Last week, I spent a weekend in New York and was fascinated at how festive the city looks this time of year. Unlike Southern California, where holiday decor is most often seen in specific stores and venues, the entire city of New York is “dressed up” for the season, with virtually no area left untouched. SoCal locals and visitors’ best bet for experiencing the magic of the season await at theme parks, where holiday festivities for families abound.
Knott’s Berry Farm recently underwent a “merry” transformation, complete with ice skating, holiday lights, music, Christmas story times, and more. Knott’s Merry Farm will run through January 1st, 2012 and includes the following themed activities:
Knott’s Christmas Craft Fair (located throughout Ghost Town)
Here is where you’ll find handcrafted gift ideas from over 50 artisans including ceramics, embroidery, florals, apparel and more. The fair is free and open to the public Monday through Thursday. Guests visiting the park on the weekends receive free admission to the fair with park admission Friday through Sunday.
A Peanuts’ Holiday Parade
Join the Peanuts gang and students from Orange County Song and Dance Company as they get ready to celebrate the holiday season. Throughout the parade, you’ll see Snoopy and his friends making candy, trimming the tree, and building toys.
It’s Christmas, Snoopy
You won’t want to miss the ice spectacular, which performs in the Charles M. Schulz Theatre and features Snoopy and the gang. Free with park admission.
Along with the above holiday-themed parade and shows, be sure to visit the Birdcage Theatre for readings of A Christmas Carol and The Gift of the Magi, Snoopy’s Christmas Light Spectacular which boasts thousands of twinkling lights and music, and the Winter Wonderland where Charlie Brown and the gang perform. All events are located in Camp Snoopy.
If you have smaller tots, I highly recommend starting your day at Camp Snoopy before the crowds. Be sure to pick up an entertainment schedule to plan your day around the parade and shows. Once you’ve enjoyed Camp Snoopy, you can then head towards Calico Square and Ghost Town to view their holiday happenings. Because my children are on the younger side, we take plenty of breaks for snacks and meals so as not to tire them out too early. If your children are a bit older and meet the height requirement, stop by Elf Mountain, which is located at The Timber Mountain Log Ride. Visitors are offered a peak into the world of Santa’s Elves as they help Santa get ready for Christmas.
Because the park actually boasts a rich history as a farm, Knott’s is famous for their holiday foods. Be sure to visit Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, a must when you’re visiting the park. This weekend, you can enjoy an all-you-can eat breakfast buffet with Santa at the restaurant from 7:30 am to 10:30 am. As this is likely a popular event, I highly recommend making reservations.
Remember that through the weekend, you can donate to Toys for Tots for complimentary admission. Please see my previous post for details. And for more information regarding Knott’s Merry Farm and their wintery festivities, just visit their website.
No compensation was received for this post. We were invited to a media day at the park which helped facilitate this review.
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Knott’s Berry Farm is my favorite park! I love the wide variety of attractions that they have for everyone. I have only ever seen Disneyland’s Holiday decor though 🙁