Knott's 'shiver' anniversary delivers screams of fun
Campus Times
October 17, 1997
"Knott's Scary Farm Halloween Haunt XXV: Years of Fear,"
is open Oct. 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30, 31 and Nov. 1 from 7 p.m.-2
a.m. There are 11 mazes throughout the park and eight live shows. The Deadly
Dating Game, in the Ghost Town, is hosted by Stink Martindale and Vanna
Fright. Three couples are invited from the audience and asked a series of
dating questions. The winner walks away with a trip to a ghoulish vacation
spot, while the losers get the electric chair.
Halloween is a time when ghouls and ghosts roam aimlessly in the night
and children feed their sweet tooth with pillow cases filled with an endless
surplus of candy. For one night of the year, fears and screams are signs
of having fun.
For 25 years, Knott's Berry Farm has been providing that scary fun with
its annual Halloween-themed Knott's Scary Farm.
From 7 p.m.-2 a.m. on selected nights in October, Knott's Berry Farm
transforms into the world's largest Halloween party, according to attendance.
More than 3.5 million people have attended since its debut in 1972.
"For 25 years now, true Halloween aficionados have relished Knott's
as the best Halloween experience in the world," said Matt Schliesman,
Haunt producer.
On Oct. 3 and 4, the park offered two nights of a sneak preview to guests
for the 25th anniversary price of $25.
"We wanted to do something special for the thousands of Haunt devotees
who have made Knott's Scary Farm into a national phenomenon," said
Schliesman. "Think of it as a Halloween Haunt homecoming."
The 25th year of the Halloween Haunt offers a variety of special events
and mazes for this "shiver" anniversary.
The record 16 nights of haunts is headlined by Elvira. The Mistress
of The Dark makes her 11th appearance to host the all-new dead rock legends
show at Knott's Scary Farm's Ghoul Time Theatre.
"From vaporous appearances by some of the most famous icons in
rock music to a numbing tribute to living performers whose careers are,
well, past their prime, no musical tombstone is left unturned; It's a rock
and shock concert with a definite Scary Farm bite," said Schliesman.
"Elvira's dead rock legends show becomes the centerpiece of our
strategy of packing the Farm with the most creatively creepy entertainment
possible for our shiver anniversary."
The park is filled with 11 haunted mazes, eight live shows and two "scare
zones" with more than 1,000 monsters, ghosts and ghouls.
"With our 25th anniversary, we knew we had something very special
to celebrate," said Schliesman, "and we have gone to some wonderfully
wicked lengths to make year 25 the scariest Haunt yet!"
The "scare zones," Ghost Town and The Gauntlet: Festival of
Freaks, are areas of the park, which are pumped with fog to create a scene
of terror. The monsters use the fog screen to sneak up on unsuspecting passersby.
Eight haunt mazes and three haunt rides give the scare zones some terror
support in the fright celebration.
Aside from experiencing the monsters around the park, eight haunt shows
provide sit-down entertainment. Among the shows are The Deadly Dating Game,
a cross between the Dating Game and an execution, and the infamous Hanging.
The Hanging is the annual extravaganza in Calico Square which uses special
effects to depict the popular scene. It has been a part of the regular Halloween
Haunt since its debut in 1978.
Chris Nicol, a 17-year-old from Brea, felt "the lines were too
long but there were some cool people there."
"Sure I like [Knott's Scary Farm]. I have been here three times,"
said Steve Smith, an 18-year-old from La Mirada. "I think there are
some cool [things] here."
Since children under the age of 12 are not recommended in the Haunt,
a Halloween celebration for children ages 3 to 11 has become a fixture in
the Knott's tradition.
Since 1993, Camp Spooky, a daytime event, has provided families the
thrill of Halloween without the overwhelming fright.
Halloween Haunt has grown so popular that a permanent store, Knott's
Spooktique, has been opened. On sale in the year-round store are masks,
make-up, magic tricks, horror music, books and official Halloween Haunt
merchandise.
"Judging by the number of requests we get throughout the year for
Knott's Scary Farm shirts, hats, buttons and other logoed items, there's
bound to be a big market for this store," said Fred Wagner, Knott's
merchandise director. "That's because, as anyone who's joined us the
past 25 years knows, Halloween Haunt isn't just an event--it's a phenomenon."
Tickets, if available, are $31.95 in advance and $36.95 on the day of
the event. For more information call the Halloween HauntLine at (714) 220-5200.
