fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 (edited) Well, the Boysenberry Festival has returned!!! What once was a small part of Knott's Boysenberry Bloom, is now it's own event. This is by far the biggest event yet, with more shows, more boysenberry flavored food, and don't forget the fun! This years event runs from March 19 - April 3, and there's plenty of reasons to make multiple visits, including everyone's favorite Fun Bun, and Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies! Food and shows are plentiful, and if you plan to try to fit them all in, you may not have time for rides, but they won't be missed at this awesome event! The most talked about draw of the festival is the food, and I will tell you it's all amazing, all boysenberry, and all kinds. From boysenberry desserts, to boysenberry BBQ, there's something for everyone, even boysenberry wine and beer. Now, this is a very popular event and you should expect lines for some items, as I said, the food is the star! Be sure to get yourself a food tasting card, which lets you sample 6 different festival foods for one low price. The card includes everything from Boysenberry Flautas, to Boysenberry Chicken Wings, and Fried Alligator bites with Boysenberry Aioli...yes, I said alligator! The lines do get long for popular items like the gator and Fun Bun, so be warned. I did notice that the line for Gator bites got shorter in the evening, so try the other offerings and hit the gator on the way out. The Fun Bun is the most talked about food of the festival and did run short at one point, but more became available later in the evening. An amazing new treat is the Fun Stick, take cheesecake, dip in funnel cake batter, and cover with boysenberry sauce and powdered sugar...OMG...OMG...O...M...G...Becky look at that Fun Stick! Now, other foods are available throughout the park that are not on the tasting card such as, Fish & Chips with Boysenberry Tarter Sauce, Corn on the Cob with Boysenberry Butter, and even Foot Long Jalapeno Sausage with Boysenberry Relish! Too many food offerings to list, possibly too many to even try in one day. There is also a beer and wine tasting card that allows you to sample 6 types of beer or wine and even includes small bite pairings. There are both boysenberry and non-boysenberry flavors, 5 types of beer and numerous selections of wine. The boysenberry beer was very good, the cider was a little more sweet, but very good as well. Remember, Knott's has boysenberry jams and sauces available to take home, so the fun doesn't have to end when you leave. The entertainment is amazing this year, shows that are on par with some of those at their magical neighbor park. Knott's has really stepped up it's game this season. The newly refurbished Calico Saloon has reopened and offers old fashioned shows in a great setting several times a day. There is Lucy's Really Big Spring Show in Camp Snoopy for the kids, it's a much bigger show than usual and I suggest checking it out even if you don't have children. Bird Cage Square has entertainment every half hour, including Dueling Fiddles/Banjos, "Vine" Dancing, and even a pie eating contest that you can participate in! Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies return to The Bird Cage Theatre with a show that has music, comedy and even some theater. Don't miss their rendition of "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" and be sure to give them a standing ovation. Peanuts Party in the Park includes music, dancing, and The Peanuts Gang in a springtime, blueberry infused stage show. When evening rolls around you can dance the night away at Salsa Dancing with OpaOpa in Fiesta Village, and Jammin' in the Dark at Calico Square. Both nighttime shows were excellent and had the crowd dancing to the music. Now, opening day featured the brutal, all out MLE (Major League Eating) "World Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest"! Which included names like Miki Sudo, Michelle Lesko, Steve Hendry, the Lefevre's, and last years champion Joey Chestnut. If you follow competitive eating, you know Joey "Jaws" Chestnut is one of the top competitive eaters of all time, holding 31 world records, and is currently ranked #2 in the WORLD! Joey set a new World Record with 14.5 pounds of pie eaten in 8 minutes, beating his record of 14 pounds last year. Congratulations to Joey Chestnut on a great performance! Well, there you have it, a great event with food, entertainment and fun. Don't wait until the last minute, you'll want to go more than once! And pictures... "Food Fest + Live Shows!" Let's go there! Hello. Yes, I would like to media please. And away we go! Schedule, noted. The berry stand. Remember to buy your own boysenberry plant. The first day of Boysenberry Festival was PACKED!!! Knott's hooked us up with some jam and BBQ sauce! Boysenberry of course. This guy trying to steal my look! Crazy cowboys throughout Ghost Town. A few shots of the Wagon Camp being redone... First up, Lucy's Big Spring Show... Still working, more to come... Edited March 23, 2016 by fatdaddy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Calico Saloon... Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies... Let's check out Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies! Yup, this is the place, no krazyness or hillbillies yet. I spy the Devil!!! And still more coming... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Epic MLE World Boysenberry Pie Eating Contest, the setup... In case you forgot where we are. "The emotions are raw, but the pie is cooked!" Didn't realize how important the water was until the competition started. "I don't even know the words that are coming out of my mouth!" "Man, versus woman, versus boysenberry pie!" This guy walks in and stand in front of my shot, I WAS shooting video. I told him he needed to crouch, he says he's media, I point to everyone around him...we are media too! He says they told him he could be in that area, but I'm pretty sure they didn't want him to be obnoxious and stand in front of someone who got there half hour early to set up his shot. He turn and tries to look mean, but um...do you see who you're talking to?! I gave him an ear full, and he eventually sat down. The all important water! Battling for this trophy! They all had wierd ways they setup their water, put it in cups, added flavors, set the bottles in certain areas...very interesting. The LeFevre's, competitive eating couple! Steve Hendry. Miki Sudo. Hey who took my six pack of water? They were here, I didn't know it was your water! Seriously, you took my water! Dude, she took my water. She tried to put more pie in one tin, but they were only allowed two slices per tin. She was all like, Is there going to be someone bringing us pie? and they were like, Uh, yeah! Ready to rock! Still working, pie contest was epic and it's next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 The easiest way to do this is going to be by camera, the time stamps are messed up so just to keep them in order. I gave my kids cameras and told them to take some pictures, so here's what my youngest daughter shot... And my oldest took a few shots too... And of course, I took some pictures as well, coming soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Okay here's my view of the competition... Coming up, the winner... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 And Joey Chestnut pull out another win with 14.5 pounds of pie in 8 minutes... No reversal of fortune! War paint! Counting the tins to see how much he ate. Finished second with 10.25 pounds of pie! If you want a long relationship, you gots to get the pie all over your face! Food fight! 9.5 pounds of pie in that little woman! Third place. The master of the boysenberry pie...JOEY CHESTNUT! My helpers for the day and the champ! Pie contest done, now on to Party in the Park... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Peanuts Party in the Park... I like high kicks and boysenberries! I really liked this show! Boysenberry Festival or Bust! Jammin' with boysenberry jam! Chuck gets the kids involved! Everybody wins a blue ribbon! Still working... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 A few random festival pictures... Boysenberry photo ops throughout the park. Now for the food... Tasting card, everything is good! It's easy to be popular when you have lots of short ribs with boysenberry BBQ sauce. Served on a bed of rice, you can also get green onions if you'd like. I'm going to eat you beautiful ribs! Brains! I mean ribs! That sauce! Luckily my kids too pictures of their wings... ...because I inhaled mine. Pro tip, bring wipes, lots of bbq sauce and powdered sugar! Lots of people walking around with bbq sauce on their face. Get this with boysenberry relish, it is awesome! Grilled to perfection! Mine! Apparently there's no need to chew, just inhale. Kids loved these! It's time to make the flautas! Loaded with boysenberry preserves! It's time to eat the flautas! Boysenberry Panna Cotta. Remember to buy the sport bottle, you'll thanks me! The kids were fighting over the last bite. Beer and wine tasting card, great deal! Boysenberry beer, very nice hint of boysenberry, but not sweet or overpowering. A fine selection including boysenberry hard cider. I love Knott's Beer Farm...Berry Farm, Knott's Berry Farm...and beer, boysenberry beer. Cider is crisp, light, very sweet and a little dry. Good stuff. The fun stick, not a great picture, it was dark by the time the line for these died down. Deep fried cheese cake with boysenberry sauce! Melts in your mouth. The gator bites, if you haven't had gator...you need this! More pie next... