Knott's Summer Nights (and Days) 2022

Knott’s Berry Farm, Buena Park, CA

We return to Knott’s Berry Farm for today’s update to check out the summertime festivities that Knott’s has for its guests. After the Peanuts Celebration in January and February, followed by the Boysenberry Festival in spring, summer brings a pair of seasonal offerings: Ghost Town Alive! (which we covered last week), and Knott’s Summer Nights!

While the name might say Summer “Nights,” there are actually activities all day long, including shows at the Walter Knott Theater, Camp Snoopy, and Ghost Town and entertainment along The Boardwalk (KNOT Radio). Summer brings with it a new season of gourmet food items that guests can enjoy via a Knott’s Tasting Pass, usable for both food and drink at booths located around Charleston Circle and area around the Calico Mine Stage.

KNOT Radio is back along the Boardwalk, with several “airings” each afternoon.

That’s on top of the rides that are open daily, of course, and the fun Berry Farm ambiance. Plus, later this summer, the Prop Shop Pizzeria will open next to the Walter Knott Theater, replacing the old Hollywood Hits quick serve (construction is still not quite complete). Although the summer season has arrived, the crowds actually seem a little reduced compared to our last visit during the Boysenberry Festival. The drop-off of 2021 season pass holders who had their eligibility extended into May of this season to make up for the park’s partial closure last year has probably helped.

The Prop Shop Pizzeria isn’t complete yet, slated to open later this summer.

So without further ado, lets see what’s in store for Knott’s guests this summer!

DJ Lance Rock

A somewhat late announcement last month saw the reveal of a new show coming to the Walter Knott Theater. DJ Lance Rock, known for his role in hosting the Nick Jr. show, Yo Gabba Gabba and as an Aquabats touring member, has a summer tenure on select weekend dates, playing four shows each afternoon. The schedule alternates between two different shows, Let’s Play! and Everybody Dance, as DJ Lance Rock takes guests on a musical journey that combines his passion for music, dance, play and education.

Let’s Play! is an energetic music show where DJ Lance Rock dreams up an entire world of play and imagination on a rainy day that takes place inside his apartment. Using his imagination, DJ Lance Rock makes for some fun and play for everyone in attendance. Meanwhile, Everybody Dance is a more interactive show inviting guest participation through song and dance and weaving in a message about staying active. With help from some of his puppet monster friends, DJ Lance Rock sings and dances and helps spread and inspire good vibes, good music and big fun with the audience.

This show is pretty heavily skewed toward children and families with children, and it has a very wholesome ambiance that those familiar with Yo Gabba Gabba would expect. For those who are not, it’s akin to Sesame Street but with more music and dancing.

Miss Cameo Kate's Western Burle-Q Revue at the Bird Cage Theatre

The Calico Saloon is just serving beverages this year instead of a show. Instead, Cameo Kate has once again taken up residence at the Bird Cage Theatre, and this year, she has a new show that tells a bit of her backstory and hopes and dreams prior her current position as purveyor of Calico’s can-can dancers. Although the Bird Cage is usually home to melodramas and slapstick, this show is a more straightforward series of song and dance number in several acts, featuring some familiar faces that guests may recognize from other Knott’s shows like Snoopy’s Boysenberry JAM-boree at the Calico Mine Stage.

Cameo Kate recounts her rise to Saloon purveyor.

The show feels more akin to that sort of production too—just on a smaller scale—with intricate choreography mixed in with a wild and carefree spirit. It all comes home with a familiar finale, though, featuring dancers Dixie and Trixie kicking high and joined by their partners as well. A live band trio helps maintain the energy, and a crowd behaving more like a typical Bird Cage Theatre crowd also helps shout out cheers and encouragement and whistles of approval.

The show ends on a rousing, high-stepping dance number.

I’m personally more a fan of the melodrama and comedy acts that occur at the Bird Cage, but this Western Burle-Q Revue still offers a fun time—plus some shade and relief from the summer sun!

Summer Nights Returns

DJ Lance Rock and Cameo Kate perform their shows during the afternoon hours, but closer to evening time, Knott’s Summer Nights kicks off to take the energy into the nighttime hours. Much of the action is centered in the area between Calico Square and Charleston Circle. Roaming street characters make their rounds between Calico Park and the Calico Mine Stage, engaging and interacting during the live music that occurs at both locations. With punny names like Ivana Drink and Anita Drink and Jerry Atrick, they’re certainly wacky and absurd, although there seemed to be less of them than usual on the Sunday we visited.

In addition to the regular food offerings throughout the park, guests can sample specialty entrees, desserts, and drinks at any of seven booths located around the Calico Mine Stage general area. A tasting card ($50 for six samples; $45 for Knott’s season pass holders) is needed to indulge, and the food booths open up at 5:30 each evening.

This is one of seven gourmet food stands offering seasonal food items that guests can purchase off a Summer Nights tasting card.

While the quality and breadth of the Summer Nights food line-up is certainly less than that of the Boysenberry Festival, the options have improved over the years. This year features an absolute can’t-miss in the Mini Peach Pie, which was our overall favorite. The Korean BBQ Burger had good flavor too, but it was unfortunately served cold. The Loaded Potato Bowl was nice, with the queso blanco making the roasted but soft potato wedges absolutely scrumptious. We also enjoyed the Bratwurst with Sauerkraut on an Onion Poppy Hoagie, since Knott’s sausage food items are always great, though some boysenberry BBQ sauce would have made it even better.

