Yes, 6 weeks. Same as last year, but 2021 started Sept 16 so 7 weeks that year. Couple months ago, they tweeted that it would start Sept 14 this year (which has now been deleted). Just looked at the calendar and the only Wednesday added is Oct 18. Monday, Oct 30 has no hours set. Of course, this is all subject to change.
Someone on the build team mentioned that they didn't think they could turn around the Calico Mine Stage in time from Summer Nights to Scary Farm. I don't buy that, though. Ten days is plenty of time to convert that stage if they really wanted to.
The date push is weird. I've also seen people that work in operational departments say that the 14th just wasn't possible, and even the new date isn't really that much better for them. I don't have any insider knowledge about that, but I'd assume staffing issues are a huge problem still.
FWIW, Summer Nights ended September 5th last year and ends on the 4th this year. Scary Farm started on the 22nd last year and now starts on the 21st. Like you mentioned, the same amount of weeks as last year. Maybe they had similar operational staffing concerns in 2022 that we didn't hear about. Regardless, the premature date announcement is strange.
Two things I think will make or break this event.
- Will the chaperone policy get reinstated? It seemed to hurt attendance so bad last year so I feel they're gonna do whatever it takes to NOT implement it. Beef up security and work with BPPD and neighboring PDs if you have to. It was so bad that they ended up lowering the passholder tickets by $10 and offering free chaperone tickets with 5 paid tickets.
- Will they bring back passes? Ongoing chatter seems like they're not going to, which I think is a huge mistake. Raise the price to $149-199. I know Knott's doesn't do passes with blackout dates, but maybe it's something they need to consider for this event. How about $99 with Fridays/Saturdays and the last two weeks of October blacked out. Offer an all-season Scary Farm dining plan for $99.
The chaperone policy was obviously never intended to be a permanent fix, and judging by those promotions last year towards the end of the end of the event, I don't see them implementing it prematurely this year. I believe what you've outlined here is pretty much what we will see.
I don't think we'll see the return of the Scary Farm pass this year, either. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I also think that is a huge mistake and they are leaving money on the table. Your idea of a pass with block out dates is interesting. I mean let's face it, that pass was way too cheap for what it offered, especially when you factor in parking being covered if you have that on your regular Season Pass.
I know I said this only a month ago, but raising the price and making it an add-on for the Season Passes seems like a win/win. They make more from the pass, have more people at the event, and incentivize regular Season Pass sales which in turn leads to visits outside of Scary Farm. They've always marketed the pass as "limited" anyway, even going back to when it was first introduced. Make it a limited, 50th tie-in with some kind of commemorative pin or lanyard and I guarantee they will sell. The demand is there.