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 21, 2016 Author Share Posted March 21, 2016 Okay, as I mentioned there are various shows every half hour at Bird Cage square, but they all culminate in a pie eating contest! Children and adults are encouraged to sign up before the event and contestants are drawn at random. Here's some pictures... Suiting up for some pie eating. People signed up and names were randomlhy selected. Release the Tucker! "Tucker want pie!" Half a pie each. Kids got to start first. This woman started nibbling the edge... ...and then this happened! Wait, what am I doing?! That's good pie! I thinik she's done this before. This little guy somehow drug his pie out of the tin and ate it off the table. I likes me some pie! I include this only because the angle makes it look like she's eating that othere kids head zombie style. Final countdown! This is just ridiculous! Who needs to win...I'm eatin' pie! The look of satisfaction and shame. I've seen that look from women before. I'm just here...for the pie. The mayor and his wife judge the winner. Contest was over several minutes ago, but this kid... I'm never going to eat pie again! Oh the horror! Wait, I have to leave? But there's still more pie! Night time is the right time to Salsa... Or possibly to be Jammin' After Dark... And that's all I got. A truly epic event, fun for the whole family, food, shows, fun...and beer! Huge thanks to Knott's for inviting us to experience this event...it was awesome!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixelRush Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Welp, the picture on the front page had me thinking "cannibalism" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I prefer to enjoy my Boysenberry pie at a more leisurely pace than they did at the pie-eating contest. Looks like a great food fest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixflagsguy5 Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 Wow! I didn't realize this existed. I have to admit that at first glance I thought this was a zombie event. Great photos and coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 23, 2016 Author Share Posted March 23, 2016 Thanks for the replies, the pie eating contest was brutal! Several competitors were literally holding the food in, so it wouldn't come out! I talked to another media guy who had to leave because he was getting nauseous and wanted to puke. Truly epic, too bad they can't have that every day! Okay, I went back to the park for another round and decided I missed a few things, so here's a little update. And, yes I got my Fun Bun this time! A little sample of what boysenberry items are available. Lots of fun merchandise. Noted. If I failed to mention it, the tasting cards have numbers on them and a map, you simple follow the map and look for these numbered boysenberries. Boysenberry pie hat...yes it's a hat! Photo ops all around Ghost Town. Love the retro Crafty Coyote. Got my Fun Bun!!! The center of the cinnamon roll is all hot and melty, crispy funnel cake shell, and boysenberry creamcheese sauce dripping all over! Not just for kids, I saw several adults making mini pies. That is boysenberry filling she has. Looks something like this.D Do a little Vine Dancing. I tried to escape, but somehow was lured into a jug band. My children were very proud, i could tell by the way they were laughing. I look good! If your going to do it...do it well! Thump, thump, thump... What was that noise? "You broke it!" At least I didn't get the chicken hat. It's all in the hips! Here's a little clearer picture of the boysenberry cider pull handle. I tried the "mix" this time, half boysenberry beer and half boysenberry cider. If you like the cider, but find it a little too sweet, then get the mix, it takes the edge off the sweetness. Now ladies, THIS is how to look sexy! Get yourself a chainsaw! Boysenberry mercantile. Always need to stop by the Calico Saloon. Here's a little better look at the referbished salloon. And upstairs. And a photobomb from Bullet. Also, I forgot to mention that food cards are $25, beer/wine cards are also $25. Six foods or six beers, or buy both cards, great deal! Okay, get out to the Boysenberry Festival, it ends April 3! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 I definitely could go for a Boysenberry Turnover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 27, 2016 Author Share Posted March 27, 2016 Heading there again this week, I will definitely try turnover...and get another Fun Stick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted March 27, 2016 Share Posted March 27, 2016 ...I have to admit that at first glance I thought this was a zombie event.... That's what I thought, looking at a few of the photos taken, during the contest. Good for a Haunt Event! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainUnknown Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Anyone else think they should substitute blood at KSF this year for Boysenberries? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 So Caesar, I am really wondering... Did you buy that awesome KBF Boysenberry Pie Hat or (K)not(t)??? (I think for myself, it's a bottle of the Boysenberry Mustard to get.