What It Takes to Train Monsters into Action at Knott’s Scary Farm

Two new mazes and one reimagined one aim to scare visitors at the annual Halloween attraction.

Official response and confirmed impact

Planning for the annual makeover from family-friendly theme park to fog-filled streets and mazes of terror at Buena Park’s Knott’s Berry Farm can take months, if not years.

31 this year.

The 2026 lineup of 10 mazes and five scare zones features nearly 1,000 actors – all of whom go through auditions, training and sometimes even certifications for character development, technique and safety.

This year’s Scary Farm includes two new mazes – Inked and Unearthed – as well as a reimagining of the longtime clown-themed scare zone, CarnEVIL.

Scare actor trainers and art directors work together each year to coordinate the best fit for each maze or zone.

“When we’re designing the space or the maze, we’re looking at certain scenes or story beats,” said art director Jon Asperin, who designed Unearthed and also helps train scare actors.

Incident background

An important part of that process is finding the right talent for the various mazes and scare zones making up Knott’s Scary Farm, which runs through Oct.