Opening day of Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival was April 1st. No fooling! And it runs through April 23rd. We were delighted to have been invited to attend. This annual festival is an adventure extraordinaire for the palate. In all honesty, I seriously thought we might be in boysenberry overload by the end of the day. But I could not have been more mistaken.
Our youngest son and oldest grandson enjoyed the festival with us. Both have busy lives, so getting to spend time together, and with us, is sometimes difficult. This was the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with Todd and 16-year old Austin.
What do you get when you cross a loganberry, red raspberry and blackberry? A boysenberry! Add Knottt’s Berry Farm and you get a festival and a whole lot of fun! You don’t want to miss it. So don’t wait until April 23rd to get your boysenberry on! Plan to go now.
First things first: You’ll no doubt want to buy your very own Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card. It’s only $25, and more than worth the generous servings you get with it. You can purchase the tasting card online or at several locations at Knott’s.
- Boysenberry Pizza at Wagon Wheel Pizza
- Boysenberry Ravioli at Spurs Chophouse
- Boysenberry Buffalo Wings at the Gold Trails Hotel
- Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs at the Bank of Calico
- Boysenberry Fry Bread at the Gourmet Churro Factory
- Boysenberry Panna Cotta at the Ghost Town Bakery
Let’s talk about a few of the boysenberry delights that are going to make your taste buds love you forever.
My favorite? The boysenberry fry bread with a slather of Nutella. Messy and oh, so good!
The Boysenberry Panna Cotta is creamy deliciousness.
(Image Credit: Knott’s Berry Farm)
Full disclosure: We’re vegan. Yup, vegan. We eat a whole food, plant based diet. At the Boysenberry Festival we both made an exception or two, which we rarely, if ever, do. It was a choice we made and don’t regret. I’m here to tell you the pizza is heavenly! (We did pick the ham off our pizza slices.)
Our boys were more than a little nuts about the Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs. Austin and I stood in line to get two orders of meatballs while Todd went to get a taste of wine at the Wine & Craft Brew Garden. Austin happens to be one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. When Todd met us back at our table the first thing he asked was where his meatballs were. Austin couldn’t exactly answer because his mouth was full with the last meatball from both orders. Todd was like, “What??” But, because Todd’s MY baby … I stood in line to get him more Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs. That’s what mamas do!
(Image Credit: Knott’s Berry Farm)
Deep Fried Alligator with Boysenberry Aioli. We didn’t try it but we’re told it tastes a bit like chicken!
(Image Credit: Knott’s Berry Farm)
The Fun Stick is deep fried cheesecake on a stick with boysenberry sauce. It is a festival after all!
New this year, and perfect for quenching your thirst, is Boysenberry Cream Soda.
(Image Credit: Knott’s Berry Farm)
Delicious Boysenberry Buffalo Wings.
While neither David or I are drinkers, our son Todd does enjoy a good glass of wine. He recommends giving the Wine & Craft Brew Garden a go to choose your own personal favorite.
That’s just a wee sampling of all the sweet and savory goodness the festival has to offer. What are you looking most forward to tasting?
*Where to find the Boysenberry treats, both savory and sweet!
Ghost Town Grill
- Boysenberry Salad
- The “Walter Knott” (Ice Tea & Boysenberry Punch)
- Boysenberry Milkshake
- Boysenberry Ice Cream
- Boysenberry Pie
- Boysenberry Cheesecake
- Boysenberry Wine
Spurs Chop House
- Boysenberry Short Ribs over Rice
- Boysenberry Ravioli
- Chocolate Covered Boysenberry Cheesecake on a stick
- Boysenberry Nutella Crepes
Spurs Patio
- Boysenberry Beer
- Boysenberry Wine
Churro Factory
- Boysenberry Stuffed Churro
- Boysenberry Churro Sundae with Boysenberry Ice Cream
- Boysenberry Fry Bread
Mix-It Up
- Boysenberry ICEE
- Boysenberry ICEE Floats
- Boysenberry ice cream cones
- Boysenberry Cookiewich Sandwich
Judge Roy Bean
- Boysenberry Cream Soda
Pemmican Pickle & Popcorn Cart
- Boysenberry Cotton Candy
Ghost Town Grub
- Fun Bun – Fried Cinnamon Roll with Boysenberry Cream Cheese Topping
- Fun Stick – Fried Cheesecake on a Stick with Boysenberry Sauce
- Boysenberry Flautas
Calico Fry
- Deep Fried Alligator (Yes! Alligator!) with Boysenberry Aioli
Fireman’s BBQ
- Boysenberry & Apricot Pulled Pork Sandwich in a Boysenberry Bun
- Boysenberry Condiments including Boysenberry Butter, Boysenberry Relish & Boysenberry Mayonnaise Toppings
- Your choice off Boysenberry BBQ Sauce (Remember our picky eating grandson!) on any regular menu item (Chicken, Ribs, Flank Steak Sandwich)
(Livery Stable)
Ghost Town Bakery
- Boysenberry Pie (Slices and Whole Pies)
- Boysenberry Tart
- Boysenberry Turnovers
- Boysenberry Cheesecake
- Boysenberry Panna Cotta with Almond Crumble
- Boysenberry Trifle
Cordelia’s Pie Kitchen
- Build-Your-Own Mini Boysenberry Pies
Gourmet Coffe Hut
- Boysenberry Latte
- Assorted Boysenberry Pastries
Sutter’s Grill Stand and Roaster
- Boysenberry BBQ Wings
- Corn on the Cobb with Boysenberry Butter & Boysenberry Mayonnaise
The Bank of Calico Stand
- Marinated Boysenberry Meatballs on a stick
Wagon Wheel Pizza
- Boysenberry Pizza
Strictly On A Stick
- Boysenberry Corn Dog
I love this boy! Austin has been bringing delightful experiences into our lives since the day he was born, sixteen years and 345 days ago. Remember I mentioned he’s one of the pickiest eaters on the planet? Well, while sitting around a dining table enjoying our boysenberry goodness, this boy interrupted all of us with, “Can we talk about his Boysenberry Lip Balm? I didn’t think I was going to like it at all, but I love it!” Now that saying a lot. Thanks Knott’s Berry Farm!
