Written By: Sam Santiago
For horror fans and all haunt fans in Southern California, there are certain moments every year that tell us summer is almost over. The Spirit Halloween stores begin taking over empty storefronts. Pumpkin spice starts showing up on every menu imaginable. Then, somewhere in Buena Park, the fog starts to roll into Ghost Town.
For more than 50 years, Knott's Scary Farm has been the place that officially kicks off Halloween in Southern California for many. Before every major theme park wanted a haunt event, Knott's was already showing everyone how it was done. Original mazes, unforgettable monsters, The Hanging, scare zones, and enough fog to make you question whether you should keep walking forward, have made Scary Farm more than just another Halloween event. For many of us, it's a yearly tradition that reunites fans and friends for a slew of screams. (Say that five times fast.)
That tradition begins long before opening night with Nightmares Revealed, the annual event where Knott's pulls back the curtain on what's waiting in the darkness. We've been fortunate to attend as media the last few years, and every time is a true blast and a love letter to not only the excitement of Spooky Season but also a showcase of amazing artisans and designers that make Scary Farm the must attend event it has become. New mazes, returning favorites, merchandise, food, entertainment, and just enough surprises to get everyone talking until September, the event has it all. If you're a haunt fan, this is Christmas morning.
Apparently, everyone else felt the same way this year.
This year's Nightmares Revealed, taking place on August 18 from 7 to 10 p.m., sold out in less than an hour, sending fans racing to reseller sites faster than shoppers hunting bargains at Ross. It wasn't exactly surprising as we were told by our friends in the "Knott's Network" that tickets were going to fly off the shelves, and boy howdy did they! Every year this event seems to get bigger, and every year the anticipation for Scary Farm reaches another level.
The wait won't be much longer. Knott's Scary Farm returns on select nights from September 17 through October 31, bringing another season of monsters, mayhem, and enough fog to remind us why we keep coming back year after year.
We've been covering Knott's Scary Farm and attending the event for nearly 20 years, and throughout all that time one person has become just as much a part of the experience as Ghost Town itself. Whether he's welcoming fans to Nightmares Revealed or taking shots at pop culture directing the wackiness in The Hanging, Jeff Tucker has become one of the most recognizable faces of Scary Farm and the unofficial official "Master of Scaremonies".
We recently caught up with Mr. Tucker to talk about what goes into Nightmares Revealed, why originality still drives Scary Farm after more than five decades, and why, even after all these years, nothing beats hearing those words every haunt fan waits all summer to hear.
SEE YOU IN THE FOG!
Truly Disturbing: Jeff, every year Nightmares Revealed somehow feels bigger, louder, and more immersive. When you begin putting the event together, what’s the very first emotion you want fans to feel walking into Ghost Town?
Jeff Tucker: "That Scary Farm is back, baby! That all the waiting and hoping has paid off with a fun night of terror and Halloween goodness."
TD: Knott’s Scary Farm fans constantly talk online about how the event still feels like the true “home” of Halloween in Southern California. From your perspective, what keeps that spirit alive after all these years?
Jeff Tucker: "Knott’s is homegrown. Our mazes, shows and attractions are made by us for the fans. Sure, movie themed mazes are fun, but there’s nothing scarier than the unknown. Facing your fears, walking down dark hallways with no idea what’s around the corner. We pride ourselves on that handcrafted spirit and continue the traditions that began way back in 1973!"
TD: After hosting Nightmares Revealed and directing The Hanging, does your approach to building excitement for Scary Farm change at all going into 2026?
Jeff Tucker: "No, I’m the same Halloween obsessed guy I’ve always been. I’ve loved Halloween since I was kid. Costumes, fake blood, a bucket of candy – I dig it all. It’s just on a bigger scale now!"
TD: Fans are always dissecting every teaser, cryptic post, and announcement on Reddit, YouTube, and X. Do you pay attention to the speculation and fan theories leading into the season?
Jeff Tucker: "Yes, I’m online constantly and out in the park talking to fans. We have the best fans in the world and I love engaging with them."
TD: “Nightmares Revealed” has become almost like a kickoff celebration for haunt fans. What do you enjoy most about being face-to-face with such a passionate fan community every year?
Jeff Tucker: "The wave of energy that comes out of that crowd. I take photos of them while I’m onstage. They’re busy watching the videos and I can really study them. I love this community."
