Month: February 2017

KNOTT’S BOYSENBERRY FESTIVAL RETURNS WITH OVER THREE WEEKS OF APPETIZING FOOD, GOOD OL’ FASHION FUN AND NEW LIVE ENTERTAINNMENT, FROM APRIL 1 – APRIL 23!

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The Flavorful Celebration Will Feature a New Mouthwatering Food Lineup of Boysenberry Inspired Dishes and Entertainment For all Ages.

This spring, join Knott’s as it celebrates the flavorful berry that started it all, the boysenberry, during the much anticipated Knott’s Boysenberry Festival. For the first time ever, the mouthwatering festival is expanding to three weeks, April 1–April 23, with delectable food and drinks, and festive live entertainment. The 23-day food festival features over 70 one-of-a-kind boysenberry inspired dishes, drinks and more, plus foot-stompin’ entertainment, Wine and Craft Brew Tasting Garden, featuring boysenberry and wine, and family fun that everyone will love! For festival goers with a hankerin’ for some live entertainment, the options are endless with live music throughout the park, a nighttime dance party, and brand new shows like, Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree at the Calico Mine Stage. Calico Park in Ghost Town is home to a good ol’ fashion hootenanny featuring pie eating contests, line dancing and country fair festivities with the local Ghost Town townsfolk. The limited-time festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm.

The year was 1920 when Walter and Cordelia Knott moved to the community of Buena Park Calif. to farm 20 acres of rented land which included harvesting, and selling the first boysenberry, a cross between a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry, and named the new berry after its originator, Rudolph Boysen. Today, all boysenberries in the world can trace their roots back to Knott’s Berry Farm.

For 2017, the mouthwatering line-up of boysenberry inspired dishes will feature irresistible boysenberry pizza made with arugula and goat cheese, the unforgettable and delicious new ravioli dish packed with boysenberry flavors, freshly-baked boysenberry fry bread and lip-smacking corn on the cob with boysenberry butter and mayo, each dish will leave guests wanting for more. Other must try items include crispy deep fried alligator bites paired with farm-made zesty boysenberry aioli, finger-lickin boysenberry BBQ wings, savory boysenberry meatballs, sweet boysenberry cream soda, creamy chocolate covered boysenberry cheesecake on a stick and many more delicious treats. Additional fee for tastings. Guests who want to take home the exquisite Boysenberry BBQ sauce, Boysenberry Butter, Boysenberry Dressing and Boysenberry Chipotle Sauce can do so by stopping by the Berry Market located in the California MarketPlace and General Store located in Ghost Town. Select items are available on the online Berry Market store.

Guests can purchase boysenberry inspired products throughout the winding streets of the Old West at the Crafts Fair. This year’s boysenberry products include boysenberry soap, lip balm and the devilishly good rock candy. Festivalgoers can also watch special demonstrations including a chainsaw wood sculpting, glass blowing and blacksmithing. From day to night, Ghost Town has never looked so lively.
This year, in honor of the famous berry, Ghost Town’s Town Hall will feature a fascinating film which shares the story of how Walter and Cordelia Knott settled here in Buena Park and helped the world discover the amazing boysenberry. Guests can pull up a seat and catch a 10-minute showing of the historic film offered exclusively during the festival.

The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival also features an extensive line up of live entertainment. Join Snoopy, Charlie and the entire Peanuts gang as they present an all new interactive, musical revue called Snoopy’s Boysenberry Jamboree! at the Calico Mine Stage. This new show will have families singing, dancing, and playing along with the beloved Peanuts characters and talented performers during the whimsical, high energy celebration of springtime. Country music and the aroma of deliciously good food will fill the air as the Ghost Town Miners take the stage in a fun, musical performance at the Firemen’s BBQ stage. Just across the Fireman’s stage, the Legendary Bird Cage Theatre pays tribute to Knott’s past; for the first time in over 20 years, the theatre will be the home of musical comedy melodrama, with a special presentation of the Old Time Melodrama. America’s longest running Melodrama returns with an original, interactive, comedy with a surprising boysenberry twist! In the evening, a group of krazy talented performers will have guests kicking up their heels with vine dancing, a down home jug band and dueling fiddlers and banjos! At the Wagon Camp stage, get krazy when Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies mount their toe tappin’, knee-slappin’, gut-bustin’ country comedy show that will have audiences clamoring for more!

