Latest news with #GhostTownAlive
Miami Herald
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
What's new at SoCal theme parks this summer - from lively night shows to ‘Jaws' doughnuts
LOS ANGELES - Summer in SoCal doesn't just mean beaches or bleachers. It's an ideal, albeit crowded, time to visit one of our many theme parks. No matter which park you choose, there's a water ride or two to cool you off and a host of entertainment options. The Disneyland Resort is in the midst of a major anniversary, and Knott's Berry Farm brings back a favorite must-see - or must-play, rather - summer staple. Six Flags Magic Mountain is introducing more theatrics, and Universal Studios Hollywood has made some refreshing tweaks to one of its classic attractions (hint: bring a poncho). Here's a look at the summer highlights at each park. Disneyland The Disneyland Resort is celebrating a major birthday this July 17, although the party started early in May. Much of the key entertainment happens in the evening. The new "World of Color Happiness!" at Disney California Adventure brings water-based projection effects to the park's lagoon, alongside a storyline centered on the characters of "Inside Out." Disneyland has brought back the lively, LED-driven parade that is "Paint the Night," an upbeat and festive jolt of energy that serves as an exclamation point on a day at the park. If fireworks are more to your liking, "Wondrous Journeys" illuminates the skies above Walt Disney's original Magic Kingdom via a show that serves as an ode to the company's century of animation achievements. Nostalgia is always an invited guest at a Disneyland party, and those who want to relive memories of years spent at the park should not miss "Tapestry of Happiness," a five-minute love letter to Disneyland that uses the facade of It's a Small World as a canvas while nodding to the artistry of Mary Blair, the Disney legend responsible for much of the look and tone of the ride whose building the show graces. And coming July 17 will be a show that resurrects Disney as an audio-animatronic, temporarily displacing "Great Moments of Mr. Lincoln" at the Main Street Opera House. Disney artisans promise that the robotic figure will be one of its most lifelike to date. There are treats galore and even food offerings that nod to Disneyland's past (look for the decadent apple pancake rolls). The birthday festivities run into next year, although some offerings will pause for Halloween and holiday programming. Knott's Berry Farm No matter the park, the key touchstones of great theme park theatrics are similar. Expect a pun or two and some heightened emotions - and don't be surprised if there's tinge of hokeyness. But in a good way. Like an actor approaching you with a bucket of water and asking, politely, if you would like it dumped on your head. Or another excitedly talking you into having a curly mustache painted on your face. Knott's Berry Farm's now-annual summer offering "Ghost Town Alive!" turns all of the park's ol' West area into a stage, and it's a hoot. "Ghost Town Alive!" is designed to be played. Approach, for instance, the post office in the fictional town of Calico, and you may be handed a package to deliver - only now you're caught up in randomly weird storyline. The narrative has some key beats, but daily shenanigans are often improv-based, and you may find yourself robbing a bank, working as a matchmaker or taking part in a facial hair contest. Every day in "Ghost Town Alive!" is a little different. If you're willing to put yourself out there, don't be surprised if you forget there are coasters to ride, as "Ghost Town Alive!" is a gateway to an alternative reality where wackiness reigns. While in Calico, don't miss the summer show "Miss Cameo Kate's Western Burle-Q- Revue" at the Bird Cage Theatre. It's a 20-minute cabaret-style performance, complete with a torch song and a cancan finale, the latter just a tad risqué. In the evening, Knott's Summer Nights programming brings live music to an assortment of lands. While acts may vary, expect an emphasis on acoustic, rockabilly and Western stylings spread across six stages, turning the park into a mini live music venue. Six Flags Magic Mountain The Valencia coaster park this summer is leaning into superhero properties. The likes of Batman, Superman, Catwoman, the Joker and more are taking part in an evening show that marries dance parties, stunt shows and audience participation. Its "DC Heroes and Villains Fest" runs weekends throughout the summer beginning June 20, with festivities starting at 5 p.m. There's a plot each night, and it centers on villains trying to spoil a statue dedication to Batman. Audiences are said to be able to align with heroes or villains to see who has control of Gotham City each evening. Expect a stunt show finish and plenty of silliness, such as a dad joke or strength contests. Dance events will center on Catwoman, the Joker and Harley Quinn, nonheroes who will be trying to woo guests with family-friendly entertainment. While "DC Heroes and Villains Fest" had yet to begin at the time of writing, Magic Mountain is hoping for a theater-heavy experience. "A lot of my team comes from New York, the