Knott’s Scary Farm returns to Buena Park for 2026 on select nights September 17 through October 31. The nighttime Halloween event transforms Knott’s Berry Farm with more than 1,000 creatures, haunted mazes, scare zones, live entertainment, rides and other frightening experiences throughout the park. Use this guide to plan your visit, compare ticket options and review important event policies before you go.
Knott’s Scary Farm Dates & Times
Knott’s Berry Farm | 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, CA
Select Nights – September 17 through October 31, 2026
Days: Thursdays & Sundays | Hours: 7:00 PM through 1:00 AM
Days: Fridays & Saturdays | Hours: 7:00 PM through 2:00 AM
2026 Admission Tickets & Combos
- Not Recommended for anyone under 13 years of age. However, there is no age minimum to attend Knott’s Scary Farm.
- Regular Admission – Online tickets are available for as low as $65 and increase depending on the date you attend and whether you buy online or at the gate
- Scary Farm Pass Season Pass Add-on – $164
- Annual Passholders – Discounts available
- Fright Lane & Fast Lane – Prices begin at $139 per person.
- Boo-fet + Early Entry – Starting at $45 includes a Boo-fet, early entry and a souvenir.
- Scary Farm Parking
- General Parking: $30 for one vehicle
- Preferred Parking & Buses & RVs: $45 (available at the parking booths only)
- Very Important Monster Tour – Starting at $550, includes private guide, general parking, Boo-Fet, monster photo, T-shirt, priority access to rides and priority seating to shows.
- Knott’s Scary Farm Hotel Packages – Prices Vary
- Knott’s Scary Farm T-Shirt – $TBA
- Military Personnel with Valid ID: Receive discounted admission to Knott’s Scary Farm.
Aside from Season Pass Holder and military discounts there are typically no other discounts offered each. Including through sites like Groupon or at Costco.
Visit the Knott’s Website for more details on Scary Farm
Chaperone Required for Guests Under Age 16: All Knott’s Scary Farm events require any park guest under the age of 16 to be accompanied by a chaperone of at least 21 years of age. One chaperone may accompany up to 10 guests ages 15 or younger.
Cashless Park: Simply swipe or tap your credit card, debit card, or smart device with Apple Pay or Google Pay where you would normally use cash.
Bag Policy: Clear plastic bags smaller than 12” x 12” x 6” as well as non-clear wristlets or clutches no larger than 5”x 8”x 2” are allowed at Knott’s Scary Farm. All bags are subject to search prior to entry.
Costumes: Knott’s may restrict themed attire during evening Halloween events, and costumes or accessories that conceal a guest’s identity are prohibited. Review the current Knott’s Code of Conduct before attending Scary Farm.
Alcohol: Beer and wine are available at select locations inside the park for guests ages 21 and older with a valid Driver’s License.
Re-Entry is not Permitted
Knott’s Scary Farm Rides & Attractions
Knott’s Scary Farm returns in 2026 with a new season of haunted mazes, scare zones, live shows and nighttime entertainment throughout the park. The event also keeps many Knott’s rides open after dark, creating a mix of haunted attractions and thrill rides during the night.
2026 Haunted Mazes
Knott’s 2026 maze lineup features a combination of new haunted experiences and returning favorites. Check the official Scary Farm event page before your visit for the current maze lineup and operating information.
2026 Scare Zones
Scare zones transform sections of Knott’s Berry Farm into open-air haunted environments filled with roaming monsters. Ghost Town Streets remains one of the event’s signature experiences.
Shows & Entertainment
In addition to the mazes and scare zones, Scary Farm features live entertainment and Halloween-themed performances throughout the night. Show schedules can vary by event date.
Rides During Scary Farm
Many of Knott’s Berry Farm’s major rides and roller coasters operate during Scary Farm, giving guests another option between mazes and scare zones. Ride availability is subject to weather, maintenance and event operations.
Past Scary Farm Mazes, Scare Zones, & Shows
- Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman (Maze)
- Widows (Maze)
- Bloodline 1842
- Carnevil
- The Chilling Chambers (Maze) – Pays homage to Scary Farms’ historic first maze
- Cinema Slasher (Maze)
- Forsaken Lake
- The Gauntlet (Scare Zone)
- Ghost Town Streets
- The Gore-ing 20s
- The Grimoire
- Into The Fog
- Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind
- Origins: The Curse of Calico
- Room 13 (Maze)
- Wax Works
Past Scary Farm Attraction Descriptions
Bloodline 1842
A maze through the battlegrounds of the war-torn streets of the city of Valdonia where a war rages between the immortal Daybreakers and the bloodthirsty Valhymphri.
Boo-fet
Enjoy a pre-terror all-you-can eat buffet dinner featuring Mrs. Knott’s fried chicken, a carving station, boysenberry pie, and other Knott’s signature items. Includes a souvenir cup, a digital download with a monster at the Boo-fet, and early entry to select Scary Farm areas.
