Knotts Berry Farms reopening as Taste of Knotts Merry Farms

When the coronavirus pandemic started in the United States of America back in March 2020, most unessential businesses closed across the country and every nonessential business closed in California. Included in these mandatory closures to stop the spread of coronavirus, theme parks were required to close in the state and unlike most businesses throughout the state theme parks are still required to remain closed under the strict theme park reopening guidelines issued by the state government.

With theme parks being closed for almost ten months different theme parks throughout the state have bent the guidelines and worked around them to reopen in a limited capacity. One of the theme parks that has been the most successful in doing a limited reopening and working around the state’s theme parks reopening guidelines is Knotts Berry Farms.

With the state allowing shopping centers, malls, and outdoor restaurants to be open Knotts Berry Farms has decided to reopen as a shopping and dining center by putting on the Taste of Knotts Merry Farms food and retail festival this holiday season. The Taste of Knotts Merry Farms follows all current coronavirus rules set by the state by having all dining be outdoors, having guests wear face masks, having a limited capacity in the park, having limited capacity in shops, and having social distancing markers throughout the park. Also, to follow the state’s coronavirus guidelines the theme park has all of its rides and shows closed.

At the Taste of Knotts Merry Farms food and retail festival guest got to enjoy a lot even with rides being closed. The main attraction was guest got 5 holiday theme treats and meals included in their ticket to the event. Guest also got to shop Knotts Berry Farms holiday theme products and also got to shop in the normal Knotts Berry Farms stores and products. Lastly, guest could enjoy holiday decorations and games throughout the park.

“I think that it is great that Knotts Berry Farms has found a way to reopen and let people go back to work, but also give people something to do and enjoy,” said Sarah Thornburn.

Knotts Berry Farms is not the only theme park in California to work around the state’s reopening guidelines to find a way to do a limited reopening. Disneyland Resort just seven miles away from Knotts Berry Farms has also done a limited reopening of its park. Disneyland Resort reopened its Downtown Disney shopping and dining district back in July when California allowed mall and shopping centers to reopen. Now the Disneyland Resort has expanded its reopening into its Disney California Adventure Park to allow shopping and dining to happen in the theme land Buena Vista Street inside the theme park.

With money losses due to the coronavirus pandemic and theme park closures throughout the state of California, it is not surprising that theme parks are getting creative and finding ways to reopen without violating the state guidelines. While theme parks wait to reopen fully in in the state, we may see them get more creative on how to reopen and not violate the guidelines but still bring in guest and revenues.