5 Tips Before Going to 'Taste of Boysenberry Festival' at Knott's Berry Farm

5 Tips Before Going to ‘Taste of Boysenberry Festival’ at Knott’s Berry Farm

The Boysenberry Festival is here! I went with a family of 6 and we went on opening day (March 5). We got to the park around 4:30pm and stayed for about four hours. We also decided to share and split our tastings. It was the best way to try lots of more food!

Our tasting cards were $45 each for six adults and with taxes and fees, it came out to be $291.93 total. Tasting cards for kids are $20 each.

5 Tips Before Going

1. Preview the Menu
Take note of the things you really want to eat. You only have 5 tastings! It helps to have an idea of what you want because you once you’re in the park and see people walking around with their food, you’ll want everything. Check out the full menu here.

2. Map it Out
Once you have an idea of what you want to eat, figure out where it’s being served. Here’s a map with the menu or download the app. The app does an amazing job of telling you which restaurants are near you and what they’re serving.

3. Pack To-Go Containers
This is a MUST. Knott’s will not have to-go containers or lids for your bowls/plates. So bring whatever you need to pack food (plastic wrap, bags, etc.) We ended up taking home 4 full containers of leftovers!

4. Bring Your Own Water
The drinks were yummy but we didn’t always want to use our tastings for drinks.

5. You Can Pay for Extra Food
If you run out of tastings, you can pay for extra. For some of us, five tastings just wasn’t enough and we were glad we had the option to purchase.

Bonus Tip: Well, more like an fyi. If you’re going later in the evening, some spots in the park aren’t very well lit, so you’ll be eating in the dark or with your phone flashlight on. The decorative lights were really pretty at night though.

Overall Experience

Cleanliness & Health Safety

Lucky for us, there wasn’t a line getting into the park. They ask if you’ve been feeling any symptoms, you go through security, get your pass, take your picture, and you’re in!

There was more than enough spaced out tables and benches throughout the park. We were always able to find an empty table to sit at. Team members were spotted near eating areas and we’re super diligent in cleaning after you left.

Tables were also in places you wouldn’t expect— the Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars were removed and the entire area was filled with tables. Hardly anyone was there! You’ll definitely find little secluded spots around the park with tables.

The Food

The quality of the food was decent for fast-served, theme park food. There was never a wait for our food. We walked up to window, told them what we wanted, and we got our food before we left the window. Here are the things we ended up trying:

Keep in mind these are just my personal opinions! Also, we tried to get pics of everything but it was getting dark outside.

Boysenberry BBQ Carne Asada Pizza Slice with Cilantro and Onions: 8/10 – It’s a pretty big slice and the carne asada was really good!
Pork Bao Buns with Boysenberry Kimchi and Nam Pla: 5/10 – We love traditional pork buns and these buns just didn’t cut it.
Mac and Cheese Bites over Tater Tots with a Boysenberry Siracha Ketchup: 7/10 – Great dish for kids.
Boysenberry BBQ Brisket Mac and Cheese: 7/10 – Really good portion, the meat was a little on the sweet side.
Pastrami Sandwich on a Pretzel Bun with Provolone Cheese and Boysenberry Mustard: 7/10 – This was pretty yummy!
Cheeseburger with a Boysenberry Onion Spread on a Brioche Bun: – 7/10 – Good, but the pastrami sandwich was better.
Boysenberry, Cucumber, and Pineapple Agua Fresca: 8/10 – Super refreshing.

Boysenberry Flavored Shrimp and Grits: 8/10 – One of the better savory dishes we had!
Salmon and Orzo Salad with Boysenberries and Spinach: 4/10 – Not one of our favorites.
Boysenberry BBQ Glazed Wings: 9/10 – Soooo good! And we got like 8 wings in one tasting.
Boysenberry BBQ Meatloaf with Scalloped Potatoes: 9/10 – Our portion was huge here! Definitely worth a tasting.
Philly Cheese Fries with a Boysenberry Onion Topping: 6/10 – Portion was huge and there was lots of cheese…like a lot.
Mexican Street Corn Chowder with Boysenberry Tortilla Chips: 9/10 – The chowder was delicious and had a bit of a kick. I enjoyed it more without the boysenberry tortilla chips.
Boysenberry Smoothie: 9/10 – After walking around the park, this was exactly what we needed.
Flavored Funnel Cake with Boysenberry Ice Cream, a Lemon Drizzle, and White Chocolate Sprinkles: 7/10 – Nothing beats a traditional Knott’s funnel cake, but this seemed baked instead of fried. We ended up getting a regular funnel cake outside of the park.

The Takeaway

Overall, we had an amazing time. It was nice to get out and go to a socially-distanced event. The food was fun, there were vendors selling really neat things, and the decor around the park was top-notch! It was also nice to walk around the Marketplace shops afterwards.

Disclaimer: This was a fun, personal experience for myself and my family. Tickets were purchased with my own money and I was not compensated in any way from Knott’s Berry Farm. All opinions and are my own.

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