CarnEVIL
If you like IT, you’ll like CarnEVIL. This scare zone is swarming with nightmarish clowns taking over the Knott’s Boardwalk – welcome to the carnival of the damned.
The Chilling Chambers
In honor of the first maze in Knott’s Scary Farm’s history, this ghastly attraction gives a nostalgic nod to the past. Guests are guided through the conservatory of horrors and into terrifying classic maze themes from the last 50 years of terror.
Cinema Slasher
Venturing through the mystical Midnight Theater into a trilogy of slasher movies. Where they are immersed into gothic horror, becoming movie characters who must attempt to escape from the slasher.
Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman
Enter a spooky colonial township that’s under siege by an inhuman monster, Eight Fingers Nine that preys from the dark.
Forsaken Lake
Beware the creatures that lurk near the lake below Silver Bullet. This major scare zone is back with forsaken souls and gothic undead searching for new victims to drag to their doom.
The Gauntlet
A reimagined version of the fan favorite, classic characters return to invade Camp Snoopy, but with fresh, terrifying twist. Guests encounter the King and Queen of the realm, maniacal jesters, brutal barbarians, wicked wizards, and lawless peasants.
Ghost Town Streets
The original scare zone is the most horrifying of the park. Beware the monsters lurking in the dark corners, the spine-chilling sliders lunging from the fog, and the freakish beasts who wander the streets. There’s no escaping the terror here.
Gore-ing ’20s
Experience gangsters and otherworldly musicians in this scare zone.
The Grimoire
A maze where dark stories turn your greatest nightmares into reality. Enter the world of a mysterious spell book and try to escape the demonic creatures inside.
Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind
Are you ready to confront your phobias? Enter the professor’s dark world of hypnosis and come face to face with what lies beyond.
Music, Monsters & Mayhem
This new show takes you on a provocative musical journey celebrating 50 years of terror and frights. Featuring a rockin’ score, wild laughs, and a cast of singing and dancing monstrosities.
Origins: The Curse of Calico
In this all-new maze, the town of Calico is plagued by the curse of Sarah Marshall. Accused of witchcraft, all her accusers have been transformed into the wicked undead, wandering the fog in search of fresh flesh to feast on.
Room 13
In this Prohibition-themed maze, guests investigate the violent murders at the Blid Tiger and look for answers in the extravagant and deadly Argive Hotel.
Wax Works
This maze is set in an abandoned wax museum where the formerly fabulous plastic surgeon Dr. Augustus Scratch has gone grotesque, torturing and tormenting his victims with terrifying tools and cauldrons of skin-scorching wax. Beware entry to Wax Works – you may wind up part of his next mutilated masterpiece.
Widows
Travel through a maze of spider possessed residents in a convalescent home.
Knott’s Scary Farm Fun Facts
- Knott’s Scary Farm has over 50 years of nightmares and is the longest-running Halloween event at a theme park.
- Knott’s Scary Farm was originally called the Halloween Haunt.
- One of the first mazes built for the event was Trail of Terror, located in Boot Hill Cemetery.
- It is one of the biggest Halloween-themed amusement park evenst.
- Scary Farm began as a 3-night event in 1973.
- The Green Witch is a legendary character created for the original event, and continues to be part of the annual Haunt.
- Charlene Parker has served as the Green Witch since 1982. She is the longest serving of the Haunt-sters.
- In 1977, a hydroloid swamp monster was the star of one of the early shows, “Sacrifice of Fire.”
- Popular actors have played roles in the annual Scary Farm event including Elvira and “Weird Al” Yankovic.
- Elvira, Mistress of the Dark had a recurring role at Scary Farm from 1982-2001.
- Ghost Town is the original scare zone, but the haunt eventually expanded to encompass the entire park.
- The “Terror of London” maze was one of Scary Farms most popular mazes and was based on the Jack the Ripper murders.
- Scary Farm combines humor with horror, and guests will find a variety of comedic shows and events during their visit to the park.
Knott’s Scary Farm FAQs
When is Knott’s Scary Farm 2026?
Knott’s Scary Farm runs on select nights from September 17 through October 31, 2026.
What age is Knott’s Scary Farm recommended for?
Knott’s Scary Farm is not recommended for children under 13, although there is no minimum age to attend. Families looking for a less frightening Halloween experience can consider the daytime Knott’s Spooky Farm event.
Does Knott’s Scary Farm require a chaperone?
Guests age 15 or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone age 21 or older. One chaperone may accompany up to 10 guests age 15 or younger.
Is Knott’s Scary Farm separate from regular park admission?
Yes. Knott’s Scary Farm is a separately ticketed nighttime event and regular daytime Knott’s Berry Farm admission does not include Scary Farm admission.
What is the difference between Scary Farm and Spooky Farm?
Scary Farm is Knott’s nighttime horror event with haunted mazes, scare zones and monsters and is recommended for ages 13 and older. Knott’s Spooky Farm is a daytime, family-friendly Halloween event designed for younger children and families.