The fun continues with new additions exclusively for the Boysenberry Festival. Brand new this season, The Old MacDonald Petting Zoo pays tribute to one of Knott’s original attractions. Young ones and young at heart are invited to cozy up to the cutest critters on the farm including horses, sheep, goats and other furry friends.
Springtime fun has also taken root in Camp Snoopy and Fiesta Village. During the limited-time event, the whole family can meet the Easter Beagle at his Camp Snoopy home, blooming with colorful springtime décor. The meet and greet location is the perfect place for shareable moments with the boisterous beagle and his friends – Charlie Brown, Lucy, Sally, and Linus. Camp Snoopy Theatre will showcase the PEANUTS pals singing, dancing, and sharing stories for all to enjoy. Everyone in the family can join in the Camp Snoopy activities. The theater will be filled with the sweet sound of little ones as they singing-along to the cheerful tunes! Guests don’t have to be experts at dancing to enjoy a nighttime Fiesta with DJ Cruz in Fiesta Village. The night comes alive with music and dance as everyone will be sure to take to the floor and dance to the rhythmic beat of popular music.

The Boysenberry Festival is included with admission to Knott’s Berry Farm, additional cost for food tasting experiences within the event, which also offers a full day of thrilling coasters and family fun rides. Knott’s will have extended hours, 10am to 10pm, from April 1 – April 23, allowing guests extra time to take advantage of all of the limited-time offerings.

Join the conversation and share your day of boysenberry fun by using #BoysenberryFestival on Twitter and Instagram. For information about the day you plan to visit and available discounts, visit http://www.knotts.com, or download the newly updated Knott’s Berry Farm mobile app for your smartphone.
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About Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company:
Knott’s Berry Farm is own and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: “FUN”) a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company, which owns and operates 11 amusement parks, two outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract. Cedar Fair’s flagship park, Cedar Point, has been consistently voted one of the “Best Amusement Parks in the World” in a prestigious annual poll conducted by Amusement Today newspaper.

KNOTT’S SUPREAM SCREAM GLOWS PINK STARTING VALENTINE’S DAY THROUGH MARCH 5TH IN SUPPORT OF KNOTT’S FOR THE CURE, Plus Knott’s and Susan G. Komen Orange County Offer Free Clinical Breast Exams and Mammography Screenings for Women in The Community

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This Valentine’s Day through March 5th, Supreme Scream, towering over 312 feet in the air, will be lit pink and glow for miles in honor of the Knott’s for the Cure program. During the evening, starting – Tuesday, February 14th, Supreme Scream along with the famous Calico Mine Ride, will glow pink in support of the Knott’s Berry Farm and Susan G. Komen Orange County partnership and will continue to shine across the Buena Park skyline each night for the duration of the promotion.
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Additionally in support of the Knott’s for the Cure program, on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, Knott’s Berry Farm and Susan G. Komen Orange County will provide complimentary life-saving breast exams and mammograms to underserved and underinsured women and men via the Knott’s sponsored Alinea mobile mammography van, which returns this year to continue providing health screenings for women in the community. The mammography van will be stationed at the Knott’s Berry Farm South Lot from 9:00am to 3:00pm.
knotts-supreme-scream-pink-for-a-cure-jpgBelow are the details for those who qualify for the free screenings:
To qualify for FREE Breast Health Screening Services you must: (Family and Friends of associates)
· be 40 years old, or older
· have low income
· have no or limited insurance
· not receive these services through Medi-Cal or another government-sponsored program
· live in California
· have not had a mammogram in the past 12 months

If interested they would have call the YWCA of North Orange County at 714-871-4488 to make appointments