Master of Scaremonies Jeff Tucker in 2019 hosting Nightmares Revealed - Photo by Jessica Peralta Courtesy of HalloweenEveryNight.com
TD: Knott’s Scary Farm has such a unique atmosphere — the fog, the soundtrack, the roaming monsters, Ghost Town at night. What do you think makes that vibe so different from every other Halloween event out there?
Jeff Tucker: "Age and experience. We’ve been doing it longer than anyone. We invented the large scale Halloween event and we spend all year dreaming (nightmaring?) up new ways to make it better, scarier."
TD: Horror fans online always praise Knott’s for still prioritizing original ideas and storytelling. How important is originality to the DNA of Scary Farm today?
Jeff Tucker: "It’s at the dark beating heart of what we do. Original ideas, fresh spins on old ideas. We love to innovate and create new ways of scaring people."
TD: As the host of Nightmares Revealed, how fun is it for you personally to finally unveil secrets that fans have been waiting months to hear about?
Jeff Tucker: "Are you kidding? It’s the best! I’m the Willy Wonka / P.T. Barnum of Halloween and it’s a job I love. It’s the best!"
Jeff Tucker letting fans know "The Hanging" isn't for everyone.
TD: The Hanging remains one of the most talked-about traditions in haunt entertainment. What excites you most creatively about continuing to evolve that show for modern audiences while keeping its classic edge intact?
Jeff Tucker: "I love making fun of movies, pop culture, music. I love finding ways to skewer the establishment. I’ve been an outsider, a geek my whole life and this gives me a large scale outlet to showcase that!"
TD: One thing fans constantly mention is how Scary Farm feels genuinely made by people who love horror. How important is passion behind the scenes when creating an event on this scale?
Jeff Tucker: "Passion is #1 – the designers live and breathe Scary Farm and put everything into their designs. The builders and artists translate those designs into full walk-through experiences staffed by the best performers in the world. We love that we do and we appreciate that it shows through. Scary Farm is a year-round job and we toil in the dungeons to make it better each year."
TD: Social media reactions to maze reveals and announcements can be intense in the best way possible. Is there a particular kind of fan reaction that always stands out to you?
Jeff Tucker: "I just love it when the fans get what we’re going for. Maze concepts can sometimes be hard to convey without actually walking through them. I love it when they get it and they get excited about it."
TD: Every year there’s pressure to top the previous season. How does the creative team keep pushing boundaries while still staying true to what makes Knott’s Scary Farm special?
Jeff Tucker: "We meet all year to throw ideas around – you never know where a good idea will come from. The Designers follow trends, attend trade shows and are always on the lookout for the next big thing."
TD: Fans often describe Scary Farm as more than just a haunt — it’s a tradition and even part of their identity growing up in Southern California. Does hearing those personal stories from guests impact the way you approach the event?
Jeff Tucker: "Yes, that’s why we do it. Going to Scary Farm is a rite of passage! We know that the next generation will be harder to scare so we have to up our game! What worked a few years back has to be looked at and made better to keep up with the times."
TD: Without giving anything away, what kind of energy or overall vibe can fans expect from Knott’s Scary Farm 2026?
Jeff Tucker: "Scary, scary, scary. New scares, new thrills and a hell of a lot more FOG!"
TD: Finally, for fans already counting down the days until opening night — what message would you like to share with everyone eagerly waiting for Knott’s Scary Farm 2026?
Jeff Tucker: "2026 is going to be a great year. Don’t miss it! SEE YOU IN THE FOG!"
FINAL WORD
One thing becomes clear after talking with Jeff Tucker: Knott's Scary Farm isn't something the people behind it simply work on every fall. They live it every day of the year with meetings, design ideas, merch outlines, food menu's. It's a whole thing and just like any good team, the Scary Farm folks bring the best they can year after year. 2025 was an epic year and our friends at The Knott's Network got some amazing footage you can see below.
WATCH THE KNOTT'S NETWORK COVERAGE OF NIGHTMARES REVEALED 2025
Going back to the passion behind Scary Farm, this has helped turn a Halloween event that began in 1973 into a tradition that spans generations. Fans come from miles around, spend weeks if not a few days going to the park and experiencing the fun and fog for the entire run. While the mazes change, monsters evolve and new scares wait around every corner, the heart of Scary Farm has always remained the same. It's a place built by horror fans for horror fans.
We'll be there on opening night when the fog once again rolls through Ghost Town, cameras in hand, ready to see what nightmares await in 2026. We'd like to personally thank Knott's and Mr. Tucker for taking the time to answer some of our questions and allow us this awesome opportunity to see what's behind the fog if you will.
As Jeff stated, WE'LL SEE YOU IN THE FOG!