And there’s so much more! Go into any of the amazing Knott’s shops and you’ll find treats like the thirst quenching Boysenberry Cream Soda, Boysenberry Beef Jerky, Boysenberry Popcorn, Boysenberry Lip Balm (a winner with our grandson!), Boysenberry Rock Candy and … well, you name it. Just about anything and everything boysenberry!
Of course, Knott’s Berry Farm is a known for its boysenberries … and a whole lot more. Our boys rode every single thrill ride Knott’s has to offer. Some more times than once! They spent a lot of uncle/nephew time bonding together, while twisting, speeding, and flipping upside-down, etc. And refreshing themselves with boysenberry goodness along the way.
David and I, while we weren’t stuffing ourselves tasting all the boysenberry treats, took in a bit of Old Time Melodrama at the famous Birdcage Theatre. We walked down memory lane (back to the days of our teenage youth) sitting in the wagon train seats of the Wagon Camp Show. I think remember when Peter, Paul and Mary performed there many years ago.
We strolled though Ghost Town taking in the shows and absolutely loved looking at all the fresh flower displays. We both grew up in Southern California, so we have roots at Knott’s Berry Farm. We couldn’t have asked for a better day.
While this is not a sponsored post, we did receive admission to the Boysenberry Festival along with food and wine tasting cards. A big thanks to Knott’s Berry Farm and the Boysenberry Festival for such a delicious and memorable day!
Robin Rue says
That sounds like so much fun! But what’s a boysenberry lol? I want to go to Knott’s someday if I get out west again!
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
That is so much fun! I love fests like this. There’s always so much fun, and there’s ALWAYS awesome food! Om nom nom.
Jeanette says
I love boysenberries! I wish I was there to try these different foods out. I know I would enjoy them! Looks like a fun festival.
Diana Rambles says
I used to live in SoCal but never went to Knotts. I guess I missed out!
Reesa Lewandowski says
I have always wanted to visit Knott’s Berry Farm! It looks like so much fun!
lisalisa says
Wow, looks like a very interesting place to visit! Their food looks so delicious, I know me I would seek to try out their Boysenberry Buffalo Wings.
Melissa says
That seem like the perfect way to experience Knott’s Berry Farm which I have only read about. Who knew there were so many ways to use boysenberry’s including cotton candy, bread and lip balm!
Jamie says
I have been to Knott’s Berry Farm twice in my life and loved it both times. I didn’t know they had a boysenberry festival and it sounds like fun. That boysenberry cream soda looks amazing!
Jennifer says
Oh my goodness, I have got to visit this festival – it looks like too much fun! All of that food looks to die for.
Tara says
There are so many wonderful foods to try I wouldn’t know where to start. I would love to try the wine.
Amy Desrosiers says
I have never tried a Boysenberry before. This looks like such a fun and tasty festival indeed!
gingermommyrants says
I would love to go to the Knotts Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival. Summer is always my favorite season because of all the fantastic festivals to explore.
Claudia Krusch says
Boysenberry Cream Soda sounds so delicious. I would love to try some to wash down the Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs. All the food sounds so amazing.
Lisa Bristol says
This looks like such a fun festival to go to. Boysenberry BBQ Meatballs are sure to be a big hit with my family.
Shauna says
I can see why you might have experienced boysenberry overload, but the variety of food they paired it with sounds like things I wouldn’t mind eating all day long. Those boysenberry meatballs definitely sounded worth going back in line for!
Elizabeth Lampman says
I would love to try the Boysenberry Buffalo Wings from the Gold Trails Hotel. This looks like an amazing festival.
katrina gehman says
we are trying to get there sometime this year. knotts looks like so much fun
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
Oh wow! I need to get there! Looks so fun! And those food look delicious!
SHELLEY R ZUREK says
I was going to say that I wanted to try the Boysenberry Ravioli and Meatballs. Seriously, everything looks so good I am not sure I could pass up anything.