Behind the Scenes at Knott's Berry Farm's Wardrobe Department

It’s all in the Unseen details!

There are so many facets that make up a theme park, many that guests never consider as they are snapping a selfie with one of their favorite characters, enjoying a show, or even as they pass a park employee. The wardrobe department at Knott’s Berry Farm is an integral part of a guest's park experience and it all begins within a nondescript warehouse “backstage”.

Entering the reception area of this space you would never imagine the vast amount of importance that lies just down the hall and where all the magic is created from concept to creation! Every show, character, and Seasons of Fun has a vast number of costumes and coordinating accessories, every. single. one! I had the opportunity to get a close-up tour of the wardrobe warehouse recently with the Area Manager of Wardrobe Design, Tim Barham. As a designer and one who loves fabrics and creating costumes myself, I was very excited to get a look at this specific part of the park's operations.

Have you had a chance to see the newest production at Knott’s Home for the Holidays? This show was conceived from the ground up, everything from the amazing operational set design and its incredible facade that literally opens up like an actual-sized dollhouse to the striking costumes the performers wear and perform their numbers in. The incredible part of this undertaking is it was all done while the design team kept up with all the recurring shows, seasonal events, and day-to-day operations all in less than one year within a budget mind you. All the costumes worn during this production were made in-house. From the design and creating the patterns to fabric selections and sewing them into the vibrant ensembles you see before you. There is a massive reason for everything and when done correctly as it is at Knott’s, it’s a thing of beauty to admire.

Costume design is a very detailed art, one that takes knowledge of textiles, body movement, functionality, and the ability to conform to more than one performer. There are so many aspects that are taken into consideration. How does a costume make the performer feel? Can it be altered to go from a small to a large? What if one is damaged, is there backup fabric stock? Then there are the many instances where a certain fabric is needed, but it doesn't exist, then what? Well, they make it! Like this year they needed to screen print a piece of fabric to appear to be made of wood, yet it needed to have stretch, so they created it! What if you need a checker print in a specific color, at Knott’s you manufacture it, twice so you have a backup! And those garments again need to have the ability to be altered 2 sizes to accommodate different performers if needed.

Now let's address the other impressive design element that goes into these costumes, especially the ones used for the Ice Shows and Home for the Holidays.... They allow the performers the ability to exit the stage and return within a minute or less wearing a completely new costume, some even have hat and wig changes! This is also where the good ole onesie design comes into play. Hidden zippers along pant legs so skates don't have to be removed, ensembles fabricated as a one-piece utilizing a full back closure, this is how the illusion is created.

The Home for the Holidays dapperly dressed men's suits, it's not as it seems! The pants, shirt, and vest are all one piece! You can imagine the time it would take to change into those separates and buttoning them up especially with a double-breasted vest. The performer simply steps into the pants with the attached top, slips the jacket on, and voila! On to the next scene!

Have you ever wondered how the Ice show keeps going so seamlessly with just the slightest break between performers? They wear multiple outfits at a time allowing for the quickest changes you never see without having to remove their skates! Pay close attention the next time you watch the show, the illusion is great. It’s this amazing attention to detail, selecting the appropriate textiles for the performer's movements, and designing ease in changing that creates a seamless production and allows the ultimate goal to be achieved... to entertain and take the audience to another place without skipping a beat!

The wardrobe department goes beyond all the costumes for the shows and characters. Throughout the park, each area has its own unique uniform. Now imagine one needed for summer and another for winter. Now add on top of that male and female versions and of course there is the full gamut of sizes… for each! To say the wardrobe department has outgrown its space well, you might now be able to imagine!

I want to thank Knott’s Berry Farm and Tim Barham for allowing me to see the inner workings of the creative team's world. They are remarkably talented and it was a real treat to get a look at this rarely seen aspect of the park's operations