By Charly SHELTON 

It’s that time of year again – “snoap” falling from the sky, a beagle dressed as Santa Claus and more calories than any one person should ingest in a single day. It’s time for Knott’s Merry Farm. 

Heading to Knott’s with the kids has become an annual tradition. Living in LA, with little to no snow, the snoap (snow plus soap) falling from the sky between palm trees is a quintessential holiday experience. And Knott’s doesn’t disappoint. The Snow and Glow nightly show that happens several times throughout the evening brings Ghost Town to life with dancing lights and holiday decorations set to music and blanketed by snowfall. Of course there’s also the tree lighting and the strolling carolers and the stage shows, but the snowfall is really why I’m there. Well, that and the food. 

What would a holiday celebration be without 8,000 calories? For a theme park built on food, every year brings a new opportunity to wow crowds with its culinary concoctions fit for the season. And this year is no different – from the maple glazed pulled pork to the holiday pizza with Alfredo and prosciutto to the Thanksgiving cupcake comprised of turkey, stuffing and cranberries baked into a cupcake shape (with a dollop of mashed potatoes instead of frosting) – I was hooked. I thought I enjoyed a normal Thanksgiving dinner until I tried this and this is now my preferred way of taking all my meals: in cupcake form. And if those decadent offerings don’t sound like enough, go for the big ones – The Roofus is a giant chicken sandwich the size of a pizza, meant to be shared among five or six people, or one very hungry dad after a day at the theme park. There’s also the Bird’s Nest, which is a chicken and biscuit plate the same size as The Roofus; and the gigantic turkey club the size of a yule log. There are plenty of offerings throughout the park reflecting the holiday season, but these ones bring that “wow factor” that will look great on Instagram while sitting well in the belly. 

Whether it’s the holiday decorations or meeting Santa Snoopy or the snoapfall or the food, Knott’s Merry Farm is a favorite holiday destination for everyone’s interests. It’s got a genuine feel that is less commercial than some of the other theme parks in Southern California. Not necessarily magic, but it feels like coming home for the holidays. 

Knott’s Merry Farm continues through Jan. 4, 2026.