Your kids have reached the teenage years and think they are ready for a night of nightmarish frights at Knott's Scary Farm. Question is, do you think they're ready? 

As a parent, you know your child. Some kids show an early interest in frightening films and all things creepy, while others get squeamish with one look at a bloody cut or a broken bone. Go with your gut. You will know best if they'll be able to handle the sinister fun of Knott's Scary Farm. We've seen very young children in strollers dancing and chatting with creepy clowns and the most gruesome characters in scare zones.

Once you've decided this is the year to go, here are a few tips to make the most of your teen's first Knott's Scary Farm experience: 

Prepare your teen:

• Watch some online videos or clips of highlights from past or current seasons to prep your teen on what to expect. You can find a few at Knott's Scary Farm's Instagram.
• Plan to go with a group of your teen's friends. Groups are fun and the best way to go. In a group, there will always be a few individuals who are brave, but need a break from the mazes and scare zones and may want to sit out.
• Talk to your teen about what they're going to see. Prepare them and get them into the mindset of realizing the creatures they'll be seeing are fake. They are just people who dress up in extreme costumes and makeup. It is okay to get startled and scared.
• Enjoy the evening. Get into it and immerse yourself in the screams and laughter. It's all fun and festive. Don't worry about being too cool or not showing that the scares affect you. You're there to have fun, and you will.

Plan ahead:

• Purchase tickets for a night that is convenient for you. Preferably a date that your teens do not have school or an event the following day where they may have to get up early.
• Splurge on the Fright & Fast Lane passes. They are great for a first-time visit to experience all the mazes without being crunched for time. This will give you the opportunity to spend more time in scare zone experiences and have the opportunity to interact with the numerous characters.
• Have dinner before Knott's Scary Farm begins. The Boo-Fet is a great way to fill up on an all-you-can-eat buffet, get up close to a few of the ghouls as they walk the restaurant, and have early entry into the event. It is offered at Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant and Spurs Chophouse. The meal includes a 2021 souvenir bottle with unlimited refills on the night of the event and $1 refills for the rest of the 2021 season. After dinner, enjoy early entry into select areas of Knott's Scary Farm a few minutes before the park is open to other guests. This is the best way to access the first 4 mazes early.
• Download the Knott's Berry Farm App. You will have access to a map of the mazes, scare zones, entertainment times, and locations. This enables you to strategize your plan of attack for the 8 mazes and 5 scare zones.
• Want to catch a Scary Farm show while you're there? Do a little advanced research to see what shows are offered that are age/content appropriate for your teen.

Night of the event:

• Dress comfy and bring a light sweatshirt for closing Scary Farm down; you won't want to leave until the monsters chase you out. 
• Bring water or your Knott's Berry Farm season drink cup to stay hydrated. One gets parched screaming through the fog.
• Try some festive snacks throughout the evening to share. The Ghost Town Bakery offers frightfully festive sweet treats. You can order the Murderous Midnight Funnel Cake from Sutter's Funnel Cake, making for a perfect quick bite instead of waiting in longer lines for meals. 

When you arrive:

• Get there early to catch the opening show. Each year Knott's Scary Farm opens nightly with a special performance. It's a great way to kick off the evening when over a thousand monsters are unleashed in Ghost Town; they may even pop up next to you.
• Start with mazes on the right side of the entrance (towards Camp Snoopy) and circle the park to the left. Next, head into the center as most early entry Scary Farm enthusiasts will go to the left first.

Know your teen's limits and make adjustments:

• Scare zones are not the same for all. Some may enjoy the quirky clowns, but others may be terrified of them. There are other areas of the park or ways to get around to avoid creepy creatures that may cause anxiety in your teen and their scare comfort level. Remember, you want your teen to enjoy the evening, want to return, and possibly make it a family Halloween tradition.

Additional Tips:

• All Season Long Parking is valid for Knott's Scary Farm nights if you have a Platinum Season Pass. General parking for Knott's Scary Farm is $25.
• Knott's Berry Farm meal plans are NOT VALID during the special event. 

We had such a great night taking our teens and their friends together as Knott's Ambassadors. We had quite the evening. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing our love of the scariest season at Knotts with our teens. With the Fright & Fast Lane passes, we were able to visit all 8 mazes (we even crept through a couple for a second time), the five scare zones, and most of the rides. Next year we're hoping to add our sons to the mix. Check out our video coverage of our experience on Instagram and YouTube.