Knott’s Scary Farm has been dropping hints for years that “The Hanging” comedy stunt show put on hiatus before the pandemic could return for the 50th anniversary of the annual event with a fresh narrative featuring characters from Halloween Haunt history.
Cedar Fair director of creative development Ken Parks teased the possible return of “The Hanging” to the Buena Park theme park during the Midsummer Scream convention in Long Beach.
“In 2019, we put this tombstone up that said, ‘RIP,’” Parks said at Midsummer Scream. “We didn’t really know that was the case and then the pandemic hit. But, who knows.”
The tease brought roars of approval from the crowd that shouted, “Bring it back.”
“Well that sounds like a good idea,” Parks said at Midsummer Scream.
SEE ALSO: Knott’s Scary Farm announces spooky 50th anniversary preview on Aug. 24
Will “The Hanging” return in a revamped format for the 50th anniversary of Knott’s Scary Farm?
An official announcement is expected during a Knott’s Scary Farm preview event on Aug. 24.
Knott’s Berry Farm effectively retired “The Hanging” in 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the annual Halloween Haunt event in 2020 and the pop culture skewering comedy stunt show failed to return in 2021 and 2022.
“The Hanging” ended its decades-long run amid increasingly intense negative feedback and the quickening pace of pop culture that made the comedy parody show tougher to pull off every Halloween.
“It just felt like it was time to give it some breath and just step away for a little bit and try something different,” Knott’s entertainment producer Eric Nix said during an interview in 2021.
Knott’s creative team had always planned to retire “The Hanging” at the end of the 2019 Halloween season.
“It was a subtle goodbye in 2019,” Nix said. “We knew that we were going to put it to rest.”
SEE ALSO: Why Knott’s Scary Farm retired ‘The Hanging’ after a…
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