Apologies for this late blog, but I've been busy going on adventures and have not had much time to write. I've also tweaked my photo filters, so photos on my blogs may look different from now on!
Since 2019, I've looked forward to the Boysenberry Festival at Knott's Berry Farm every year. You may be thinking, doesn't Knott's offer boysenberry items year round? It does, but not with the same unique plethora of options only available during the festival.
I must admit, despite my excitement, I was also skeptical about this year's festival. I normally buy the tasting card, which is a flat rate and includes a certain number of items. This year, the card was more expensive, included less tastings and the options were a small percentage of what the festival itself was actually offering. In the end, instead of all of us buying a tasting card, we bought one and split the tastings.
Regardless, dressed in our boysenberry best, we arrived at the park ready to indulge in all things boysenberry.
We started off with one of the items I was terribly excited to try - the open faced boysenberry-jelly filled donut chicken sandwich. Now before you go, "eww that sounds gross," do not knock it until you try it. Every time I go to the OC Fair, I get a similar item, which is why I was excited to try the boysenberry version.
The chicken was not dry and not over-breaded; the boysenberry filling in the donut was the perfect sweet compliment to the savory chicken - it was all delicious!
Next, we stopped by Boysenberry Lane to take some cute photos and check out the newly decorated area.
Since the pizza line was incredibly long, we decided to go elsewhere for more tasty treats.
We stopped at Boardwalk BBQ for some boysenberry options - boysenberry wings (which are actually now a permanent feature on the menu), boysenberry onion dip with chips, and pot roast with boysenberry mashed potatoes.
I always enjoy the wings, but the onion dip was the real surprise for me. It was pretty savory, with a hint of boysenberry flavor. I know Stefani had been dreaming of the pot roast and mashed potatoes since our first festival in 2019, so she thoroughly enjoyed her plate.
As the day went on, we took advantage of the spring decor, cold boysenberry drinks at the saloon, and even saw our first performance at the Birdcage Theater.
For me, this performance was one of the highlights of the day. We happened to encounter the theater right as seating was wrapping up, and we were able to grab some great seats. I didn't know what to expect, but I know I was pleasantly surprised by the comedy, talent and fun storytelling. Performances like these are what make Knott's a special place, even today where other theme parks are utilizing futuristic technology. Nothing really beats good ole' storytelling.
Eventually I got the one item I was the most excited about - the boysenberry elote. I'd had it at a previous festival and it blew my mind. This year though? Big disappointment. The way they did the elote was very different, and there was very little boysenberry flavor. Of course, it wasn't bad, but it did not meet my expectation.
The day passed by quickly, and before we knew it, the sun was beginning its descent. We did what we do best and snapped some fun photos in the softer light, our bellies still full from our boysenberry treats.
Again, being in the right place at the right time, we were able to catch Snoopy's Boysenberry Jam-boree, and it was adorable! The dancers were so talented, and it was amazing to hear them sing live as well.
I love that Knott's has kept its family-friendly entertainment thriving, with cute seasonal themes, classic characters and iconic music like Singin' in the Rain.
Of course, we stopped by one of my favorite photo spots in the park before finishing our day with dessert.
Finally, we revisited Boysenberry Lane for dessert, including a boysenberry pie bar, boysenberry mousse cake, and boysenberry horchata.
The boysenberry pie bar was like a cross between a pie and a crumble - the buttery crust and topping were definitely prominent. The mousse cake was much sweeter than I anticipated, but it packed a punch when it came to boysenberry flavor. The horchata was delicious - the boysenberry flavor was more subtle than I would have liked but I'm glad it was not too sweet.
Overall, we had a good experience at the Boysenberry Festival. While it wasn't my favorite food-wise, Knott's still came through. That vintage, western charm is still appealing even to this day, and I respect that Knott's has not compromised what it has built itself upon.
If you like boysenberries and Knott's Berry Farm, I highly recommend visiting the festival. There truly is something for everyone - unique dishes for the foodies, boysenberry cocktails, wine and beer for the adults, hair-raising rides for the thrill seekers, and entertainment the whole family will love.
I'm already looking forward to next year's festival!
Until next time,
Happy wandering, and happy eating!