Broadway side," Mike Ostrom, manager of entertainment and events for the park, told immersive podcast No Proscenium. "So we're trying to bring a lot of theatrical elements and story arc and all those things that involve the crowd, the participants, to really get involved in what they're seeing." Universal Studios Hollywood Jurassic World - The Ride is already an attraction designed to get you soaked. This summer, however, Universal Studios has made the ride even wetter, thanks to additional dinosaurs and new geysers. Look for four additional Dilophosaurus figures - those mid-size dinos with ornate, skull-like fans surrounding their head - throughout the ride. Otherwise known as "spitters," they do exactly that - spit water at guests in boats. Additionally, once the boat lands after the ride's 84-foot drop, guests will be welcomed with a loud roar and an explosion of new water geysers. Ponchos are recommended. The additions are part of what Universal is calling Mega Movie Summer. The event focuses on treats themed to "Jaws," "Back to the Future" and more - look for a giant doughnut with a shark bite taken out of it, or relax with a lobster roll - as well as photo opportunities and character meet-and-greets. For example, a "Jaws" photo spot features the return of the park's hanging shark and a chance to meet actors portraying shark hunter Quint and Amity police chief Brody. A "Back to the Future" location has the DeLorean time machine and actors inhabiting the roles of Marty McFly and Doc Brown as well as an appearance from canine companion Einstein. Once Universal extends its hours on June 28, a projection show will take over Hogwarts Castle in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Elsewhere, characters from "Wicked" continue to meet guests, and Universal has introduced a 730-pound sculpted Toothless figure from "How to Train Your Dragon." _____ Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Los Angeles Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
From ‘Ghost Town Alive!' to ‘Summer Nights' band performances, season of easy living opens at Knott's
Summer at Knott's is here with Wild West-themed character interactions, nightly live music and lots of dancing. Ghost Town Alive! runs during the day — culminating with a family-friendly, dance-filled hoedown full of step-heeling and grape-vining through Calico Park. Meanwhile, Knott's Summer Nights livens up the evening and night with bands and performers at multiple stages throughout the park. The two summer events launched June 13 and run through Sept. 1. 'Summer Nights has been entertaining our guests since 2019 and since then we've seen the [evolution] of new bands, new music and of course great fun for all of our guests,' said producer Christopher Do. 'Ghost Town Alive has been running since 2016, the 75th anniversary of Ghost Town. Some of the citizens have changed throughout the years as a new storyline is presented with each subsequent year.' Do said guests can expect a mix of new and returning live music for this year's Knott's Summer Nights. 'We're excited to introduce some new bands to the mix,' he said. '90s Rockshow was a guest favorite last year and this year guests can find them at the Calico Mine Stage. Also joining this year at the Calico Mine Stage is Midnight Regret playing some familiar top '40s hits. At the Calico Park stage, we are welcoming a few new bands: the Ritchie Hummins Band, Tommy Drinkard & the Remedy as well as some returning favorites like Jonathan Stout and his Campus Five, and Stone Soul.' There are also some fun returning games including Fla-ringo, Cornhole and Zing That Ring — a habit-forming hook-and-ring game located on the outskirts of the Calico Mine Stage. Also at the Calico Mine Stage, Do said, they are introducing some new pay-to-play games with special prizes developed by the Knott's Games department. In addition to the big hoedown, Ghost Town Alive! also features a whole Ghost Town full of characters and activities — from the fire wagon coming through with some water misting to interactions in the dress shop and visits to The Old School House. Characters may elicit the help of guests in secret missions and puzzle-solving. 'The puzzles and immersive elements of Ghost Town Alive! are designed to appeal to every level of guest — from the casual observer to the deep diver or returning guest,' Do said. 'Often, our citizens may use puzzles to help deepen the experience of any one of our guests.' Show Director Rovin Dickinson said acting in Ghost Town Alive! is different from other forms of performing in that it requires making the guest the star in their story and sometimes the focus of attention — the role usually reserved for the actor. 'Each guest is different, and every interaction unique. For the performer, it may be challenging at times to be the supporting role in several different experiences at once,' Dickinson said. 'Our citizens are great at meeting our guests where they are at, encouraging them to engage as much or as little as they desire. It's sometimes as simple and as a quick question of what they're doing or if they can help with a task to get them engulfed into the story.' Of course, as with other big seasonal events at Knott's, food is a big part of the fun. Director of Food and Beverage Wilf Seymour said 40 new menu items were added in time for their Flavors of Summer. 