diff --git a/src/layouts/Base.astro b/src/layouts/Base.astro
index c51cd91..d3b38da 100644
--- a/src/layouts/Base.astro
+++ b/src/layouts/Base.astro
@@ -80,9 +80,15 @@ const pageUrl = new URL(Astro.url.pathname, Astro.site);
           </div>
           {
             isHome && (
-              <div id="live-stats" class="live-stats" hidden>
-                <span class="live-dot" aria-hidden="true" />
-                <span id="live-spotify" />
+              <div id="live-strips" class="live-strips" hidden>
+                <div id="live-stats" class="live-stats" hidden>
+                  <span class="live-dot" aria-hidden="true" />
+                  <span id="live-spotify" />
+                </div>
+                <div id="knb-stats" class="live-stats" hidden>
+                  <span class="live-dot" id="knb-dot" aria-hidden="true" />
+                  <span id="live-knb" />
+                </div>
               </div>
             )
           }
@@ -185,12 +191,82 @@ const pageUrl = new URL(Astro.url.pathname, Astro.site);
             put(s.top_genre_month, true);
           }
           strip.hidden = false;
+          document.getElementById('live-strips')!.hidden = false;
         } catch {
           /* API down or blocked: strip stays hidden */
         }
       }
     </script>
 
+    <script>
+      // Homepage Knoebels strip: live crowd verdict while the park is open
+      // (knb-oracle nowcast), next-best-day outlook when it's closed.
+      // Fail-closed: any error leaves the row hidden.
+      const knbRow = document.getElementById('knb-stats');
+      if (knbRow) {
+        try {
+          const API = 'https://api.c0smere.net/knoebels';
+          const slot = document.getElementById('live-knb')!;
+          const dot = document.getElementById('knb-dot')!;
+          const put = (text: string, strong = false) => {
+            const el = document.createElement('span');
+            if (strong) el.className = 'v';
+            el.textContent = text;
+            slot.append(el);
+          };
+          const dayName = (iso: string) => {
+            const [y, m, d] = iso.split('-').map(Number);
+            const when = new Date(y, m - 1, d);
+            const t = new Date();
+            const diff = Math.round(
+              (when.getTime() -
+                new Date(t.getFullYear(), t.getMonth(), t.getDate()).getTime()) /
+                86400000,
+            );
+            if (diff === 0) return 'today';
+            if (diff === 1) return 'tomorrow';
+            return when.toLocaleDateString('en-US', { weekday: 'long' });
+          };
+          const res = await fetch(`${API}/now`);
+          if (!res.ok) throw new Error(String(res.status));
+          const now = await res.json();
+          if (now.is_open && now.crowd_now != null) {
+            dot.classList.add(`knb-dot-${now.crowd_level ?? 'typical'}`);
+            put('knoebels right now: ');
+            put(`${now.crowd_now} min lines`, true);
+            put(` (${now.crowd_level})`);
+            if (now.verdict_label === 'jump-in-the-car') {
+              put(' · ');
+              put('jump in the car', true);
+            } else if (now.next_hours?.length) {
+              const last = now.next_hours[now.next_hours.length - 1];
+              put(` · likely ${last.level} through ${last.target_time}`);
+            }
+          } else if (!now.is_open) {
+            const ores = await fetch(`${API}/outlook`);
+            if (!ores.ok) throw new Error(String(ores.status));
+            const days = (await ores.json()).days.filter(
+              (d: any) => d.is_open && d.verdict_score != null,
+            );
+            if (!days.length) throw new Error('no outlook');
+            const best = days.reduce((a: any, b: any) =>
+              b.verdict_score > a.verdict_score ? b : a,
+            );
+            dot.classList.add('knb-dot-closed');
+            put('knoebels is closed · best day: ');
+            put(dayName(best.date), true);
+            put(` — ${best.crowd_level} crowds, ${best.hi_f}°F`);
+          } else {
+            throw new Error('open, no line data yet');
+          }
+          knbRow.hidden = false;
+          document.getElementById('live-strips')!.hidden = false;
+        } catch {
+          /* API down or park data missing: row stays hidden */
+        }
+      }
+    </script>
+
     <script>
       // Odometer: fetch totals once, then animate forward at the lifetime
       // average rate. Looks live, but deliberately never exposes current
@@ -475,6 +551,23 @@ const pageUrl = new URL(Astro.url.pathname, Astro.site);
       .live-stats .v {
         color: var(--fg);
       }
+      .live-strips {
+        display: flex;
+        flex-direction: column;
+        gap: 0.5rem;
+        margin: -0.75rem 0 1.75rem;
+        padding-bottom: 0.85rem;
+        border-bottom: 1px solid var(--hair);
+      }
+      .live-strips .live-stats {
+        margin: 0;
+        padding-bottom: 0;
+        border-bottom: none;
+      }
+      .knb-dot-quiet { background: #2f9e44; }
+      .knb-dot-typical { background: #e8a13c; }
+      .knb-dot-packed { background: #d9480f; }
+      .knb-dot-closed { background: var(--muted); animation: none; }
       .live-dot {
         flex: none;
         width: 7px;