Knott's Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival

Is it Spring already? Yes! This means the Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival is happening right now. From March 16th to April 8th Knott’s is hosting their annual Boysenberry Festival. As I strolled through the park I said to my husband “Why Boysenberry, and not some other type of berry?” I quickly found out why. Here is the history breakdown in short…

The Boysenberry originated in 1921 in Napa County.
Mr. Ruldolph Boysen used pollen from blackberry, red raspberry, and loganberry to create a new berry.
Once the berry was growing to a remarkable size, he propagated the original plants to his new home near Anaheim. Where he continued to grow them and sell some to Coolidge Gardens of Altadena.
In 1932 the U.S. Bureau of plant Industry came to Coolidge Gardens to look into an new un-named berry.
Mr. Collidge had died and all records were lost with information regarding the berry with the exception of a record showing Mr. Boysen had propagated the berry.
The U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry thought Mr. Knott may know additional information about the berry so they paid him a visit.
Mr. Knott did not know anything about the berry but was super curious to find out about this new berry.
Mr. Knott called all the Boysens in the telephone book until he found the right one who happened to live in the vicinity.
Mr. Boysen had sold the land where the berries were planted. Mr. Boysen, the U.S. Bureau of Plant Industry and Mr. Knott’s went to the ranch he had sold and located a few remaining plants.
Mr. Knott’s brought a few of the plants home and named them Boysenberry in recognition of Mr. Boysen, and began to grow more plants.
In 1934 he introduced the Boysenberry to the public by advertising in leading agricultural magazines.
Soon orders poured in from all over the United States, and the Boysenberry became the most popular of all berries at Knott’s Berry Farm.
Today, every boysenberry in the world can be traced back to Knott’s Berry Farm.

Knowing this, makes Knott’s Berry Farm Boysenberry Festival that much more exciting and really puts an exclamation mark on why it is so special. I say, grab your family and head down to Knott’s for a Boysenberry tasting!

One of the best ways to experience the Boysenberry Festival is with a Tasting Card! Tasting cards provide ample samplings of eight delicious, one-of-a-kind boysenberry items at tasting locations throughout Ghost Town for a discounted price of only $30. Guests may enjoy all eight items or mix-and-match up to eight tastings.

Tasting Card Items

1) Slow Cooked Boysenberry Short Rib
Boysenberry hoisin sauce, buttery basmati rice, chopped green onions

2) Boysenberry Pierogies
Boysenberries, sautéed onions, Applewood smoked bacon, boysenberry sour cream

3) Boysenberry Cheese Quesadilla *
Mozzarella cheese, cotija cheese, boysenberry salsa, boysenberry sour cream

4) Boysenberry Elote *
Corn on the cob, boysenberry mayonnaise, boysenberry butter

5) Boysenberry Coconut Macaroon *
Dipped in chocolate ganache

6) Boysenberry Hummus with Grilled Pita Bread *
Vegetarian

7) Boysenberry Sausage on a Bun (Location: Outside Wilderness Dance Hall)
Freshly baked roll, boysenberry ketchup, relish, mustard

8) Boysenberry Chicken Wings (Location: Outside Spurs Chophouse)

* Vegetarian items on the tasting menu. My family and I are vegetarians and still found plenty to nibble on. The Boysenberry Elote was our favorite, with the Boysenberry Coconut Macaroon coming in as a close second.

We also thoroughly enjoyed The Wine and Craft Brew Garden, located inside of Ghost Town’s Wilderness Dance Hall, features dozen of hand-selected gourmet wines from all over the world and over a dozen local craft brews. You also get a little plate of cheese with fruit, nuts, and crackers to pair with your wine. It’s the best for the 21 and over adults in your party.