Knott’s Scary Farm is celebrating 50 years of Halloween haunts and the park is bursting at the seams with not just mazes and scarezones but also four shows to take in during the after-hours event. They pile an additional 2 hours of things to enjoy during a 50th anniversary celebration that is already full of reasons to visit.
With hosted tickets, we had the chance to check out ALL FOUR SHOWS including the three new ones debuting this year and we’ve got full video of all of them in case you’re looking for spoilers. Join us now for a full look at the entertainment offerings of Knott’s Scary Farm 2023!
AGAIN… SPOILERS FOLLOW BELOW!
The Hanging: Uncancelled
RATING: 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
The fan-favorite affair has come back to life for the first time since 2019 and it pulls no punches. In trademark fashion, the show takes a tongue-in-cheek magnifying glass to the best and worst of pop-culture and nothing — and nobody — is safe. Disney fans will find jabs at a myriad of news including MagicBands, Maleficent the dragon burning down, Indiana Jones, and Jack Sparrow amidst a backdrop of other instantly recognizable themes from COVID to Karens, Back to the Future: The Musical to Taylor Swift, Will Smith, and beyond.
This one is raunchy, crude, and not for the faint of heart — and it is POPULAR so seating will fill up fast if you don’t show up well enough in advance of showtime. The perk of the venue change is another opportunity to sit and rest although it’s far less capacity overall than the former Calico Mine Stage. If you’re easily offended, prepare to have your pearl necklace firmly clutched for 30+ minutes.
WHERE: At the Wagon Camp. Typical showtimes are 7:45pm, 9:30pm, 11:15pm. Check the app or park listings on the day of your visit for exact times.
Music, Monsters & Mayhem
RATING: 🎃🎃🎃🎃⚫
This is a great 45-minute retrospective at 50 years of Knott’s Scary Farm featuring dancing, live singing, improv, and appearances from characters of Knott’s Scary Farm past.
This is a super fun spectacle and despite running nearly an hour, this is a really fun and worthwhile venture if your busy schedule allows!
WHERE At the Walter Knott Theater Typica showtimes are 8:30pm, 10:15pm, 12:00am. Check the app or park listings on the day of your visit for exact times.
Dr. Cleaver Returns
RATING: 🎃🎃⚫⚫⚫
The tiny historic venue isn’t known for spectacles, instead it’s a more intimate space where Dr. Cleaver — a popular character from previous years of Knott’s Scary Farm — is resurrected for some silly spooky fun.
This one is corny and heavy handed on the puns and risqué jokes and humor. If you’re looking for one show to deprioritize, this one might be it although it does offer seating and it is air conditioned!
WHERE: At the Bird Cage Theatre. Typical showtimes are 8:15pm, 9:30pm, 11:15pm, 12:30am. Check the app or park listings on the day of your visit for exact times.
Le Magnifique Carnaval du Grotesque
RATING: 🎃🎃🎃⚫⚫
Last but certainly not least is this carnie delight that isn’t new this year but still offers a a limited opportunity to sit or otherwise stand and take in some fantastical sights including dancers, aerialists, fire dancers, and more.
There’s some places on the lawn in front of the stage where you can sit and a few picnic tables flanking the stage offering a relaxing place to enjoy the sights and sounds as they erupt around you. This one is low commitment so it’s easy to pop in and pop out or just enjoy as you walk by it.
WHERE At the Calico Mine Stage. Typical showtimes are 8:00pm, 9:30pm, 11:00pm. Check the app or park listings on the day of your visit for exact times.
See it for Yourself
Knott’s Scary Farm returns for 29 frightful nights from September 21 – October 31, 2023.
Knott’s Scary Farm is open 7:00 pm – 1:00 am, excluding Fridays and Saturdays, where the event will run 7:00 pm – 2:00 am. Exact event dates follow below:
- September: 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 30
- October: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 31
MORE INFO: More coverage and details about Knott’s Scary Farm
