Knott’s Scary Farm is back with new thrills and chills for its 52nd season, unleashing 28 nights of Halloween tricks and treats from September 18 to November 1. This year, the fog thickens with two all-new, bone-chilling mazes crafted by the twisted minds of Scary Farm legends Daniel Miller and Jon Asperin. Prepare yourself for another spine-tingling season at the original Halloween Haunt!
Below, we share a comprehensive guide to Knott’s Scary Farm Halloween Haunt 2025, where the creatures of the night lurk behind every corner. All the haunted mazes, scare zones, entertainment, food & merchandise you need to know about before you enter the fog…
Knott’s Scary Farm New Mazes For 2025
There are 10 mazes for the 2025 season of Scary Farm, including 2 new mazes, “Mary – The Haunting of Worth Home” and “The Zoo.”
NEW – Mary – The Haunting of Worth Home
Tragedy follows Mary— Bloody Mary, as she’s colloquially known. Following her family’s mysterious death, Mary was violently murdered and buried alive by jealous townsfolk. Speaking her name three times— Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary— summons her from the grave to aimlessly search for her family.
In the decades after Mary’s murder, her home has since become a Group Home for wayward teens. Hearing her name spoken, she follows, believing she has found her long-lost family.
Instead, she becomes enraged after finding her house inhabited by a group of teens.
While Mary: The Haunting of Worth House feels like a return to the archetypal haunted house, this is the definitive modern version. The maze is filled with devious little details that tell both Mary’s story and those who now live here.
Magic mirrors are a motif throughout; Mary is rarely far behind when you find one.
The Knott’s team really outdid themselves with just how much variety is present in this maze. It winds all around the house, the backyard, the greenhouse— each environment different from the last.
As you pass through the assortment of areas, Mary’s power grows into a crescendo of terror. She’s really not happy that you’re in her house, and the mirrors are not going to hold her back.
This is an absolutely gorgeous, can’t-miss maze of classic macabre nightmare-fuel. Jon and the Knott’s team have created a story worthy of the urban myth that it takes direct inspiration from. We’re sure you’ll be running screaming bloody mary…
Check out our teaser:
Jon Asperin treated us to some concept art of the creatures and Mary herself.
Jon’s storyboards reveal early looks at the locations, including the iconic chanting of Mary’s name in the mirror, which is prevalent in the classic Bloody Mary myth.
The maze includes a variety of locations, including a blood-soaked kitchen leading outside…
…and into a monstrous greenhouse. The variety was noted as impressive, considering this maze will be taking over the former Wax Works location. They’ve built an entire outdoor section right in the middle of a building.
We took a look at a few of the costumes for Mary – The Haunting of Worth Home. The wardrobe team had a particular focus on texture for this maze, creating contrast with the ragged and moldy appearance of the once beautiful outfits.
NEW – The Zoo
Secret government experimentation has turned the once exotic zoo into a terrifying laboratory of animal/human hybrids. The creatures have turned on their creators, taking over the compound and exacting their bloodthirsty revenge.
This is a monster maze. While Mary’s environments were varied, the focus here is on the dizzying assortment of demented hybrid creatures. What sort of wacko scientists would create such grisly abominations?
In standard Daniel Miller fashion, there’s blood, there’s gore, there are body parts in places they really don’t belong, and there are nightmarish monsters that look like they belong in a John Carpenter movie. If you’re sad that the body horror of Wax Works retired last year, you won’t be disappointed in The Zoo.
The maze often feels like a grotesque representation of its title. It’s a zoo, with distinct areas for different animals. Two that are especially intriguing in their peculiar displays are the Aviary and the Aquarium.
The Zoo is a can’t-miss freak show that pushes the envelope for what makes Knott’s Scary Farm so truly special— the scare actors. It’s exquisite in its twisted presentation of sci-fi body horror in a way that we’re sure will keep you coming back for more… particularly because it’s a two-for-one! After 11pm, the monsters chew through the power cables and plunge the entire facility into darkness, necessitating a provided flashlight to light your way.
Check out our teaser, which includes a look at both the evening lighting and the lights-out variant:
Daniel Miller shared some concept artwork, including the beautifully sculpted facade. Daniel’s facade for Widows last year was incredible; it seems he and the Scary Farm team have taken to outdoing themselves every year.
Daniel shared a story about being terrified by the half-human, half-animal hybrid creatures in the 1977 film, The Island of Dr. Moreau (and coincidentally finding similar monsters when he visited Scary Farm that year). For those who read last year’s Ghost Town Streets deep dive article, I explained that The Island of Dr. Moreau was the inspiration for the hybrid monsters of the original scare zone. That may give you some idea of what to expect, except it’s a bit more demented and soaked with blood and gore.
