Knott’s Founder’s Day celebration delivered an immersive, thoroughly interactive, authentic and downright fun-themed experience. Like other theme parks, Knott’s too has themed lands, rides and other attractions, but what elevates Knott’s to head-and-shoulders above its competition — and what really brings the park to life — are its large number of talented, role-playing, costumed performers who engage in fun activities with the park’s guests.
As proclaimed in a headline in an early edition of the Calico Gazette daily newspaper, “Founder’s Day is bustling with fun activities.” The townsfolk of Calico fanned out among the park guests, invited us all — young and old alike — to participate in the Founder’s Day activities and Calico’s daily routines. The Miner’s Bank of Calico set me up with my very own bank (number 963), recording that fact for posterity it in the bank’s official ledger.
However, trouble was brewing. Suddenly, the sound of explosions and gunfire rang out. The bank was being robbed! Dark smoke filled the air, and townsfolk were tied up.
Thankfully, swift justice prevailed and the robbers were soon arrested. A speedy trial was organized in front of the Calico Town Hall, with testimony given in front of a growing crowd of concerned citizens.
It was a particularly hot day, so the local fire brigade rolled out a pumper to spray cooling water on us. Some of us wanted even more, and they were doused with fire buckets full of water.
Later we congregated at the town square for an old-fashioned, rip-roaring hoedown to the rousing sounds of a live band. We were taught some basic line-dancing steps and had a great time. YEE-HAW! It was so much fin that I shot video of it. You will be able to watch that soon, in this column at https://automatters.net.
Knott’s brings the wild west alive by populating the Ghost Town of Calico with enthusiastic, role-playing performers who include park guests interactively in the drama. In sharp contrast, that other Anaheim theme park has gone in a very different direction. Originally we were told, and concept art showed us, that they too were going to have role-playing cast interact with the park guests, in engaging scenarios within the amazing, space adventure-themed new land, but somewhere along the way the plans for doing that eroded, leaving park guests to just wander around on their own, buy merch, eat food, ride the rides, pose for photos with costumed characters, and wonder about what might have been. Surely they CAN do better than that. They SHOULD do better than that. Hopefully, someday, they WILL do better than that.
Calico contains many authentic, vintage relics of the wild west. There is a full-scale, working, old-timey train that a man and woman board to try to rob the engers (I told her that my horse ate my money); a horse-drawn stagecoach provides rides around the park; there are actual historical buildings and a lots of museum-quality memorabilia — much of which is on display in the Calico museum.
Some popular entertainers who once performed at that other Anaheim theme park, now entertain at Knott’s, to the delight of their many fans. On the day that I was there, performers included “Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies” and the Tomasina Band.
The regular season’s for Knott’s Berry Farm is an unbelievable bargain, and Knott’s does not have ANY blackout dates. My was on sale in August for only $99 (regularly $105, or $99 for renewals)! That , with NO blackout dates, is valid for the rest of 2024 and all of 2025. So are my unlimited parking add-on ($90), plus my All Season Dining add-on ($145, good for up to two entrées per visit. Choose from a wide variety of tempting options at locations throughout Knott’s.
Also check out Camp Snoopy, Fiesta Village, Boardwalk and California Marketplace.
We’re fortunate to have several great theme parks in Southern California. I’ve been an annual holder at that other park in Anaheim for years, but between their high prices, huge crowds, mandatory park reservations, extra-cost ticketed events, blackout dates for all es and more, this year might be my last.
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