Overall, I would highly recommend visiting the Knott's Scary Farm if you get the chance this year. Ticket prices are relatively college student-friendly, and after you do it once, it will become an event you will try to come to every year after that.

Knott's Scary Farm is widely considered by haunt enthusiasts to be one of the most "worth it" Halloween events in the world, largely because it is the original theme park haunt and offers a more "raw" and immersive experience than its competitors. Unlike Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, which relies heavily on movie franchises, Knott's features original, highly-detailed mazes and "Scare Zones" that take over the entire park. One of its unique selling points is the "Fog," where hundreds of monsters (including the famous "Sliders" who spark metal plates on their knees) hide in thick clouds of artificial mist throughout the streets. Because the park is smaller and more densely packed with actors, the "scare density" is often higher than at larger parks. While tickets can be pricey, the inclusion of several high-quality stage shows and the ability to ride the park’s world-class roller coasters in the dark adds significant value. If you are a fan of traditional, atmospheric horror and want to see the event that literally invented the "theme park haunt" genre, it is an essential experience for the spooky season.