Today, In the Parks visits Knott’s Berry Farm as they get ready to kick off the wonderful Berry Bloom event.  What is the Berry Bloom?  It’s a springtime festival of food, crafts and music that has become one of our favorite events of the year.  We will tell you all about Berry Bloom, which opens Saturday, April 12th.  We’ll also share the wonderful improvements happening all over the park.  The Calico Mine Train is under refurbishment right now and is on track to reopen this summer with impressive new animatronics. Camp Snoopy is also under refurbishment and is aiming to open this summer as well.  Around the park things look shiny and bright, with a sense of renewal in the air as springtime approaches.

Berry Bloom

The Berry Bloom is returning to Knotts Berry Farm this year from April 12-27th. Last year was the first for this event, which was surprisingly good. Greatly expanded for 2014, Berry Bloom is a colorful, homespun berry festival that features the park’s amazing food, music and new live entertainment. We visited the park as they were setting things up for the weekend kick off.  What you see in the pics below isn’t the finished product, but a preview of things to come this weekend.

This year, Knotts is planning on going back to their roots.  As part of Berry Bloom, Ghost Town will be the location of the Ghost Town Boysenberry Festival.  Here they will be recreating the original Knott’s Berry stand where you can buy your very own Boysenberry bush.  In fact, near Silver Bullet they have planted rows of Boysenberry vines in the remaining farmland under the attraction.

Over in Ghost Town, the Main Street is getting all spiffed up.  Booths have popped up in various spots where arts and crafts will be sold.

Peanuts Party In The Park

One of our absolute favorite entertainment offerings from last year’s Berry Bloom returns to Charleston Circle in the Boardwalk area of the park.  Peanuts Party in the Park was an infectiously fun 20 minute live stage show held in the round.  This year it has gotten much larger and more permanent.  See the progress on the stage for yourself.

But there is a LOT more coming for Berry Bloom.  The Wilderness Dance Hall will again be home to a spectacular array of gourmet food and wine offerings from around the world.  We simply cannot wait to head to Knott’s this Saturday for the second Annual Berry Bloom.  Be sure to check back on MiceChat Sunday morning for a full review of the event along with pics and video.

Camp Snoopy

Now let’s stroll through Camp Snoopy to see how the work there is coming along.  They are currently in the process of refurbishing this special section of the park as it will soon celebrate its 30 year anniversary.

Despite the construction, Snoopy is still there with welcoming arms!

Below is the artist concept released by Knott’s when the renovation of the land was announced. Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer invites campers to “fly a kite” with Charlie Brown and soar above the land’s winding paths and babbling streams – but watch out for the kite-eating tree! This 32-passenger adventure allows guests to sit side-by-side on 16 swings for a spin that whisks riders up to 18 feet above the ground. As the tree rises, good ol’ Charlie Brown is revealed upside down and all tied up in kite string! Charlie Brown’s Kite Flyer will replace Snoopy Bounce.

Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies lets tykes climb aboard their very own all-terrain vehicle for an adventurous ride around the High Sierras. Six four-seater ATVs will spin, bounce, and bump up to 24 guests at a time, while Pig Pen looks on from his center perch. Pig Pen’s Mud Buggies will replace Log Peeler.

Linus Launcher recreates that classic Peanut’s moment when Snoopy grabs Linus’ blanket and launches him on a wild ride. On Linus Launcher, guests lay on one of twelve “blankets” as they fly round and round. Up to 24 guests lay side-by-side while Snoopy launches them up almost 10 feet in the air. Guests will enjoy a Woodstock’s-eye view of Huff ‘n Puff, The Grizzly Creek Lodge, and all of Camp Snoopy below! Linus Launcher will replace Charlie Brown’s Speedway.

Here we first encounter the space previously taken by GR8 SK8.  Things are all torn up here.

Looking through the construction walls at the main thoroughfare of the land, we see plenty of path work.

Looking down from the nearby restaurant we get a close look at the waterfalls and rock work.  Let’s hope that they will be getting the attention they deserve.  So far it doesn’t seem like much has been touched in this spot.

Looking at the upcoming attractions we don’t see too much progress just yet.  But it’s still pretty early on.

On the other end of Camp Snoopy, a few of the old rides are still open while construction walls weave a very tight path through the site.

Fish Pond Break!

Let’s take a quick break and enjoy the fish pond.  It is great to see that Knott’s doesn’t feel the need to capitalize on every square inch on the park. Quite spots like this are what make theme parks special.

Calico Mine Train

We next check up on the progress being made at the Calico Mine Ride.  Knott’s Berry Farm is upgrading the sound and lighting, while Garner Holt Productions develops the new show scenes and installs new animatronics and show effects. (Here’s a link to Garner’s recent article about the renovation of the classic Mine Train last year)

A tremendous amount of work is going on with the exterior of the attraction.  We can only imagine the amount of work inside

There you have it folks.  News from the farm.  There is a lot of work happening right now that is setting the park up for a successful summer season.  By the time June rolls around, Knott’s will have renovated two of its most elaborate and celebrated dark rides, and they will have expanded the roster of real fun for the whole family attractions.  Camp Snoopy will be returned to its former glory with new rides and fresh landscaping and theme enhancement.

But you don’t have to wait until the summer to get out to the fair and have fun.  Berry Bloom starts THIS WEEKEND and runs through the 27th.  If this year is anything like last year, it is going to be a heck of a lot of fun.  See you again on Sunday for a full report and review of the festivities!