Knott’s Berry Farm has mastered the art and science of hosting a food, beer and wine festival during a pandemic as the Taste of Fall-O-Ween takes lessons learned over the past few months and adds a Halloween twist to the festivities.
If you’ve been to Taste of Calico in July or Taste of Knott’s in August then you have a pretty good idea of what to expect with Taste of Fall-O-Ween. Take two dozen food booths spread throughout the Buena Park theme park, add a heavy dose of fall seasonal decor and throw in a smidgen of Knott’s Scary Farm for good measure.
Judge Barry L. Plotz watches guests walk by at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Karen Rader of Mission Viejo wears her festive mask and outfit at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A Graveyard Funnel Cake at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A young girl waves to a scary looking character at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A skeleton decorated for the holiday at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tables and umbrellas sit under a decorated buildings at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Scott Kurachi, left takes a selfie with his mom, Carla Kurachi and brother, Enen Chuukon, all of Simi Valley, at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors, some in costume, walk around at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jason Ybarra, left, and Cat Malinger of Riverside dressed as ghosts, take a selfie with a character on stilts at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
AJ Danna of Burbank wears his festive mask at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors, some in costume, walk around at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Ghoulish Pumpkin Bun at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Cathy Spence of Lomita wears her festive headband at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors, some in costume, walk around at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bubbles fly through the air as visitor make their way around Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
As people looks on, a visitor tries his luck at Hang Time at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Visitors in costume make their way around Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skeletons sit under the shade of their umbrellas at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Festively dressed visitors walk around Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1.
in Buena Park, CA on Saturday, September 26, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Scary pumpkins provide a perfect backdrop for a group photo at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Calico Coffin Creepers perform at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1.
in Buena Park, CA on Saturday, September 26, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Guests take a break in the shade at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1.
in Buena Park, CA on Saturday, September 26, 2020. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fall decorations at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Skeletons take their seats on a ride at Knott’s Berry Farm Taste of Fall-O-Ween on Saturday, September 26, 2020 in Buena Park. The event opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Knott’s Taste of Fall-O-Ween opened on Friday, Sept. 25 and runs on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. Advance reservation tickets are required to allow Knott’s to limit capacity in the park.
SEE ALSO: Taste of Fall-O-Ween: Everything you can eat and drink at the Knott’s food and beer fest
The extended closure of California theme parks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of Halloween Haunt left an opening for Knott’s to host the third in a series of food fests without rides, roller coasters or attractions.
Taste of Fall-O-Ween proves that Knott’s has got social distancing down to a science and turned crowd control into an art form.
There are signs everywhere telling visitors which way to travel along walkways, roped off lanes leading to food stands and markers telling people where to stand while they wait in line.
Audio messages played in between Halloween songs remind visitors to wear their masks, wash their hands and remain six feet apart — all with a dose of humor.
And if you don’t want to get too close to anybody while you’re eating, there are picnic tables for as far as the eye can see spread throughout every corner of the 160-acre theme park.
Knott’s employees can be seen cleaning those tables and any common touch points everywhere you look.
SEE ALSO: Knott’s Berry Farm frustrated with lack of California theme park reopening plans: ‘We’re ready to open’
The people coming out to Fall-O-Ween are hard-core Knott’s fans who miss the park and are looking for something to do while many entertainment options remain on hold. But Knott’s knows positive word of mouth about health and safety measures will help bring back fans who aren’t yet ready to return to a theme park.
Safety has always been a top priority for theme parks. But making visitors feel safe during the coronavirus era is the next big challenge for theme parks. The reality is many people are not ready to return to theme parks. And some may not be ready for a while. How theme parks adapt to the “new normal” and adopt new safety protocols will have a direct impact on how quickly the industry eventually rebounds. And Knott’s knows this.
That’s why everywhere you look you see signs reminding visitors of safety protocols. And the reminders seem to be working. Every visitor wore a mask — except while they were eating. A few even incorporated themed face coverings into their Halloween costumes — which are permitted during the Fall-O-Ween event.
SEE ALSO: New commercial ramps up pressure on Newsom to reopen Disneyland
Fall-O-Ween menu highlights include a Headless Meatball Sandwich, Beeting Hearts Salad, Graveyard Funnel Cake, Pumpkin Spice Churro Sticks and Hocus Pocus Float
The Great Pumpkin Bun looked wilder than it tasted. The cinnamon bun doused in orange glaze and covered in sprinkles tasted like a cross between a Cinnabon and glazed Krispy Kreme doughnut.
The pastrami tater tots were so massive there was more than enough to share. Provided there is someone you trust to eat off the same plate as you during a pandemic. The seemingly bottomless dish was slathered in cheese sauce and boysenberry mustard. Don’t dare eat this at your first stop or you’ll have no room for anything else at the food fest.
Cookies and Scream Whoopie Pie was the hit of Fall-O-Ween. A candy eyeball stares at you while you eat the Oreo cream filling floating between a delightfully light pair of chocolate-dipped slices of fluffy cake. It’s like eating a chocolate-flavored cloud.
SEE ALSO: Knott’s Berry Farm plans to reward season passholders with loyalty program perks
Knott’s was decked out in fall seasonal decor for the Fall-O-Ween food fest — with black and orange bunting, pumpkins, skeletons, spider webs and fall foliage throughout the park.
Haunt fans still feeling the sting of the cancellation of Knott’s Scary Farm will be in for a treat in Camp Snoopy. The kiddie land has been turned into a hay maze trick-or-treat candy trail for the kids — although a few adults took part as well. The trail is filled with props and animatronics from past Scary Farm mazes that diehard Haunt fans will instantly recognize and enjoy.
Fall-O-Ween is a bit light on traditional theme park entertainment. But Knott’s has done a good job with socially distanced character interactions — including a team of stilt-walking scarecrows who can easily maintain six feet of separation.
SEE ALSO: Will Knott’s Berry Farm drop reservations and cut days when theme park reopens?
Coaster enthusiasts will feel the painful pang of idled rides everywhere they look. It’s particularly difficult to walk through the Boardwalk section of the park surrounded on all sides by HangTime, Xcelerator, Coast Rider sitting eerily still. For now, you’ll have to travel out of state if you need to feed an insatiable coaster fix.
Admission to Knott’s during Fall-O-Ween is by way of a $35 tasting card good for five items at more than two dozen food and drink booths and stands. A $20 junior card gets kids three tastings plus a trip through the Camp Snoopy Trick-or-Treat Trail.
Source link
Related