Now through March 5, guests can support the Knott’s for the Cure campaign by purchasing 2017 Knott’s Season Passes or Day Use “Pink Tickets” at http://www.knotts.com. A portion of the proceeds from Season Passes and “Pink Tickets” purchased online will benefit Komen Orange County. Additionally there are special edition “Pink” t-shirts available for purchase online and at the park with a portion of the proceeds going to support the campaign. To purchase Season Passes, tickets, t-shirts, or for more information about Knott’s Berry Farm, visit http://www.knotts.com or download the Knott’s mobile app for your smartphone today. Follow and join the conversation by using #ScreamAgainstBreastCancer and #KnottsPink.
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About Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair Entertainment Company:
Knott’s Berry Farm is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, a publicly traded partnership that is listed for trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FUN.” In addition to Knott’s Berry Farm, Cedar Fair owns and operates ten other amusement parks, three water parks, one indoor water park, and five hotels. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract. Visit knotts.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Susan G. Komen® and Komen Orange County
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen was founded in 1982 by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Komen Orange County is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community. Through events like the Komen Orange County Race for the Cure®, Komen Orange County has invested more than $38 million in community breast health programs in Orange County and has helped contribute to the more than $920 million invested globally in research. For more information, call 714-957-9157 or visit komenoc.org.

 

Celebrating Its 5th Year Anniversary, ScareLA Announces Expansion Plans and a New Venue!

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Among the Fastest Growing Fan Conventions in the U.S., the Los Angeles Summer Halloween Show’s Rapid Growth Propels a Move to the City’s Largest Event Venue; The Los Angeles Convention Center to Become the Home of the Hit Con as ScareLA Expands to 200,000 sq.ft. this August 5-6, 2017
LOS ANGELES, CA – February 8, 2017 — Following a record-setting attendance in 2016, ScareLA, the Los Angeles Halloween convention, announced today its plans to expand to a new venue in downtown Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Convention Center, is set to become the show’s new home; West Hall will open doors to hundreds of Halloween vendors and thousands of fans under the theme “Monsters Come Together” on August 5-6, 2017.

Since debuting in 2013, ScareLA has captivated audiences by kicking off Halloween early. The show’s unique premise is combining a favorite U.S. tradition, Halloween, with the peak season for fun and travel, the summer. Set in the entertainment capital of the world, the convention is a mecca for horror fans of all ages. Attracting a record 12,000 attendees in 2016, ScareLA has become one of the fastest-growing independent conventions in the U.S. today.

“2017 marks a milestone for ScareLA and our fifth year anniversary,” said Lora Ivanova, ScareLA Executive Producer and Founder. “To celebrate this occasion, we are brewing up an incredible mix of entertainment, and preparing for what is sure to be our biggest and best year yet. We are thrilled to welcome fans to our new home at the Los Angeles Convention Center, our city’s premier event venue. We believe our community deserves the very best and we are proud to take our place among the best shows in the country. ”

In 2016 more than 171 million Americans celebrated Halloween. Total spending in the U.S. reached a whopping $8.4 billion, an all-time high in the history of NRF’s annual survey conducted by Prosper Insights. The survey found that 7 in 10 consumers hand out candy on Halloween, and nearly half decorate their home or dress in costume.

ScareLA’s 2017 theme, “Monsters Come Together,” celebrates diversity, unity and tolerance. Created to bring people together in a celebration of the scary and unusual, the convention aims to build and strengthen community ties across diverse groups, backgrounds and interests, all united around the love for Halloween and creative expression.

ScareLA’s trademark combination of original immersive entertainment, on-site haunted house attractions, and diverse scare-themed programming have set a new standard for convention experiences nationwide. The show has solidified itself as the premier destination for a fast-growing audience which loves, lives and works in the scare entertainment industry. It spotlights the rich Southern California scare community, from its iconic seasonal theme park events, to haunted attractions, theater, film, escape rooms, interactive experiences, the who’s who of horror and more.

