A “secret” Mac & Cheese festival taking place during the Peanuts Celebration has turned Knott’s Berry Farm into a cheese-lovers paradise with the kids menu staple showing up on funnel cakes and cheeseburgers and in soups and burritos.
The 2024 Knott’s Peanuts Celebration runs through Feb. 25 with stage shows, live music, character meet-and-greets and themed food and merchandise at the Buena Park theme park.
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I’m a huge fan of Mac & Cheese and consider the dish one of my five basic food groups.
By my count, 10 of the 21 Peanuts Celebration food and beverage items on this year’s Peanuts Celebration menu feature Mac & Cheese — making Knott’s the Cheesiest Place on Earth for the next few weeks.
“It’s kind of a secret menu,” Knott’s Berry Farm Vice President of Food & Beverage Laura Brubaker said of the preponderance of Mac & Cheese items. “We did advertise it to some degree, but not like we do with other events.”
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Making Mac & Cheese the star of the culinary show made sense with the kids-centric Peanuts Celebration, according to Brubaker.
“If you like Mac & Cheese, why not put it into anything?” Brubaker said via email. “I thought it would be fun to hone in on this item. Mac & Cheese is very versatile and goes with a lot of different things — like burgers, with ground beef and on fries.”
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Cheese has been a recurring theme during the annual Knott’s festival celebrating Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Woodstock, Schroeder, Peppermint Patty, Pig-Pen and the rest of the Peanuts gang from the newspaper comic strip created by Charles M. Schulz.
Grilled cheese — another kids menu staple — went over well as the culinary star of the Peanuts Celebration a few years ago, according to Brubaker.
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If Knott’s can have an entire festival dedicated to the Boysenberry, why can’t Knott’s have a Mac & Cheese festival as part of the Peanuts Celebration?
“Mac & Cheese has legs and many people love eating it,” Brubaker said via email. “I do think there could be a larger celebration dedicated to it, however this is a pilot this year and may grow.”
Here are all of the Mac & Cheese items on the menu at this year’s Peanuts Celebration.
Franklin’s Mac and Cheesy Noodle Cheddar and Broccoli Soup served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
1) Franklin’s Mac and Cheesy Noodle, Cheddar and Broccoli Soup (Ghost Town Bakery)
Schroeder’s Fluffy Breakfast Mac and Cheese Pancake served with a side of Bacon and Maple Syrup served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
2) Schroeder’s Fluffy Breakfast Mac and Cheese Pancake served with a side of Bacon and Maple Syrup (Sutter’s Grill)
Lucy Van Pelt’s Mac and Cheese Waffle Cone topped with Pulled Pork served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
3) Lucy Van Pelt’s Mac and Cheese Waffle Cone topped with Pulled Pork (Sutter’s Funnel Cake)
Cornbread Funnel Cake with Mac and Cheese and Pulled Pork with a BBQ Sauce Drizzle served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
4) Cornbread Funnel Cake with Mac and Cheese and Pulled Pork with a BBQ Sauce Drizzle (Sutter’s Funnel Cake)
Snoopy’s Mac and Cheeseburger with Burger Sauce served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
5) Snoopy’s Mac and Cheeseburger with Burger Sauce (Wilderness Dogs and Drinks)
Linus’ Mac and Cheese Bites over French Fries served with a Spicy Aioli served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
6) Linus’ Mac and Cheese Bites over French Fries served with a Spicy Aioli (Strictly-on-a-Stick)
Pig Pen’s Ham and Mac and Cheese Loaf served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
7) Pig Pen’s Ham and Mac and Cheese Loaf (Boardwalk BBQ)
Jose Peterson’s Swedish Meatball on top of Mac and Cheese and French Fries served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
8) Jose Peterson’s Swedish Meatball on top of Mac and Cheese and French Fries (Papas Mexicanas)
Charlie Brown’s Burrito with Mac and Cheese, Ground Beef and Queso served during the Peanuts Celebration in Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
9) Charlie Brown’s Burrito with Mac and Cheese, Ground Beef and Queso (Casa California Restaurante)
Fully Loaded Funnel Cake topped with a Cheesecake Batter and Mac Gummies served during the Peanuts Celebration at Knott’s Berry Farm. (Photo courtesy of Knott’s)
10) Fully Loaded Funnel Cake topped with a Cheesecake Batter and Mac Gummies (Log Ride Funnel)