By Charly SHELTON

Recently readers of the CV Weekly learned about Knott’s Scary Farm, the annual Halloween takeover event at Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park. But during the day, amid the decorations for the fearsome nighttime event, kids frolic and play during Knott’s Spooky Farm. This daytime festival isn’t about frights and screams – it’s about stepping into Halloween with a gentle hand, letting the little ones feel the thrill without the terror. And this year, as every year, the daytime event leaned into that ethos beautifully.

One thing I noticed right off: this season it didn’t do the Calico Candy Mine ride overlay. That’s probably fine – it was cute and whimsical but not exactly essential. It was a fun Halloween-themed overlay with a giant pumpkin in the mine shaft and a candy witch at the rainbow caverns, but it really isn’t that much better than the regular ride, which is a must-do for families with kids. 

What did stand out was the Ghost Town Trick-or-Treat trail, now enhanced by friendly ghosts and ghouls wandering the streets, stopping to pose for pictures and chatting with kids. It’s not spooky – it’s fun. My older son (age 5) loved it. Sure, the youngest (age 1.5) wasn’t too keen on the makeup characters, but this kind of gentle exposure helps bridge in years to come kiddie Halloween to full Scary Farm readiness. You see those spirits, you blink and you grow a little braver. 

And the constant positive reinforcement of being given handfuls of candy at every booth makes it an overall very pleasant experience for kids and parents alike. 

This is the main attraction for the kids, I think. There are “spooktivities” on the Calico Town Square stage with Snoopy and the Peanuts Gang, and there’s a costume contest for those who want to take part but the lines and the shouting excitement of 200 kids who were there on the same day all revolved around the treat trail booths.

Food-wise, we dug into a few of the seasonal offerings and, to be honest, came up wanting. At the preview event in August, I got to try the Black Bat Wings in a sticky brown sugar barbecue sauce, the Decomposing Bison Burger, the Alligator Sausage, the Frogs Legs, and several of the other offerings that have come to Scary Farm. For the most part, the food was good – especially the Bat Wings (black-dyed chicken wings) and Frogs Legs (actual frog legs). But in trying some of the other offerings I was let down.

The Wolfman Smoked Sausage with white cheese sauce from Wilderness Dogs and Drinks was more pleasant than we expected, though nothing really earth-shattering. The Radioactive Gator Stuffed Potato/Mac Bowl from Miners Mac n Spuds – while billed as “citrus-marinated alligator” – turned out to be four thin slices of alligator sausage and three hushpuppies over mac & cheese in a bread bowl. Not what I expected, not really what I wanted and not enough of it to form a solid opinion with a serving size somewhere around ¾ cup all together. 

But the Witch’s Brew Funnel Cake made up for it with giant portions as it leaned into sugar bomb territory in the best possible way with ube cream, chocolate sauce, Halloween sprinkles and a giant mountain of soft serve that was enough for a family of four to have leftovers. And, because it’s Knott’s, I also drank 100 ounces of Knott’s Boysenberry Punch while roaming the park so I was full of sugar and ready to rock.

We walked the trail, met some characters, soaked in the decorations and waited for the inevitable sugar crash headache I had earned. 

Knott’s knows that beyond the spectacle of the rides and the scares at night the real magic for families is in those little ghostly touches, those cute moments of a purple-and-orange smile from too much candy, a first picture with a Haunt character and a dance party led by Snoopy. And also the seasonal snacks that make your belt buckle threaten mutiny by noon.

Spooky Farm runs Thursday through Sunday during daytime hours in October, and it’s included with general park admission. If your little ones want Halloween fun without nightmares, this is your ticket. 

Visit Knotts.com for more.