Christmas lights wrapped around every tree, the smell of holiday food in the air, and you’re walking into Knott’s Merry Farm with your crew, trying to figure out what to hit first – the ice show, the rides, or Santa himself. From November 21, 2025 through January 4, 2026, you get a full-on winter wonderland in the middle of Orange County, with live shows, glowing decorations, festive eats, and those classic Knott’s vibes that turn your regular night out into a legit holiday tradition.
What You Can’t Miss at Knott’s Merry Farm
With thousands of holiday lights flipped on across the park between November 21, 2025 and January 4, 2026, this event will easily become part of your must-do list pretty fast. You’ll want time for the holiday ice show with Snoopy, the Snow and Glow in Calico, Santa’s Christmas Cabin, and at least one lap through the Christmas Crafts Village. Add a few classic rides, a meatball hoagie with cranberry gastrique, and a cup of gourmet hot chocolate and suddenly you’ve built your own perfect Merry Farm day.
Event Highlights
Right away you’re hit with the old fashioned sites and sounds of the holidays. You can bounce from Santa’s Christmas Cabin to Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, then stroll the Christmas Crafts Village for hand-carved wood gifts and glass blowing demos. Wrap it up with the nightly Parkwide Holiday Lighting Moment and the Snow and Glow in Calico, where the whole street literally dances to Christmas music around you.
Yummy Treats and Festive Drinks
Ever notice how the holidays just taste different when you’ve got something warm and sugary in your hands? As you wander from Ghost Town to Santa’s Christmas Cabin, you’re basically walking through a park-sized dessert menu, where every stop is another excuse to sip, snack, and say “ok, just one more bite” even when you know you’re already full.
Crafty Fun for Everyone
Five minutes after you wander into Ghost Town, you realize you’ve basically stumbled into an open-air holiday workshop, because every corner of the Christmas Crafts Village pulls you into something hands-on. You watch chainsaw artists carving 6-foot bears, glassblowers shaping ornaments right in front of you, and then you’re suddenly picking out hand-painted signs or custom leather goods with your family name on them. Kids are busy with DIY projects, you’re hunting for gifts, and somehow it all feels like you stepped into a little hometown market plopped in the middle of Knott’s.
What’s Cooking in Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen?
Over 1,000 cookies a day come rolling out of Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, and you get to jump right into the sugar-frosted chaos. You can grab a giant sugar cookie or classic gingerbread, then pile on red-and-green sprinkles, frosting, and candy bits however your kids like it – or you, no judgment. Because it’s open select days between November 21 and January 4, you’ll want to plan this stop so nobody melts down before the icing does.
Here’s Your Sign to Visit Knott’s Scary Farm this Season
Summing up the way holiday theme parks keep leveling up every year, you can feel how Knott’s Merry Farm is dialing straight into your nostalgia while still giving you fresh experiences to talk about. This year’s season of Knott’s Merry Farm is not to be missed!s
