Knott’s Berry Farm Update: Peanuts Celebration & Park Enhancements

After a hiatus in 2021, Peanuts Celebration returned this past weekend at Knott’s Berry Farm. Running daily from January 22nd through March 6th, join the Peanuts gang as the park is transformed to celebrate Charles Schultz’s classic characters. Plus, there’s a lot of news from around that park. Is that the piano of “Linus and Lucy” I hear in the distance? That means it’s time to get started!

Peanuts Celebration

This annual celebration is a tribute to the classic Peanuts characters, filled with plenty of returning entertainment, decorations, and food offerings. However, there are a few new things that have been sprinkled in too. And although it’s squarely aimed at kids, there’s so much heart and history here that most adults should love it nearly as much.

New for 2022: It’s Your Life Charlie Brown

New to the entertainment lineup this year is a celebrity showcase performance titled It’s Your Life, Charlie Brown. Of course, Charlie Brown is the star of this TV-land-esque presentation. 

The show consists of many of Charlie’s friends showing up and expressing appreciation of their friendship.

The show is full of campy music and classic Peanuts silliness. 

It’s Your Life Charlie Brown performs only a few times a day on Saturdays and Sundays at the Calico Mine Stage. If you enjoy contemporary silliness, be sure to check it out!

The Music Goes ‘Round and Around

Returning this year from 2018’s Peanuts Celebration is the Music Goes ‘Round and Round. Moving from the Calico Mine Stage to the Camp Snoopy Theater, this show features Sally, Schroeder, and Snoopy as they cover different music topics that Sally has to write about for a school report.

It’s still just as cute as before, but with a new set.

The Music Goes ‘Round and Around runs several times a day on the weekends. We really enjoyed this rocking little show.

Woodstock’s Music Festival

Another returning favorite is Woodstock’s Music Festival featuring local band Jelly of the Month Club. They rock out to silly family-friendly songs on the Calico Mine Stage, co-starring the Peanuts Gang. The music festival will run starting this weekend, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the rest of the event with additional performances on February 11th, 14th, and 21st.

As a last-minute substitution this previous weekend, Knott’s brought back Tomasina to help keep the rockin’ vibe throughout the night. It’s always a joy to see them back at the Farm.

Spike’s Silent Disco

Spike’s Silent Disco located at Fiesta Village Stage is also a returning offering. If you want to hear the DJ spin the tracks, You’ll need to slip on a set of headphones to join the party. The disco features the ability to swap between different music stations via a switch on the headphones. Spike even shows up throughout the night to meet his guests and perhaps appreciate a few cacti around Fiesta Village.

 

Other Entertainment:

Peanuts Sketch School: runs daily at the Big Cage Theatre in Ghost Town. Grab a seat and a clipboard to learn how to draw some of your favorite Peanut friends.

Peanuts Cowboy Jamboree: During the weekend, the Calico Square Stage invites you can giddy up with Franklin and Linus as they participate in some Western-themed challenges.

James Steet Trio: Over at the Boardwalk BBQ, join the James Street Trio as they jazz up your evening playing Vince Guaraldi music, the composer for Peanuts Specials.

Pigpen’s Pig Pen: In the heart of Ghost Town at the Livery Stables, you can join Pig Pen and some of his animal friends in some barn-raising fun.

A Trip to Beagle Bonanza: The Grand Sierra Railroad in Camp Snoopy once again takes riders on a trip to the Beagle Bonanza. Everywhere you look are the antics of the Peanuts gang, plus Snoopy causing trouble (the good-old-fashioned kind).

“Take Care with Peanuts” Exhibit: Calico City Hall hosts a small gallery celebrating the Peanuts comics and their author Charles Schulz.

A New Friend Joins The Gang

Also new for 2022, a classic Peanuts friend is joining the rest of the gang in Camp Snoopy. The sweet and intelligent Marcie is meeting her fans for the first time during the celebration.

Food Offerings

It’s not a Knott’s Celebration without unique food options. This season we have a lineup of Peanuts-inspired food offerings ranging from Peanut Butter & Jelly Burgers to Mac and Cheese Sloppy Joes to Buffalo Chicken Loaded French Fries. These seem like the kind of recipes kids would make if given the chance, so we’re sure they’ll be popular with younger guests. Take a look:

One of our favorites of this season’s line-up is Shermy’s Smoked Meat Sandwich at the Boardwalk BBQ. 

Rye bread, boysenberry mustard, pastrami, and swiss cheese create a unique flavor combination in this sandwich. And it’s on the dining plan!

Peanuts Celebration Decorations

Knott’s is decorated from head to toe with the Peanuts Gang. One of our favorite new additions to the park this year are the character planters sprinkled throughout the park.

We also love how the event’s gift stand is themed to Lucy’s Psychiatric Help Booth… But the retail therapy is going to cost you more than 5 cents.

