Knott's Taste of Calico - Rockin Mama™

Earlier this year, I headed out with a friend to a preview of Knott’s Boysenberry Festival. This is my favorite seasonal event, and there was so much excitement about what the chefs at Knott’s were cooking up. But COVID-19 put a damper on all group gatherings, and the festival was canceled. After the longest closure in history, Knott’s re-opened their Marketplace for guests to enjoy their fresh baked treats and Mrs. Knott’s famous chicken dinner. I was content to pick up some ingredients to bake at home along with our favorite desserts. But the excitement over getting back to the farm was overwhelming and they recently announced a brand new, socially-distanced way to experience the park during Knott’s Taste of Calico.

Post in partnership with Knott’s Berry Farm.

Knott’s Taste of Calico

Knott’s Taste of Calico reminds me of a mini version of Boysenberry Festival. I was pleasantly surprised at how much of the park is being used for this event, which allows families to spread out safely and comfortably.

Taste of Calico is an outdoor dining and retail experience held inside the park within Ghost Town. Stroll the streets of Calico, sample Boysenberry-inspired delicacies from their culinary team, and shop the local crafters’ booths.

To experience Knott’s Taste of Calico, guests must purchase a tasting card in advance, which includes five generous tastings for $25. Junior tasting cards are available for $15 and include 3 tastings (children 2 and under are free). Admission is limited each day to comply with social distancing guidelines, and the first two weekends sold out. Parking is free. If you are a season passholder, you will receive a discount on tasting cards.

Knotts Taste of Calico Map and Tasting Card

Taste of Calico Food Items

Knott’s Taste of Calico Tasting Card offers a generous selection of items to choose from. Items include classic favorites like their funnel cake and BBQ wings, heartier dishes like their chili and gumbo, and inventive items like their vegetarian samosas. The portions are generous so my daughter and I saved some of our tastings for a future visit. Here are all of the food items available on the Taste of Calico Tasting Card, including locations and options for those with dietary restrictions.

Wagon Wheel Pizza

Pulled Pork Sliders with Jalapeno Strips
Boysenberry Hand Scooped Ice Cream Cookiewich

Spurs Booth

Boysenberry BBQ Wings

Boysenberry Icee Float and Cucumber Lemonade

Pemmican Pickle

Basil Lemonade
Boysenberry Smoothie

Calico Fry Co.

Mac and Cheese Bites with French Fries and a Sriracha Ketchup

Sutter’s Grill

Pulled Pork Sliders with Jalapeno Strips
Mac and Cheese Bites with French Fries and a Sriracha Ketchup
Boysenberry BBQ Wings
Samosas with a Boysenberry Chutney

Mrs Knotts Biscuit Bites with Boysenberry Butter

Sutter’s Funnel Cake

Mini Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Topping
Mrs. Knott’s Biscuit Bites with Boysenberry Butter Dipping Sauce
Bread Pudding with a Crème Anglaise

Ghost Town Grub

Mini Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Topping
Mrs. Knott’s Biscuit Bites with Boysenberry Butter Dipping Sauce
Bread Pudding with a Crème Anglaise

Fireman’s BBQ

Boysenberry Sausage on a Hoagie Bun
Roasted Corn with Butter, Cotjia Cheese, and Cayenne Pepper
Basil Lemonade

Wilderness Broiler

Cucumber Lemonade
Deep Fried Potato Chips with an Onion Dip
Pastrami Sandwich on a Pretzel Bun with Boysenberry Mustard and a Side of Chips

Gumbo with Chicken Shrimp and Boysenberry Sausage on Basmati Rice

Wilderness Dance Hall Patio

Gumbo with Chicken, Shrimp, and Boysenberry Sausage on Basmati Rice
Boysenberry Flavored Beer, Wine, or Sangria

Mini Stuffed Churro with Boysenberry Filling

Gourmet Churro Factory

Mini Stuffed Churro with Boysenberry Filling

Mix-It-Up

Boysenberry Icee Float
Boysenberry Jam Soft Serve Cookiewich
Cucumber Lemonade

Calico Saloon

Boysenberry Flavored Beer, Wine, or Sangria
Boysenberry Smoothie

Judge Roy Bean

Steak Chili with a Boysenberry Cornbread Muffin
Boysenberry Flavored Beer, Wine, or Sangria

Charleston Circle Booth #1

Boysenberry Sausage on a Hoagie Bun
Roasted Corn with Butter, Cotija Cheese, and Cayenne Pepper

Gourmet Coffee Hut

Strawberry Swirl Popping Boba
Boysenberry Smoothie

Charleston Circle Booth #2

Gumbo with Shrimp, Chicken, and Boysenberry Sausage on Basmati Rice
Steak Chili with a Boysenberry Cornbread Muffin

Gluten, Vegetarian and Vegan Friendly Options

Wagon Wheel Pizza

GF – Pulled Pork Slider with Jalapeno Strips served on a Gluten Friendly Bun (or Pulled Pork by itself)
Vegetarian – Boysenberry Hand Scooped Ice Cream Cookiewich

Spurs Booth

GF – Boysenberry BBQ Wings

Pemmican Pickle

GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Basil Lemonade
GF/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Smoothie

Calico Fry Co.

