the plot and music will feature a plotline about the characters from the classic Knott’s Bear-y Tales attraction. We also know that the ride’s original manufacturer, Triotech, will be involved in the renovation.

The Iron Reef’s sets and decorations are being removed and the interior rethemed to fit the new Bear-y Tale theme.

The Bear-y Tales characters are being rendered in a cute new way. We’re thrilled to see an old favorite resurface for the 100th anniversary of the park. Yes, we wish this was an actual dark ride, but we’ll take this nostalgic reimagining of a Knott’s favorite.

New concept art for the attraction reveals a new gun mechanism that look like Boysenberry Jam blasters.

There will likely be a retheme of the Nautilus shop adjacent to the attraction, as the current store will no longer match anything else in the land.

Hopefully, the attached store will have retro Knott’s merchandise to mirror the attraction’s makeover. Right now, it’s a mishmash of virtually every pop culture brand out there. It’s definitely a little jarring to see a lot of Marvel merch at a non-Disney park.

We’re still waiting to hear about what additional changes and enhancements are coming to entertainment and festivals for the big 100th-anniversary celebration, but if last year’s delightful lineup was any indication, we expect 2020 to be lots of fun.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Coming to the Knott’s Marketplace

Speaking of Bears…Last week Knott’s announced that Build-A-Bear Workshop is coming to the California Marketplace. This shop location has been vacant for many years and we’re glad to see that it’s finally getting used again.

This location will feature an exclusive line of Old West Cowboy and Cowgirl bears and train conductor bears. There will also be a set of exclusive limited-edition accessories that recognize Knott’s different seasonal celebrations. Plus, there will be a special Knott’s exclusive photo-op at this store!

Peeking inside the shop we can see the location was empty when we shot this just after the new year, but the Bears are moving in now. The location is expected to open on Tuesday, January 28th. Clearly, lots of work for them to do in a short timeframe.

New Merchandise

Knott’s has released its first set of 100th Anniversary Merchandise with 100 Pins for 100 Years. We are interested to see what comes down the line. We did see a preview of a few of the planned pin designs, and they’re really good.

What’s Coming Next?

The next thing on Knott’s timeline is the return of the weekend-only Peanuts Celebration that starts January 25 through March 1. It’s a great kickoff to Knott’s Seasons of Fun, and there’s some fantastic stuff lined up. Don’t believe me? Watch the video below!

Around the Farm

Mystery Continues at Mystery Lodge

After the Mystery Lodge’s unexpected closing last year, it continues to remain shuttered. We don’t know why it closed or if there are any changes that could be coming to the attraction, but we hope to have more info soon.

This pepper’s-ghost theater has been used for other shows in the past, a wonderful version for Haunt was a favorite. Perhaps, something unique can be pulled together for the 100th anniversary of the park.

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Let’s Hear From You

That’s it for now from the farm. We’ll be back in a few weeks for Peanuts Celebration Launch. What are you looking forward to at Knott’s this year? And what would you like to see happen with the Mystery Lodge theater?

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