Daniel also shared some architectural illustrations of the spaces.
He was particularly excited about the Aviary, which, of course, is covered in bird poop. There was apparently a meeting requesting that more poop be added.
The Zoo includes a small callback to one of Daniel’s previous mazes. A giant frog head was saved by another Knott’s employee and turned into a deity, Frogulus. The murals inside The Zoo now include an easter egg declaring “Hail Frogulus.”
After 11pm, the story shifts into a search and rescue attempt, facilitated by the interactive flashlights similar to the beloved maze, Trick or Treat: Lights Out! These flashlights don’t do any of the color changes, vibrations, or cutting out that they did for Trick or Treat, but perhaps that’s for the best in the cramped, dark hallways of The Zoo.
We had a look at the maze’s blood-soaked and ravaged costumes.
The costumes for the Zoo are story reflections of what’s happened inside the laboratories. Rips, tears, blood, and a mysterious yellow substance…
Here’s a quick look at the process for the masks created for the monsters of the Zoo.
Knott’s Scary Farm Returning Mazes For 2025
Widows
Designed by the master of gore, Daniel Miller, Widows immerses you in a world where black widows have infested a convalescent home and the decaying bodies of the elderly residents. Don’t let them find you—avoid becoming their mate, or you’ll become the vessel for their evil brood. Can you avoid being bitten and trapped in the nest of widows? Creepy!
Widow’s is a prime example of how the creative team at Knott’s can take a seemingly absurd premise—giant spiders possessing elderly women—and turn it into something unexpectedly chilling. The maze is an unnervingly eerie experience, filled with sweet old ladies who are just so happy you came to visit.
The pacing and progression of the story are masterfully executed. What begins as an unsettling stroll through the nursing home’s halls gradually descends into the heart of the spider’s lair. Along the way, you’re treated to ominous vignettes, hinting that these spiders are doing far more than merely inhabiting the elderly…
Check out our deep dive into the spider’s lair of Widows:
Explore the Spider’s Lair: The Dark Secrets of Knott’s Widows!
Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman
Eight Fingers Nine: The Boogeyman is an original concept by Gus Krueger set in an 18th-century idyllic colonial town where an unimaginable horror waits for your slumber to feast…on you. The evil being has a sick propensity for fingers, and his bite, causing sleep paralysis, leaves you vulnerable to this bucolic boogeyman, so ‘Beware the dark!’
The boogeyman is a timeless cautionary tale told to children to discourage bad behavior, existing in various forms throughout history. Eight Fingers Nine taps into these age-old fears with its masterful use of nightmare-inducing imagery and eerily poetic narration.
Even when he isn’t physically present, Eight Fingers Nine seems to haunt every room. Many scenes evoke the sensation of stepping into a living nightmare—like entering a terrifying sleep paralysis episode—filled with horrific imagery that lingers long after you’ve left.
What begins as a descent into nightmares gradually shifts into a dark fantasy— this haunted house is rich with unexpected twists and layers.
Venture into your darkest nightmares with our deep dive into Eight Fingers Nine:
The Secrets Behind Knott’s Twisted Fairytale: Eight Fingers Nine
The Chilling Chambers
Inside a towering cathedral, The Keeper maintains chambers of familiar horrors of Scary Farm’s past. Enter the keyhole portals, transporting you to each chamber filled to bursting with 50+ years of nostalgia. It’s a conservatory where Scary Farm mazes go to die… and now, live again!
The Chilling Chambers features four former mazes: The Asylum, Doll Factory, The Underground, and Carnival of Carnivorous Clowns, all wrapped up in a neat package and delivered by way of keyhole portals.
Departing mazes have a tendency to resurface in The Chilling Chambers.
During Nightmares Revealed, we had a chance to visit The Chilling Chambers with the lights on. We already recognized this as one of the most detailed mazes Knott’s has ever created, but it truly is incredibly packed with Halloween Haunt history.
Here’s a gallery of some highlights from the lights-on tour:
They could potentially keep and update the Keeper’s crypt forever… and we hope they do!
Take a look at our teaser:
Cinema Slasher
Enter the mystical Midnight Theater, venture into the silver screen, and become the cast of a trilogy of horror films in Cinema Slasher. This maze is not only an homage to classic slasher horror films, but also three former Scary Farm mazes: Slaughterhouse, Trick or Treat, and Camp Gonnagetcha. It’s thrilling to see so much Scary Farm history presented in exciting new ways.
