Knott's Scary Farm

What It Is

Knott's Scary Farm is Knott's Berry Farm's after-dark Halloween haunt, held select nights September 17 through October 31, 2026. The park transforms into a horror environment with more than a dozen mazes, scare zones, live shows, and character actors distributed across the grounds. It is a hard-ticket separate event, not a park upgrade.

Why Go

Scary Farm is one of the longest-running theme park haunts in the country and among Southern California's most elaborate. The mazes rotate original concepts alongside returning fan favorites. The scare-actor talent pool is deep, and the after-dark park design is a full sensory environment rather than a walk-through attraction. For horror fans and immersion seekers, this is the bar that other regional haunts measure against.

What to Know Before You Go

Age recommendation: Not for children under 13, per Knott's official guidance. Content is genuinely intense. Dates: Select nights September 17 through October 31, 2026. Confirm the calendar and any date-specific pricing on the official Six Flags/Knott's page before purchasing. Tickets: Separate from regular park admission. Fright Lane, Skeleton Key, and other upgrades reduce maze wait times. Parking: Standard Knott's lot; arrive early on peak Saturdays. Rides: Some regular park attractions run during Scary Farm hours. Confirm what is open on your ticket date.

The Honest Take

Weekend nights get long lines fast. The Fright Lane upgrade materially changes the experience on peak dates and is worth the premium if your goal is hitting most mazes in one night. Off-peak Thursdays and early-run Sundays are the sleeper picks for shorter waits and better maze pacing. The rating warning is real. Do not bring young children.