For more information, visit http://www.scarela.com.
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About ScareLA

ScareLA is the world’s first summer Halloween convention. Situated in the entertainment capital of the world, the event celebrates the American scare season traditions and the diverse cultural heritage of the Greater Los Angeles region. Featuring hundreds of specialty vendors, education programming, world-class industry presentations, ScareLA draws thousands of professionals, fans and families from the U.S. and abroad to celebrate Halloween early every summer. ScareLA is one of the fastest growing independent fan conventions in the U.S. addressing a $10 billion Halloween industry worldwide.

About the Los Angeles Convention Center

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) is renowned internationally as a prime site for conventions, trade shows, and exhibitions. Professionally managed by AEG Facilities, the LACC attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually. The facility is an integral economic component to the Southern California area; based on historical averages the total economic impact based on direct and indirect spending is $548 million annually, generating and sustaining over 5,900 local jobs. The LACC also remains an enduring symbol of environmental sustainability and social responsibility, and is proud to be a LEED® Gold certified facility; the venue was recertified on the Gold level in 2015 making the LACC the largest convention center in the U.S. to receive LEED® EB:O+M Gold recertification. For more information, please visit lacclink.com

KNOTT’S BERRY FARM PARTNERING WITH VRSTUDIOS TO DEVELOP A ONE-OF-A-KIND VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE

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Knott’s Berry Farm will be the First Permanent Free-Roaming VR Installation at a North American Theme Park.
Scheduled To Open 2nd quarter of 2017!

VRstudios, a global virtual reality (VR) company offering commercial entertainment and enterprise solutions, announced today, a partnership with Knott’s Berry Farm and parent company, Cedar Fair, to design and install a specialized VR experience at the Southern California-based theme park.

Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair are recognized in the entertainment industry for their leadership in creative application of technology in their attractions. Cedar Fair’s Vice President of Strategic Growth, Christian Dieckmann, is leading the company’s pursuit of immersive and unique experiential technology through their relationship with VRstudios.

“Our collaboration with VRstudios to develop a new custom-built, immersive amusement experience at Knott’s Berry Farm is exciting for our customers and consistent with the memorable experiences they expect from our parks,” said Dieckmann. “We chose VRstudios for our inaugural free-roaming VR installation because of their successful track record providing VR globally for other location-based entertainment venues. No other VR company can offer a truly untethered multi-player experience. We believe the planned attraction will amaze our guests and encourage repeat visits.”

“It is rewarding to partner with entertainment visionaries who want to do something amazing with the new VR technology,” added Charles Herrick, Chief Executive Officer of VRstudios. “When clients want to push the limits beyond what is commonly available, it gets our entire team motivated because they know there will be an outlet for their innovation.”

Knott’s Berry Farm visitors will be able to enjoy the new VR experience for a small fee in addition to admission, beginning the second quarter of this year.

Laser Tag closed sometime last month, and work has all ready started for the new VR experience at The Arcade in Boardwalk. (Under Iron Reef)

About VRstudios:

VRstudios (www.vrstudios.com) is a leading global VR technology company, located in 11 countries, delivering the first truly wireless, full-range-of-motion, multi-participant, immersive experiences for commercial enterprises. Applications include visualization experiences and simulation training for such industries as architecture, construction, industrial design, theme parks, arcades and others. VRstudios is the first company to offer an all-in-one VR solution bundle, including its own experience management software, wireless headsets and interactive devices, entertainment content and developer tools. The company launched in 2014 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.

About Knott’s Berry Farm and Cedar Fair:

Knott’s Berry Farm is Southern California’s original theme park; featuring world-class rides, shows, attractions, the Knott’s Soak City Waterpark and Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel. Knott’s Berry Farm is owned and operated by the Cedar Fair Entertainment Company (NYSE: “FUN”), a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. The Company, which owns and operates 11 amusement parks, two outdoor water parks, one indoor water park and five hotels, is one of the largest regional amusement park operators in the world. Its parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, and Toronto, Ontario. Cedar Fair also operates the Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park in California under a management contract.