Spring is officially here and that means that The Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is in full swing!  My family and I always look forward to this festival because it’s one of the most unique berry celebrations we attend on a regular basis.

The boysenberry has an interesting history on how it ended up at Knott’s Berry Farm.  This little berry originated in Napa County in 1921 where Mr. Rudolph Boysen cross pollinated the blackberry, red raspberry and loganberry, creating this delicious and interesting fruit. The plants grew in size, so Mr. Boysen transported his original plants to a new home near Anaheim.

Mr. Knott heard about this new little berry he just had try.  He searched and searched for Mr. Boysen, calling all the Boysens listed in the phone book until he finally found him.  By then, Mr. Boysen had sold the land on which the berries were planted, but were able to locate a few remaining plants.  Mr. Knott brought these plants home and named them “Boysenberry” in honor of Mr. Boysen.

In 1934, Mr. Knott introduced the Boysenberry to the public by placing advertisements in all agricultural magazines.  Orders poured in and this berry quickly became the most popular berry at Knott’s Berry Farm.

Now, Knott’s Berry Farm celebrates this juicy berry with its annual Boysenberry Festival, showcasing new menu items and products sold all over the park with the boysenberry as the major ingredient.

From now until April 8, 2018 guests of Knott’s Berry Farm can enjoy over 80 new and returning boysenberry-inspired creations developed by the Knott’s creative culinary team.

The best way to try the signature items is by purchasing a $30 tasting card.  It offers 8 of the new food options per card.  Other items can be purchased a la carte.  Boysenberry wine and Boysenberry beer and cider are also available in the beer garden.

The Boysenberry Festival 20180 Tasting Card includes:

•Slow Cooked Boysenberry Short Rib  
Boysenberry hoisin sauce, buttery basmati rice, chopped green onions

•Boysenberry Pierogies 
Boysenberries, sautéed onions, Applewood smoked bacon, boysenberry sour cream

•Boysenberry Cheese Quesadilla 
Mozzarella cheese, cotija cheese, boysenberry salsa, boysenberry sour cream

•Boysenberry Elote 
Corn on the cob, boysenberry mayonnaise, boysenberry butter

•Boysenberry Coconut Macaroon 
Dipped in chocolate ganache

•Boysenberry Hummus with Grilled Pita Bread 
Vegetarian

•Boysenberry Sausage on a Bun 
Freshly baked roll, boysenberry ketchup, relish, mustard

•Boysenberry Chicken Wings

You can also take boysenberry goodies home!  Knott’s Berry Farm has boysenberry merchandise vendors located throughout the park.  From Boysenberry cotton candy, Boysenberry Jelly Belly, Knott’s Sugar-Free Boysenberry Punch, Boysenberry BBQ Sauce and Boysenberry Cream Soda are just a few  items for sale.

A festival just isn’t a festival without some good ol’ fashioned entertainment:

  • Tied up in Knott’s! – “Tied Up in Knott’s!” is a tribute art show to the rich history of Knott’s Berry Farm, its beginnings as a farm and its standing as a Southern California institution for millions of visitors during its (almost) 100-year history. More than a dozen artists will be contributing pieces to the show, which pays homage to Knott’s Berry Farm’s past, present and future in various mediums including oil paintings, illustrations and digital mixed media. These original pieces will be hung on display at the Wilderness Dance Hall during the duration of the Boysenberry Festival and Guests will have the opportunity to purchase many of the pieces, as well as prints of some of the art.
  • Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree! – Guests are invited to join Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the entire Peanuts Gang in a show that will have families dancing and playing along at the Calico Mine Stage.
  • Old Time Melodrama – Knott’s pays tribute to its past at the Legendary Bird Cage Theatre with a special presentation of the musical comedy melodrama with a surprising boysenberry twist!
  • Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies – A group of krazy talented performers will have guests toe-tappin’, vine dancin’ and knee-slappin’ to a comedic country music show at the Wagon Camp stage.
  • Ghost Town Miners – The joy of scrumptious food and country music encompass guests as the Ghost Town Miners take the stage in a fun musical performance.
  • Easter Beagle – Spring has sprung all around the park including in Camp Snoopy where guests can meet everyone’s favorite beagle as he celebrates the season.
  • Ghost Town’s Town Hall– In honor of the famous berry that started it all, guests are invited to learn the history of the boysenberry and how Walter and Cordelia Knott started the Farm.
  • Old MacDonald Petting Zoo – Young ones and young at heart are invited to cozy up to the cutest critters on the farm including horses, sheep, goats and other furry friends.

Entertainment is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm.  Check dates and times and plan your fun-filled day by clicking here.  Follow along on social on Facebook and  Twitter  with the hashtags #BoysenberryFestival and #KnottsBerryFarm.

I was invited to a day of fun at the Boysenberry Festival by Knott’s Berry Farm staff to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.  Thank you for supporting the brands that make this website possible.