Let’s all go to the lobby… and buy ourselves a snack…
Just watch out for not only the slasher, but also other monsters like fan-favorite Stabby, the killer popcorn bucket. He’s so popular that he’s now adorning a whole merchandise line.
Check out our teaser:
Room 13
A mysterious beverage, the Devil’s Elixir, has taken over the Prohibition-era Memory Lane. Violent murders at the local speakeasy, the Blind Tiger, have put the green drink into the spotlight. This maze is a direct tie-in to the popular Gore-ing 20’s scare zone that’s taken over Memory Lane for the last few years.
Where did this dreadful green aperitif come from? Why does it turn those who partake into hideous creatures? Find your way through the extravagant Argile Hotel, where the answer lies inside Room 13.
Check out our short video for a quick taste of the Devil’s Elixir:
Origins: The Curse of Calico
Put on trial for her evil witchcraft, Sarah Marshall seeks to curse all those who accused her. Origins seeks to tie the mythology of Ghost Town and Scary Farm together, including Ghost Town Streets, The Hanging, Grimoire, and 2021’s Invitation to Terror. It all culminates into a cohesive story that begins with the Green Witch and her cursed book, the Grimoire.
During Nightmares Revealed, we had a chance to check out Origins: The Curse of Calico with the LIGHTS ON. It’s another one that is filled with details that are easily missed in the dark. Enjoy this full gallery of the experience:
Origins is now the oldest maze in the Scary Farm lineup, even outlasting its follow-up, The Grimoire. Its iconic status has made it integral to the Scary Farm storyline and remains one of our alltime favorites.
Making their final fright at Knott’s Scary Farm are Grimoire and Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind. Be sure to pay your final respects to these two beloved ghastly beauties.
FINAL YEAR – Grimoire
An ancient relic demands a blood sacrifice…A home-run hit, the story of the decades of murders at the hands of those possessed by the Grimoire returns.
The storytelling in Grimoire is some of Scary Farm’s best, following those past events into the present (of the 1980s), where a group of friends is in for a terrifying discovery.
FINAL YEAR – Mesmer: Sideshow of the Mind
Take a stroll through one of the most bewildering sideshows ever devised. Preying on your hidden fears, master hypnotist Mesmer and his performers lure you into increasingly impressive illusions and special effects.
Knott’s Scary Farm Scare Zones
The Haunted Houses get all of the attention, but the scares spill out into the streets and dark corners of Knott’s Halloween Haunt as the “Scare Zones” provide the ambiance that makes Knott’s Scary Farm truly unique.
The Gauntlet
A reimagined version of a classic fan favorite, this scare zone loosely ties into the gothic motif of the nearby Chilling Chambers maze. The Gauntlet returns the King and Queen of the realm, as well as a cast of maniacal jesters, brutal barbarians, wicked wizards, and lawless peasants with an enthusiasm for terror.
Ghost Town Streets
The original scare zone returns to terrify all those who enter the fog-shrouded Ghost Town. Cursed by the Green Witch, bands of tortured and monstrous beings roam the evil fog of Calico, seeking their next victims. Beware the notoriously startling Sliders who lunge from every fog-filled corner of the land. This is a nightmare we hope never ends.
While the entire Haunt belongs to the Green Witch, she has a particular soft spot for terrorizing the monsters around Ghost Town Streets.
Ghost Town Streets and Knott’s Scary Farm’s history are intertwined and inseparable. For a deep dive into the terrifying story, check out our Ghost Town Streets article:
The Original Fright: The Legacy of Ghost Town Streets at Knott’s Scary Farm
CarnEvil
Strange and ferocious clowns take over the Boardwalk for CarnEvil. The wicked clowns terrify and play tricks on anyone who dares enter their wretched carnival. Knott’s band of killer clowns have become nearly as iconic as the denizens of Ghost Town streets. A classic!
Forsaken Lake
Dredged from beneath Reflection Lake, gothic creatures emerge from the dark and murky waters to prey on unsuspecting visitors. This scare zone is unique due to its impromptu funeral procession march. We recommend grabbing some food from the revived Fiesta Village and taking time to enjoy it in Forsaken Lake to soak up the ambiance and performances.
Gore-ing 20’s
Take a trip back in time to the bloody streets of Prohibition-era Memory Lane. The Gore-ing 20’s fill the street with those with a drink in hand versus the protestors against the Devil’s Elixir. This scare zone is less scary and more atmospheric, complete with a live band and dancing on the second level of the Walter Knott Theater.
This is a really photogenic scare zone…
Knott’s Scary Farm Entertainment
What?! The haunted houses and scare zones aren’t enough for you? Well, never fear (or do) because Knott’s packs its stages with unique Scary Farm entertainment as well.