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Anyone else think they should substitute blood at KSF this year for Boysenberries? Kind of related: one of the best perks of working Haunt is free boysenberry punch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanthonyam Posted March 29, 2016 Share Posted March 29, 2016 Too bad it's during Spring Beak, when they are very busy. If not then I would try it with lighter crowds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Too bad it's in a place I can't get to, right now. Thanks Caesar for the great TRs about everything going on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted March 30, 2016 Share Posted March 30, 2016 Anyone else think they should substitute blood at KSF this year for Boysenberries? Kind of related: one of the best perks of working Haunt is free boysenberry punch! As someone who worked 6 Haunts, I can definitely agree that this is a HUGE perk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatdaddy Posted March 30, 2016 Author Share Posted March 30, 2016 One last update before the Boysenberry Festival ends April 3rd. My goal was to get one last Fun Stick, and try some of the other boysenberry foods that weren't on the tasting card. I had the boysenberry turnover in mind, but during the festival all things boysenberry are flying off the shelf, the bakery looked like it had been ransacked by pastry thieves! I settled for a piece of boysenberry cake, very rich, instant head rush! I'm pretty sure they sell the turnovers year round, so I'll get it next time. The boysenberry chicken sandwich was basically a grilled chicken breast with boysenberry BBQ sauce on a wheat bun. A good sandwich, not anything I'd rave about, but I would buy it again. An item that used to be on the tasting card was the roasted corn with boysenberry butter, boysenberry butter is just awesome melting all over the roasted corn. The Boysenberry Pulled Pork Sandwich is huge! Seriously, if you're a light eater and want one, bring a friend or something to take it home in. I had the foot long hotdog with boysenberry relish last year, but wanted to try the jalapeno sausage. Another huge food you need to bring a friend to finish, loaded with jalapenos. Yup, it's got some heat and the boysenberry "relish" is somewhere between a sauce and preserves, which gives you a hot and sweet combination, they also offer boysenberry ketchup. The cinnamon chips with boysenberry topping were basically fried flour tortillas sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, and topped with boysenberry sauce, very simple, but really good and you get a decent sized portion. Still lots of other food I did not try, but I think I'm good for this year, and was barely able to force down that last Fun Stick. Oh, and no I didn't buy the boysenberry pie hat, $25 is a little steep for a pie hat in my book. PIctures... We are here! Festival food. Festival map. Festival entertainment. Which, Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies play EVERY DAY of the festival! Not to be missed! Boysenberry cake, every bit as rich as it looks. Hot roasted corn melting boysenberry butter, it's a beautiful thing! I didn't really get any corn, you don't want to get between the boy and food. Lots of flowers everywhere! A special photo just for Shawn, I know how much he likes...Knott's! This. Boysenberry pulled pork sandwich comes with chips, coleslaw, and a drink. Corn was extra, but I had come boysenberry butter left over so... Eat this! Cinnamon crisps with boysenberry topping. Also, boysenberry cotton candy in the background. My jalapeno sausage, with boysenberry relish. Yup, it's that big! Jalapenos you can see! The hat wasn't to be, maybe next year. My final fun Stick, you shall be remembered fondly. Okay, you only have until Sunday to experience all this boysenberry goodness for yourself! Crowds were not as bad as I expected, I would assume it will be worse on the weekend, but then it always is. Really, go check it out, it's totally worth the trip. Thanks for all the replies and positive comments, keep them coming! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Finally got to go tonight... The tasting card is a great value and will definitely fill you up, though I think the problem is that the boysenberry BBQ sauce is kind of repetitive. The other thing is that the boysenberry BBQ sauce is a good, sweet BBQ sauce, but I didn't really get much boysenberry taste. The end result for the meatballs, short rib, and wings were that the short rib and meatball just tasted like a good swedish meatball and good korean BBQ short rib with a little sweeter flavor and the wing was almost like a normal BBQ wing but sweeter. I skipped the alligator because the line was always long and we got to the park so late. But the best part of the tasting card by far is the two dessert items. The flauta is basically a rolled boysenberry crepe and super delicious. I am not sure if they ran out of the penna cotta or if we just got really lucky, but they gave us the boysenberry trifle instead...and the boysenberry ice cream was amazing. Also amazing? The boysenberry beer. Goes down very smooth. Must have been a hot seller, since the calico saloon was tapped out about 5 hours before the park closed according to the bartender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linearinduction Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 FYI, the Half Lager and Half Cider is known as a Snakebite, but I prefer a Snakebite and Black. It's quite interesting with Bushy's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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