There are also plenty of shows occurring during Knott’s Summer Nights, starting at 6:00pm and running through most of the evening. Some venues have rotating line-ups—for example, the Calico Mine Stage alternated Tomasina and Hiatus while the Calico Park Stage featured Adelaide Pilar, Nitro Express, and Nat and Her Tiger Four over the Memorial Day weekend that we attended. Check the Knott’s app or web site for the show schedules.

The entertainment schedule changes daily. Here’s a weekend example.

Summer Nights DJ

In between sets at the Calico Stage, the Summer Nights DJ spins a variety of pop and dance tunes at his perch above the HangTime gift store, overlooking Charleston Circle. His presence helps fill the musical void that might otherwise leave the area a little dead when the Calico Stage isn’t playing, and the theatrical lights help amp up the area as well after the sun sets.

DJ Marcus took the stand above the Boardwalk gift shop on this evening.

Calico Stage Live Music

The Calico Stage is still full of picnic tables to serve as the largest dining area in the park, and the concentration of Summer Nights food stands all around this area makes this arrangement logical. Guests who are enjoying their food can also enjoy a show from one of Knott’s more headline cover bands. Playing three sets an evening on Fridays through Sundays every hour fifteen or so, the Calico Stage is a hub of activity for Knott’s Summer Nights.

Tomasina performs in front of a crowd early in the evening, while there’s still daylight left.

Our trip featured Tomasina performing, and she brought her usual energy that we saw in the Peanuts Festival with her (though, sadly, she did not include the punny Peanuts Celebration songs that Jelly of the Month Club pioneered). Tomasina’s sets featured more rock songs, ripping through the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Muse and Journey and Guns ‘n’ Roses, but there were also unexpected (if you haven’t seen her before) surprises like Kris Kross’ “Jump Jump” to get the crowd moving.

She brings her usual energy to the Calico Mine Stage.

Calico Park Live Music

Once the headline outdoor age similar to what the Calico Mine Stage serves as today, Calico Park is now a more intimate and laid back affair. On our Sunday visit, the artist of the evening was Nat and Her Tiger Four, a jazzy and easy listening band with an infusion of Hawaiian flair that provided a relaxed, soothing ambiance. The song choices and pace also encouraged some guests to do a little bit of swing dancing, not unlike what used to happen at the Disneyland Carnation Plaza Gardens. Although my recent trip to Hawaii might have influenced a bias, I really enjoyed Nat and Her Tiger Four, and I hope to see them again at Knott’s (or Disney—since these bands seem to move back and fourth often) soon!

Nat and Her Tiger 5 provided a great island vibe at the Calico Park Stage.

Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies at the Wagon Camp

Veteran Knott’s Favorites Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies are once again entertaining folks in the Wagon Camp with their country and bluegrass covers of popular songs, silly physical humor and storytelling, and overall jovial and energetic behavior. The former longtime Disneyland favorites have firmly entrenched themselves as beloved favorites at Knott’s. In fact, it’s hard to believe that it’s already been eight years since they made the move after over two and a half decades at the park down the freeway. Krazy Kirk and company play three times a night, Fridays through Sundays.

Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies entertain as usual.

Ghost Town Miners at the Firehouse BBQ Stage

The Ghost Town Miners pull double duty during Knott’s summer season. Not only are they the official band for the Calico Founder’s Day Hoedown that takes place at 5:30 in the afternoon, they’re also in residence over at the Fireman’s BBQ Stage in Ghost Town. This bluegrass acoustical trio brings more traditional country tunes and a more intimate show and dining affair to guests scarfing down BBQ over in this corner of the park!

The Ghost Town Miners bring their crooning vocals and twangy instrumentals to the Firehouse BBQ Stage.

On alternate dates, the Firehouse BBQ Stage is also home to the Bluegrass Duo.

Beyond the entertainment options noted above, there’s also Music Goes Round and Around at the Camp Snoopy Theater, which we covered during the Peanuts Celebration, and music at the Boardwalk BBQ stage, which we did not have a chance to see. Native American Dancers also perform at Indian Trails Thursdays through Sundays. In Fiesta Village, the Mariachi Angelitas bring their popular tunes back this summer, though their summer residence had not yet begun when we visited. Also at the Fiesta Plaza Stage during the daytime is the Bob Baker Marionette Show, which plays on the weekends now through July 4th weekend.

Make Knott’s a summer visit this season!

That runs through summertime at Knott’s Berry Farm this year. After being closed due to the COVID pandemic, Knott’s has settled back into its familiar “Seasons of Fun” pattern. We’re almost halfway through that now, with Knott’s Scary Farm coming soon in September and Knott’s Merry Farm rounding this out in mid-November. With summer vacation kicking into gear for schools, Knott’s is a great place to spend a fun day for thrill seekers, show viewers, food lovers, or all of the above!

Knott’s Summer Nights runs select dates now through Labor Day, September 5th.