Berry Sweet Legacy: The Ultimate Buena Park Boysenberry Guide

Springtime in Buena Park, SoCal’s fun city, means one thing—BOYSENBERRY SEASON! Known as the birthplace of the boysenberry, this one-of-a-kind fruit, a cross between raspberries, blackberries, and loganberries, was first cultivated in the 1920s by farmer Walter Knott and Rudolph Boysen. Walter’s wife Cordelia opened a tea room serving homemade boysenberry jams, jellies, pies and fried chicken dinners. As the tea room's popularity soared, long waits led to the creation of Knott’s Berry Farm’s first attraction - Ghost Town. Today, Knott's Berry Farm, California’s first theme park, continues to honor its boysenberry roots with the Annual Boysenberry Festival, a month-long celebration of boysenberry-inspired foods, entertainment, and family fun. Be sure to check out our Knott’s Boysenberry Festival Guide for tips on how to make the most of your visit!

Whether in pies, jams, or cocktails, Buena Park’s boysenberry legacy is deliciously embedded in the community's culture. And for a limited time only, many of Buena Park's popular restaurants, hotels, bars and attractions are offering boysenberry food and beverage items on their menus. Ready to eat, sip, and stay your way through the best berry-infused bites in town? We’re spilling the (boysenberry) juice on where to indulge in Buena Park. CLICK HERE to check out the full line up!

boysenberry soft-serve ice cream pressed between two freshly baked cookies at Knott's Berry Farm

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Start at the Heart: Knott’s Boysenberry Festival
Daily from March 28 to April 27, plus select weekends until May 18, the beloved Knott’s Boysenberry Festival returns to celebrate its 10th Anniversary with over 80 signature boysenberry items. Dive into new favorites like "The Stack"—boysenberry BBQ pulled pork served over cornbread and coleslaw, or creamy Boysenberry Grits with Cajun Shrimp. For a sweet-and-salty twist, you can’t miss the Sausage Hoagie or Boysenberry Elote (corn on the cob), and for a refreshing twist, sip on a Boysenberry Sangria, Boysenberry Lavender Lemonade, or a Boysenberry Tequila Smash. Save with the Boysenberry Festival Tasting Card, which includes six tastings of boysenberry-inspired dishes and drinks.

Knott’s California Marketplace, located just outside the theme park, offers the World’s largest selection of Knott’s boysenberry preserves, coffee beans, and unique gifts. Treat yourself to a fresh-baked boysenberry danish at the Farm Bakery or indulge in a slice of boysenberry pie and fried chicken at Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. For a sweet fix, stop by the Candy Parlour for boysenberry taffy or cool off with a boysenberry sherbet or funnel cake at the Cable Car Kitchen.

Boysenberry infused Chicken Fricassee plated on wild rice pilaf

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Boysenberry Bites Around Town
From sweet to savory, Buena Park’s best eateries are putting a fresh twist on the beloved boysenberry. Rise and shine with fluffy boysenberry pancakes at Black Bear Diner! Indulge in their buttery, flaky boysenberry cobbler or a slice of creamy Boysenberry Cheesecake for a berry sweet morning. Thirty Acres Kitchen at Knott's Hotel is serving up a berry farm flair with their stone oven pizza glazed with smoky, sweet boysenberry chipotle BBQ, and topped with crispy battered onion straws and bacon. The Boysenberry BBQ Chicken Salad is perfect for those looking for a lighter bite, and don’t forget to grab a warm cup of Boysenberry Coffee to keep your energy up. Experience the contemporary atmosphere of the Rosemary Room at Hilton Buena Park, where the Boysenberry Chicken Fricassee, paired with wild rice pilaf, offers a savory, berry-infused delight. Over at Ventanas Grill at DoubleTree Buena Park, satisfy your cravings with a delicious mix of boysenberry burgers, crispy wings, and a refreshing boysenberry latte.

When it’s time to satisfy your sweet tooth, head over to Nobibi, the newest sweet spot in town, and treat yourself to a refreshing Boysenberry Frosty or indulge in their creamy, dreamy Boysenberry Ice Cream, bursting with tangy-sweet berry flavor in every spoonful. For a fun twist, stop by Tacos La Calle and pair a delicious taco with a crispy churro dipped in tangy-sweet boysenberry sauce. And don’t miss a slice of Boysenberry Cheesecake at John's Incredible Pizza, where family-friendly fun meets an all-you-can-eat menu, thrilling amusement rides, video games, and now, a special boysenberry delight for a limited time.

Boysenberry cotton candy with a splash of vodka and lemon at The Cauldron in Buena Park, CA

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Sip & Stay
As the sun sets, it's time to toast to the berry that made it all happen! Keep the celebration going with boysenberry-infused drinks. Head over to The Cauldron, where they stir up a whimsical Boysenberry Cotton Candy Cocktail—a sweet way to unwind. Or make your way to Beach Boulevard Club for a Boysenberry Espresso Martini, the ultimate berry-inspired nightcap—stick around for their lively dueling pianos and vibrant live performances. For those with an early appetite, Broken Yolk Café serves up a Boysenberry Mimosa, perfect for a brunch with a berry-infused kick to start your day right.

Extend the boysenberry fun by spending the night at one of our beloved hotels! Just steps away from the park, Knott’s Hotel offers the perfect retreat with exclusive boysenberry-themed bath essentials in each room. Don’t forget to visit the hotel gift shop to stock up on boysenberry merchandise—the perfect souvenir to remember your stay. Be sure to check out their Boysenberry Festival package, which includes overnight accommodations, park admission, and exclusive perks like a boysenberry tasting card and single-use Fast Lane.

If you're staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites, enjoy boysenberry waffles and sauces to kick-start your day before heading out to explore Buena Park and the Boysenberry Festival. Or choose from other notable hotels like DoubleTree Buena Park and the Hilton Buena Park, where their exclusive boysenberry-inspired menu items will elevate your stay.

Book your stay, sip on berry-inspired drinks, savor mouthwatering treats, and celebrate as Buena Park offers a boysenberry-infused adventure like no other. After a long day of excitement, choose from over a dozen comfortable and affordable hotels in Buena Park. Check out our ‘suite’ hotel and ticket deals. To start planning your SoCal vacation, order your FREE Buena Park Travel Guide.

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Two bed room at Holiday Inn in Buena Park, CA

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Riders on Hangtime ride at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, CA

Berry Sweet Legacy: The Ultimate Buena Park Boysenberry Guide

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