By Charly SHELTON

When the sun is high and the fog hasn’t yet rolled in, Knott’s Berry Farm transforms from its nighttime Scary Farm haunt into a whimsical, family-friendly Halloween celebration. Knott’s Spooky Farm offers daytime fun for kids and their families that brings all the festive spookiness without the scares. Running Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 31, including Indigenous Peoples Day, this event is included with regular park admission and focuses on making Halloween fun for little ghouls and goblins.

In Ghost Town, kids 11 and under can trick-or-treat at standalone treat carts, collecting goodies from candy to Popcornopolis popcorn. And in the center of Ghost Town, at Calico Park, little guests can enjoy Spooktivities, a festival of games, storytelling and live entertainment, all themed to celebrate the season. Here children can meet the Peanuts gang dressed in their Halloween costumes. They can play games, hear stories and have dance parties as they pass between treat stations.

One of the highlights of Knott’s Spooky Farm is the Halloween overlay on classic attractions. The Calico Candy Mine Ride is a must-see where guests journey through a magical mine filled not with gold or silver, but veins of candy! Thanks to a whimsical fairy, Calico’s valuable silver has transformed into sweet treats and riders can enjoy the charming Halloween scenery as they descend into the mine’s candy-coated depths.

Another attraction overlay is the Timber Mountain Log Ride: Halloween Hootenanny. This family-friendly attraction features a light-hearted, monster-themed overlay that celebrates the fun side of Halloween. With whimsical music and playful decorations, guests will experience a festive ride through Timber Mountain as the monsters throw a party – complete with plenty of laughs and a touch of Halloween spirit.

One thing that does creep from Scary Farm into Spooky Farm is the seasonal specialty food and drink. We tried many of the Scary Farm foods at a preview event (scan the QR code attached to this story to see the full food review) but getting to enjoy the full menu item in the daytime, when you aren’t pressed to run from one maze to the next, is even more enjoyable. The best of the seasonal foods is the Monster Mash – red wine braised beef pot roast over creamy mashed potatoes – from Boardwalk BBQ. We enjoyed it in the small taster on media night, and it’s even better full sized at Spooky Farm. Plus, Snoopy was holding an impromptu meet-and-greet right outside the restaurant, which drew kids in to see.

Honorable mention goes to The Boogeyman’s Chicken Meatball Sub with Alfredo sauce from Prop Shop Pizzeria. Whichever seasonal delight you choose, you can’t go wrong with Knott’s Berry Farm foods.

Knott’s Spooky Farm offers the perfect opportunity for families to enjoy the season together, introducing younger guests to the excitement of Halloween in a theme park without the scares that come with the nighttime Knott’s Scary Farm. From trick-or-treating to meeting beloved characters and enjoying themed rides, there’s plenty to make sure every kid – and their parents – has a spooky good time.

Knott’s Spooky Farm runs Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 31, with special hours on Halloween and Indigenous Peoples Day. For more information, visit Knotts.com/events/spooky-farm.

And scan the QR code attached to this story to see our in-depth review of the Scary Farm/Spooky Farm foods from preview night.