Around the Farm

Let’s take a quick look around the rest of Knott’s Berry Farm and get caught up on some news. 

Season Passholder Snafu

If you’re one of the 2020-2021 season passholders who had their pass extended through May of this year, there’s a known problem with rollover of some of the passholder perks from the 2021 season. For example, several MiceChat staff members were initially unable to use their dining plan. If you’re having trouble, make sure to visit guest services and they’ll take care of it, no problem. It took just a few minutes for them to manually fix the rollover issue on our passes.

We’re still waiting on Knott’s to announce their plans for renewals on these passes, which will have a prorated cost due to their extension into part of the 2022 season.

Memory Lane Pie High Dream

Peanuts Celebration is not the only thing going on at the park. Knott’s is currently hard at work on a complete remodel of the Hollywood Hits Pizza Stand adjacent to Walter Knott’s Theater. Say goodbye to the walkup window for slices of pizza and soda, and hello to something brand new! They are well into demolition and much of the building was gutted, right down to the frame.

According to concept art from Knotts, it looks like the location will be getting a complete transformation. Additionally, the inside seems to be more of an open concept like the nearby Boardwalk BBQ.

We’re so excited to see this project. It not only serves as a well-needed indoor dining establishment but also perfectly fits the location. Instead of slices of pizza and ICEES, guests will be getting an array of Italian-inspired fare. The new restaurant is anticipated to be ready by this summer. It’s certainly a thematic upgrade over the previous outdoor counter-service. 

The one thing that is not certain at this point is the new name of the restaurant. The concept art pieces have several different names listed, so it’s possible that the final name has not been decided on yet. The one on the marquee concept art is the Pizza Pie Factory and Boysenbrewery. Whatever the name is, this remodel is a welcome addition to the recently renovated Memory Lane section, and we hope that the final product has as much charm as the rest of the updated land.

Nearby another construction fence has popped up between Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars and the Pie Factory gift shop. We are unsure if this space is being used for construction storage for the Pizza Restaurant remodel or if additional seating is being installed but it’s something to keep an eye on.

Refurb Round-up

Montezooma’s Revenge

First on our refurb report from Knott’s is the on-again, off-again, soon to be on-again refurb of Montezooma’s Revenge. Knott’s originally announced rather abruptly the historic coaster would be getting a major remodel and upgrades. The work was supposed to have begun a few weeks ago.

After a few days of closure, Knott’s then posted online the coaster will continue to run for a “limited time”. We are unsure when the work will begin but if you visit the park in the upcoming days be sure to take a ride while it’s still open. 

Calico Log Ride

It must be winter here in Southern California as Knott’s has started their annual refurbishment of the Calico Log Ride. Not to worry though, the historic attraction will return in the upcoming weeks. During our recent visit to the park, we caught maintenance replacing the belt on the first lift hill.

Supreme Scream

Another of the large attraction closures is Supreme Scream. 

The Drop Tower attraction currently has its gondolas disassembled, with the guest seats sitting around the launching pads.

Wipeout

Over at the Boardwalk section of the park, Knott’s has made little progress on Wipeout as the machine continues to be covered in tarps.

Although we did catch the park repainting the light poles around the attraction.

High Serra Ferris Wheel

Besides several other attractions closed in the park, this one has jumped out at us. The High Sierra Ferris Wheel has been closed for the past several weeks with no visible work on the attraction.

Trash Can Clean Up

It might seem like a small detail to most guests, but it’s a big deal to theme park geeks like us…

Around Knott’s Berry Farm the park has replaced and upgraded many of the park trash cans, as well as added new food waste receptacles around the park’s dining areas. On the Boardwalk, the already existing metal cans have new designs. Meanwhile, at Boardwalk BBQ and Coasters Dine-In, new double-barrel cans for both trash and food waste can be seen around the tables.

On the other side of the land, the recently remodeled Memory Lane area has received white metal trash cans with matching decorations. 

Double-barrel food waste trash cans can be outside of the now-closed Hollywood Hits dining area.

Meanwhile, over in Ghost Town, Camp Snoopy, and Fiesta Village areas, the park continues to use plastic barrel cans, but several cans have added new bifurcated lids that can hold both Food Waste and plastic recycling.

Additionally, outside of the park, in the California Marketplace, newly added green metal cans have been added.

Bear-y Tales Hibernation

As Peanuts Celebration begins, Knott’s is suspending the meet and greet visits for Boysen Bear, Moxie, and Junior Coyote. They are expected to return for Boysenberry Festival this spring, naturally.

Camp Snoopy Bench

Over in Camp Snoopy, outside the Grizzly Creek Lodge, a brand-new carved bench has been placed opposite of the already existing pair of Bear Benches. It’s definitely a quiet addition to the park.

Let’s Hear From You

That’s it for today. Is Peanuts Celebration calling to you?