'This summer, we will be trying out some new summer favorites with a Knott's twist. Blue Bunny is our ice cream supplier, and our pastry chef took inspiration from the strawberry shortcake bar and turned it into a new dessert called the strawberry crunch bar,' he said. 'We serve a lot of elotes during the summer, so we've decided to include it as a topping on our new summer pizza — the delicious roasted elote and chicken pizza with chipotle mayo.' They've also added kimchi crab tots — tater tots tossed in Cajun seasoning topped with imitation crab meat, kimchi, spicy mayo and green onions. 'Fresh berries are always popular during the summer. We have topped our fresh funnel cakes with lots of fresh berries for the new berry bliss funnel cake found at Sutter's Funnel Cake,' Seymour said. 'We have some great new beverages coming for the summer, like the juicy pale ale. We also have some great Italian sodas at Prop Shop Pizzeria.' Another intriguing new item is the grilled pineapple beef burger. 'The grilled pineapple beef burger was based on a Hawaiian grill idea we were playing with,' he said. 'We wanted to make pineapple chicken, and then we tried a teriyaki beef dish that we had planned to do at Boardwalk. However, we needed a signature burger for the summer, and this led us down the path of experimenting with these ideas on a burger.' The Tajin funnel cake was also a bit of inspired experimentation. 'We love to experiment with different combinations for our funnel cakes here, and the inspiration for the mango soft serve and Tajin funnel cake came from a mangonada, as well as a spicy funnel cake we served last year,' he said. 'We wanted to pair these two flavors together.' Seymour said the summer menu is a 'fun creation' and captures many of the summer flavors that guests enjoy. 'We have had the opportunity to taste everything a few times and make some adjustments that make the menu items fit nicely into our theme park world,' he said.
Thrill Geek
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Thrill Geek
Knott's Berry Farm Announces the Ultimate Summer Season
The fun never ends at Knott's Berry Farm and Knott's Soak City this summer with new food, new thrills, and new fun as 'Ghost Town Alive!' and 'Knott's Summer Nights' kick off on June 13 and run through Sept. 1. Across the street, Knott's Soak City is ready to make a splash on select dates from May 17 through Sept. 7. The beloved town of Calico transports guests to the Wild West, where visitors become the stars of an all-new, action-packed storyline in the interactive ' Ghost Town Alive!' . The honorary citizens of Calico hold the key to unlocking secret missions alongside captivating characters while solving mind-bending puzzles in this immersive experience. When the sun sets, the excitement doesn't stop. ' Knott's Summer Nights ' transforms Calico Park into a vibrant nighttime neighborhood party, extending the celebration into the evening. Guests will groove to live bands from the local music scene on two lively stages, soak in the relaxing atmosphere and capture Instagram-worthy moments around every corner. Family-friendly games round out this festive experience, ensuring something for everyone as they enjoy the summer vibes. And what's a summer party without delicious food? Knott's culinary team is planning mouthwatering twists on classic summer favorites, offering new savory items such as kimchi crab tots or the grilled pineapple beef burger. Those with a sweet tooth will enjoy dessert items such as apple fritter bread or mango soft serve, and tajin funnel cake. Guests can beat the heat at Knott's Soak City, opening May 17! The park invites water lovers of all ages to dive into 15 acres of splashes, slides, and sun-kissed fun. Thrill-seekers will love the more than 20 exhilarating speed, tube, and body slides, or catch a wave at Tidal Wave Bay, where waves crest over four feet high. For those in the mood for relaxation, Sunset River is one of the longest lazy rivers in the country. Little swimmers can enjoy Gremmie Lagoon, an interactive playground perfect for splashing all day. Knott's Soak City will be open on select dates from May 17 through Sept. 7. After an exciting day, guests are invited to unwind at the freshly renovated Knott's Hotel, which is steps away from the parks. Make it a stay to remember with the Ultimate Package , which offers the perfect summer adventure: cozy overnight accommodations, two days of unlimited fun at either Knott's Berry Farm or Knott's Soak City, a delicious daily breakfast buffet, and convenient hotel parking. Guests can book at The best way to enjoy all the fun throughout Knott's Summertime and all Seasons of Fun is with a 2025 Season Pass. The pass offers unlimited visits to Knott's Berry Farm, food, merchandise discounts, and more! A Gold Season Pass includes admission to both Knott's Berry Farm and Knott's Soak City Waterpark. Additional pricing and information on passes can be found at Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83