Vegetarian – Mac and Cheese Bites with French Fries and a Sriracha Ketchup
No gluten friendly or vegan items on the Tasting Card at this location

Sutter’s Grill

GF – Pulled Pork Slider with Jalapeno Strips served on a Gluten Friendly Bun (or Pulled Pork by itself)
GF – Boysenberry BBQ Wings
GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – French Fries a la carte
Vegetarian – Mac and Cheese Bites with French Fries and a Sriracha Ketchup
Vegetarian – Samosas with a Boysenberry Chutney

Sutter’s Funnel Cake

Vegetarian – Mini Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Topping
Vegetarian – Mrs. Knott’s Biscuit Bites with Boysenberry Butter Dipping Sauce
Vegetarian – Bread Pudding with a Crème Anglaise
No gluten friendly or vegan items on the Tasting Card at this location

Ghost Town Grub

Vegetarian – Mini Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Topping
Vegetarian – Mrs. Knott’s Biscuit Bites with Boysenberry Butter Dipping Sauce
Vegetarian – Bread Pudding with a Crème Anglaise
No gluten friendly or vegan items on the Tasting Card at this location

Fireman’s BBQ

GF – Boysenberry Sausage on a Gluten Friendly Bun
GF/Vegetarian – Roasted Corn with Butter, Cotjia Cheese, and Cayenne Pepper
GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Basil Lemonade
Vegan – Roasted Corn with NO Toppings

Wilderness Broiler

GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Cucumber Lemonade
GF/Vegetarian – Deep Fried Potato Chips with an Onion Dip
GF – Pastrami Sandwich on a Gluten Friendly Bun with Boysenberry Mustard and a Side of Chips
Vegan – Deep Fried Potato Chips with NO Dip

Wilderness Dance Hall Patio

GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Flavored Wine or Sangria
Vegan/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Flavored Beer
No gluten friendly or vegan food items on the Tasting Card at this location

Gourmet Churro Factory

Vegetarian – Mini Stuffed Churro with Boysenberry Filling
No gluten friendly or vegan items on the Tasting Card at this location

Mix-It-Up

GF/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Icee Float
Vegetarian – Boysenberry Jam Soft Serve Cookiewich
GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Cucumber Lemonade

Calico Saloon

GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Flavored Wine or Sangria
Vegan/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Flavored Beer
GF/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Smoothie

Judge Roy Bean

GF – Steak Chili with a Gluten Friendly Boysenberry Cornbread Muffin
GF/Vegan/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Flavored Wine, or Sangria
Vegan/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Flavored Beer
No gluten friendly or vegan food items on the Tasting Card at this location

Charleston Circle Booth #1

GF – Boysenberry Sausage on a Gluten Friendly Bun
GF/Vegetarian – Roasted Corn with Butter, Cotjia Cheese, and Cayenne Pepper
Vegan – Roasted Corn with NO Toppings

Gourmet Coffee Hut

GF/Vegetarian – Strawberry Swirl Popping Boba
GF/Vegetarian – Boysenberry Smoothie
No vegan items on the Tasting Card at this location

Charleston Circle Booth #2

GF – Steak Chili with a Gluten Friendly Boysenberry Cornbread Muffin
No gluten friendly or vegan items on the Tasting Card at this location

COVID-19 Safety Measures

Before your visit to Knott’s Taste of Calico, be sure to read through their safety protocols, including specific measures the staff are taking with regards to dining and shopping.

Guests must wear a face covering at all times, unless seated at a table to enjoy food items. There is a RelaxZone near Mystery Lodge where guests can take their mask off (remember to maintain social distancing).
Prior to entering the park, all guests will be screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and have their temperature checked. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher cannot enter the park.
Maintain 6’ social distance from other event guests. Markings are located throughout the park to serve as a reminder.
There is an abundance of hand sanitizer stations throughout the park.

We felt very comfortable visiting Knott’s due to the safety protocols in place. The park was not crowded due to limited capacity, and we always felt we could maintain social distance. There are plenty of tables to enjoy your food, and the staff is constantly wiping down frequently touched surfaces (like the tables). Overall, we had a wonderful experience at Knott’s Taste of Calico. It felt like a mini Boysenberry Festival complete with entertainment and shopping for our favorite Knott’s merchandise.

For more information about Taste of Calico, visit Knotts.com.

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Caryn Bailey

Caryn is a NICU nurse by day, blogger by night and mom 24/7. She savors the warm Southern California sun and loves to travel, shopping, baking, reading and frequenting her local tea room. Caryn created the column Lavishly Green for Peekaboo Picks Magazine to share her best tips for going green in style, she is the Former editor for Family Review Network, former OC Family Magazine online contributor, former Orange County Moms Blog contributor, former Evenflo Savvy Parent contributor, former member of the Totsy Advisory Board and former freelance writer for CBS Los Angeles.