The Hanging: There’s a New Tariff in Town
The wild, raunchy, and sidesplitting spectacle of “The Hanging” is back, with a new tagline that’s sure to “piss everyone off,” as Jeff Tucker put it. This year’s show, “There’s a New Tariff in Town,” promises a relentless barrage of irreverent pop-culture satire and high-octane action.
No one and nothing is safe from being “hung out to dry” in this no-holds-barred performance at the Wagon Camp. This year, the Hangman and Hangie have already found the perfect victim, but they immediately get bored with how easy it is to find worthy victims to hang.
The show quickly diverts into a rapid-fire lampoon of what has been a pretty full year for pop culture. It must have been rather hard to narrow the choices down, but Tucker clearly landed on Universal Epic Universe and Minecraft being the driving forces. Everything pops out of a Minecraft-ed structure or an Epic Universe portal.
The Hanging is infamous for its celebrity “cameos,” whether they be living or dead. When one is as beloved as Ozzy Osbourne, they get a wonderful tribute.
But for some celebrities, the jokes just write themselves…
The Hanging definitely had a Pedro Pascal theme running throughout.
They couldn’t help themselves from beating up on Knott’s Berry Farm’s parent company again— literally.
You know that The Hanging’s team will touch on anything when they go from Sydney Sweeney’s jeans and Margaret Qualley’s sexy Sue character from The Substance to…
…this guy killing it as Elphaba.
The Hanging even includes some more recent references. Weapons only released last month. Don’t be surprised if you see more changes/additions as the season continues.
There’s a New Tariff in Town is just as irreverent as ever and remains a ludicrously hilarious standout show. While this year’s Hanging shelved much of the political commentary, the sheer number of silly pop cultural incidents this year meant that Jeff Tucker had plenty of material to piss off the widest range of people. These kinds of big stage productions are what set Scary Farm apart from other Halloween attractions, and the Hanging is a shining example of excellence in the space.
Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque
Featuring a series of hair-raising stunts, Carnaval du Grotesque showcases even more intense, death-defying carnival acts this year. The show has received a bit of an overhaul with a completely new storyline and new performers.
Following Oopsy-Daisy’s resurrection of the Carnaval’s ringmaster last year, the story has been pushed into the future, spinning the show as a dreamlike state for a new heroine to stumble upon.
Of course, Oopsy-Daisy is quite protective of the show and doesn’t approve of snooping.
Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque features three circus acts: an aerialist, a balancing act, and a fire dancer.
Sandwiched between the acts are the recurring dancers who have been with the show since its inception.
Throughout Carnaval du Grotesque, you’ll find little vignettes of the newcomer as she grows and becomes more confident in her search for the ringmaster’s staff.
Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque is a show that’s always evolving. We appreciate the effort that goes into keeping things fresh in what could easily become just another circus show. Carnaval du Grotesque is nothing of the sort, perfectly blending theatrical elements with the thrilling circus acts.
Conjurers
Get ready to be astonished as a master Illusionist takes the stage at the world-famous Bird Cage Theater. Brian Ochab will keep you guessing with his expert misdirection—you’ll think you’ve figured out the trick, but you’re in for a surprise!
Knott’s Scary Farm Attraction Overlays
Calico Candy Mountain Mine Ride
A saccharine-sweet ride through the Calico Candy Mountain turns sinister during Scary Farm. During the last few years, the attraction has had a candy theme by day, and a more wicked version at night. Check out what the Pink Fairy really has going on in the mine:
Timber Mountain Log Ride: Halloween Hootenanny
The kooky monsters of Timber Mountain have come together for a quirky Halloween Hootenanny. Jam out to the Krazy Kirk and Hillbillies soundtrack and see just what the monsters have planned.
Knott’s Scary Farm Merchandise/Legacy Haunt Store & Museum
Nestled into the California Marketplace outside the park, Knott’s has returned the huge Legacy Haunt Store and Museum (where the Emporium normally resides). The space is filled with homages to previous Scary Farm mazes in an experience that you don’t need a ticket to the Haunt to experience.
Knott’s, of course, has a completely new lineup of merchandise. Stabby, the late addition breakout hit of Cinema Slasher, is a fan favorite this year.
Merchandise manager Karl Busche explained that this year’s Loungefly bag may be quite popular as it’s the first clear Loungefly bag! That means it’s compliant with the Knott’s Scary Farm bag policy. We lamented that you could not bring the official Scary Farm bag into the event in the past, but no more!
Knott’s continues its legacy of spooky apparel, including t-shirts, hoodies, and Spirit Jerseys.
Most things are designed to glow in the Scary Farm blacklight.
