On Saturday, Midsummer Scream closed out its day of panels with a Knott’s Scary Farm 50th anniversary panel hosted by Knott’s Scary Farm Historian and haunt writer/director Ted Dougherty. The hour-long presentation recapped the last 50 years of the Halloween event before diving into the theme park’s plans for its 50th season. Dougherty was joined on stage by a panel of guests that included Ken Parks, Corporate Director of Creative Development at Cedar Fair (the parent company of Knott’s Berry Farm), attraction designer Jon Cooke, Knott’s Berry Farm Park Decor Manager Jeff Shadic, and Knott’s Berry Farm Product Development Manager Karl Busche along with a handful of other special guests.
While the group purposely kept several announcements under wraps, saving it for a special event late next month (more on that later), there were still plenty of tidbits they did share that Knott’s Scary Farm fans can look forward to this fall.
The Hanging May Return
One of the highlights of Knott’s Scary Farm going back to its early years was The Hanging, a stage show that has seen many iterations since it first premiered in 1976. The modern hanging is a comedy-action stage show that skewers all things pop culture from the last year, putting all the things we love to hate and hate to love on trial. The Knott’s Scary Farm staple was absent from the event’s entertainment schedule following its return after the COVID-19 pandemic 2021 and 2022. But an exchange between Dougherty and Parks during the panel suggests that might change for the 50th. After recounting how the show hadn’t been seen in a few years, Parks followed it up with, “But who knows.” A comment that Dougherty echoed as fans screamed out to bring it back. Parks quickly followed the screams with, “But it sounds like a good idea.” While nothing was officially announced, the exchange alluded to the idea that The Hanging could return in 2023.
The Conductor’s Lantern is Bringing an Interactive Element to This Year’s Event
In an effort to continue creating new and immersive experiences at Knott’s Scary Farm this year, the event will sell interactive lanterns that will activate over 50 interactive experiences using RFID technology. While the lantern will provide a special glow as you make your way through mazes and scare zones, it will also unlock access to unique experiences throughout the park. The lantern will come with a ghostly map that will mark the locations of each of the interaction points throughout Knott’s Scary Farm. One concept shared during the event is a giant interactive swamp spider, which you can see below:
Ted Dougherty’s Book The History of Knott’s Scary Farm is Getting an Updated 50th Anniversary Edition
Ted Dougherty’s book, “Knott’s Halloween Haunt: A Picture History,” which was released for Knott’s Scary Farm’s 40th anniversary, is getting an updated release for the event’s 50th anniversary. Now titled, “The History of Knott’s Scary Farm,” the new release will feature everything from the first edition, including a forward by Neil Patrick Harris, and updated content that includes the last 10 years of the Knott’s Scary Farm event.
Dougherty will be on hand on select nights during this year’s Scary Farm season to sign the book inside The Emporium. The book is a limited edition and will only be available at Knott’s Berry Farm and through the online marketplace at Knotts.com.
The Emporium is Being Converted into an Immersive Retail Experience and Museum
Speaking of The Emporium, the California Marketplace retail location is being turned into an immersive retail experience for Knott’s Scary Farm’s 50th. In addition to shopping, the experience will feature several themed rooms that include photo ops and nods to Scary Farm mazes and scare zones from the last 50 years.
The Event is Getting a Ton of Merchandise for its 50th
From cups and mugs to shirts and sweatshirts, Knott’s is going all out for the 50th with several items commemorating the golden anniversary of the event. Among the highlights are a Knott’s Scary Farm tiki mug, Loungelfy backpacks, a 50th-anniversary pin series featuring 50 different limited edition pins, themed hot sauces, and more. However, one of the more unique merchandise announcements was, “Scary Farm-Opoly” a new Knott’s Scary Farm Monopoly-like game featuring some of your favorite Knott’s characters and personalities from the last 50 years, including Elvira, Mistress of the Dark!
The Event is Paying Tribute to Horror Host Sinister Seymour with a New Character
Late-night horror host Larry Vincent, who used the moniker Sinister Seymour on his television series was an integral part of the start of what was then known as Knott’s Halloween Haunt. For the event’s 50th the event will feature a new character known as The Keeper who will pay homage to the late-night host and be an integral part of the coming year’s event. While no further details were announced, concept art for the character was shared, and the actual character made his first public appearance. The character was introduced by the Knott’s Berry Farm team as well as Vincent’s two daughters who were on hand for the panel.
Knott’s Scary Farm is Holding a Special 50th Anniversary Reveal Event in August
Want to know everything Knott’s Scary Farm has in store for its 50th? On Thursday, August 24, at 7 PM Knott’s Scary Farm will host “Scary Farm 50: Nightmares Revealed” a special kick-off celebration where Knott’s will share more about what’s waiting in the fog this Halloween season. Tickets for the event start at just $20 and go on sale on Monday, July 31 at 10 am PST at KnottsScaryFarm.com
