Knott’s Berry Farm has announced that the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival returns March 13 and runs daily through April 12, 2026. The annual food-focused event features over 100 boysenberry-inspired food and beverage items spread across 33 food and drink locations, live entertainment, merchandise, and family activities throughout the park.
The Boysenberry Festival is included with regular park admission or a season pass, making it one of the best values among Southern California theme park events. The festival runs during regular park hours for the full month.
Tasting Card: What It Is and What It Costs
The centerpiece of the festival is the Tasting Card, which gives guests six tastings from a selection of boysenberry-inspired dishes and drinks at 11 food booths throughout the park. The 2026 Tasting Card is priced at $55 for general guests and $45 for Knott’s passholders. Cards can be purchased online ahead of time or at the park during the event.
Beyond the Tasting Card booths, another 22 a la carte locations offer additional boysenberry items at individual prices. Between the tasting card and a la carte options, there are over 100 unique boysenberry food and drink items available during the festival.
New Menu Highlights for 2026
This year’s festival introduces several new items alongside returning favorites. New savory options include spicy boysenberry bulgogi served over steamed rice and topped with green onions, a reuben ball with spicy boysenberry thousand island dressing, and a double-stuffed baked potato with boysenberry BBQ brisket.
On the sweet side, new additions include a boysenberry and pineapple upside-down cake, a boysenberry meringue tart, deep-fried coconut cream bao buns with a boysenberry drizzle, and a boysenberry shortcake sushi roll. There is also a vegan and gluten-free boysenberry swirl cheesecake for guests with dietary restrictions.
The drink lineup includes a boysenberry paloma, boysenberry and kiwi lemonade, boysenberry tequila sunrise, boysenberry West Coast IPA, boysenberry sangria, and a michelada with boysenberry chamoy, chili powder, and a tamarind stick.
Select Tasting Card Booth Highlights
The Gold Mine Trail Booth features the spicy boysenberry bulgogi, boysenberry BBQ meatballs over mashed potatoes, boysenberry beef brisket over mac and cheese, and the boysenberry sauteed mushroom with creamy vegetarian orzo.
The Ghost Town Bakery offers the boysenberry meringue tart, boysenberry and pineapple upside-down cake, boysenberry bear claw, and a giant palmier cookie dipped in boysenberry white chocolate.
Ghost Town Grub serves a deep-fried churro with boysenberry Bavarian cream and boysenberry soft serve, and the Boysenberry Brick, a fried brioche with boysenberry jam and boysenberry soft serve.
Entertainment and Activities
The festival brings back the popular pie-eating contest with a new twist. Boysen Bear’s Pie Kitchen Games in Calico Park invites guests to help stop coyote pups Moxie and Brawny from stealing all the pies before celebrating at the Boysen Bear’s Pie Eating Contest on the Calico Mine Stage.
The newly renovated Birdcage Theatre presents The Great Bank Robbery, a new stage show for 2026. The returning Knott’s Preserved show takes guests on a musical journey from Calico to the Seaside Boardwalk of the Roaring ’20s.
Old MacDonald’s Barn returns with horses, goats, and other animals for younger guests. The History of the Boysenberry Museum at Town Hall highlights the berry’s impact on the Knott family and Southern California, telling the story of how Walter Knott’s roadside berry stand grew into one of America’s first theme parks.
The Boysenberry Festival Crafts Fair features over two dozen local craft vendors in Ghost Town, and the Tied Up in Knott’s art show returns at The Factory Store.
Festival Details
- Dates: March 13 through April 12, 2026 (daily)
- Location: Knott’s Berry Farm, 8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park, California
- Tasting Card Price: $55 general / $45 for passholders
- Tasting Card Tastings: 6 tastings at 11 participating booths
- Total Food Locations: 33 (11 tasting card + 22 a la carte)
- Admission: Included with regular park admission or season pass
Guests can also stay at the Knott’s Hotel, located steps from the park entrance, for a full weekend at the festival. Tickets and tasting cards are available at knotts.com.
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Source: Knott’s Berry Farm, Orange County Register