We’re certain that the hoodie (above) and the Spirit Jerseys (including one with a very Bewitched styling) will be big sellers.
We appreciate the love being shown to the terrifyingly talented scare zone actors, the sliders!
Check out our full article (with video!) of the shop from previous years:
Knott’s Scary Farm 50th Anniversary: Legacy Haunt Store & Museum!
Knott’s Scary Farm Food
Halloween treats this year are still exotic, but perhaps not the way you’d expect. Many items actually glow under blacklight, so you can signal to all the monsters that not only are you tasty, but so is what you’re eating.
Food and Beverage Director Wilf Seymour told me that the mushrooms on this pizza are skulls, but they look a bit like pig snouts to me. A spooky topping either way.
The Knott’s team even created some wings as black as The Green Witch’s heart… The “Blood Moon Bat Wings”
These were named “Ghoulrean Meatball Tots,” a sinister twist on Korean meatballs. Knott’s knows how to make meatball dishes. I could eat a whole bowl.
Wilf’s team went overboard on the desserts again. What’s Halloween without sweets? The Killer Brownie Funnel Cake looks like it’s going to require a few souls to properly lay to rest. There was also a (vegan!) Biscoff cookie dish that I will definitely be seeking out when Scary Farm kicks off.
Here’s a full gallery of the food:
Nightmares Revealed
Every year, Knott’s unveils their plans for the Halloween Haunt at a special event called “Nightmares Revealed.” It’s a wonderful kickoff to the season and a great way to get buzz going on social media and fan sites like MiceChat. While the season has kicked off already, we’re including some of the photos from the August event.
This year’s Nightmares Revealed event began with a hanging! The Hangman dragged the accused witch, Sarah Marshall, to the gallows— a classic scene from Scary Farm past playing out in its original location of Calico Square.
Of course, Sarah slipped the noose, reappearing in a flash as the Green Witch.
Following Marshall’s daring escape, the dark steward of Scary Farm played our favorite game: “What will Jeff Tucker climb out of this year?” …A wine barrel… we hope it was a good vintage.
His two drag artist co-hosts, The Boulet Brothers, were in on the running gag, climbing out of large coffins.
Tucker and the Boulet Brothers announced all the mazes, shows, and scare zones coming to Knott’s Scary Farm this year, including two new mazes. The two drag performers also announced that they would be appearing throughout the season for meet-and-greets. Finally, we were treated to a follow-up panel with haunt maze designers and producers, Chris Do, Daniel Miller & Jon Asperin.
Reminder: Scary Farm Chaperone and Bag Policy
Knott’s Berry Farm has implemented a strict chaperone policy in an attempt to curb unruly behavior.
- Guests aged 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone of at least 21 years old (after 4 pm).
- Chaperones must have a valid government-issued photo ID.
- 1 chaperone may accompany no more than 10 guests.
- Chaperones must accompany their party during the entire length of the visit.
- Guests aged 15 years old or younger will not be admitted. Any found without a chaperone will be subject to ejection.
Unaccompanied guests under 15 will be turned away.
In addition, Scary Farm is bringing back the strict bag policy, but allows transparent bags of a certain size. Here are the size limits:
- Clear plastic bags – 12” x 12” x 6”
- Non-clear wristlets or clutches – 5”x 8”x 2”
Make sure you pay attention to the rules so you don’t have to make the long walk of shame back to the car to stow your bag!
Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-Fet
Each Scary Farm event night, Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant offers a special buffet dinner attended by monsters! Along with a hearty meal, you’ll receive a 2025 souvenir bottle and a digital download of your photo with one of the ghoulish characters. After dinner, enjoy early access to select areas of Scary Farm, including the two brand-new mazes!
The Knott’s Scary Farm Boo-fet starts at $45, with separate Scary Farm admission required.
We’re hoping to see a return of the Midnight Breakfast Buffet. It was a great way to cap off the evening with some delicious breakfast food—all for under $25!
Knott’s Scary Farm Season Pass
With how much there is to see, the Knott’s Scary Farm season pass may be a good value for you. Scary Farm Season Passes are $155 for Knott’s Berry Farm passholders and $160 for standalone passes. Knott’s may increase the price at the start of the season. They’re in limited quantity, so get yours before they sell out!
Let’s Hear From You
Let’s Hear From You!
We’d love to hear what you think of this year’s lineup for Knott’s Scary Farm’s 52nd season. Both new mazes are fantastic feats and sure to be big hits. But which maze sounds like your favorite? Are you excited about the return of “The Hanging?” How does Knott’s Scary Farm compare to other theme park Halloween offerings? Share your thoughts with us below.
See you in the fog…