Summer Festivals and Events In and Near Shakopee
Visiting Shakopee this summer is a promise of incredible live music, delicious foods, and cultural activities you can’t find anywhere else. The variety of summer events happening in and around Shakopee may have you wondering why you ever venture into the Twin Cities! So, take out your summer calendar and start filling it with all of these wonderful festivals and events, right in the Shakopee area!
Twin Cities Summer Jam
This 3-day multi-genre outdoor music festival is coming back to Canterbury Park in Shakopee, happening July 21-23! Twin Cities Summer Jam will bring country, rock, and pop together with household names like Blake Shelton, Kane Brown, Trace Adkins, Nelly, 38 Special, Elvie Shane, Kidd G, Callista Clark, Hairball, and more! Attendees can also enjoy some impressive foods and drinks while listening to their favorite artists in this amazing outdoor experience! Purchase a 3-day pass to enjoy each full day of the festival, or buy a single-day pass if there is a specific artist you want to see.
Concerts and Events at Mystic Lake Casino
Mystic Lake Casino offers a substantial amount of shows during the summer! Mystic Lake Casino’s summer events include outdoor performances at the Mystic Lake Amphitheater or the intimate Mystic Lake Showroom. Performers and events scheduled for this summer include Chris Rock, Barenaked Ladies, Third Eye Blind, Rock and Rockets on July 4, The Black Crowes The Great Midwest Rib Fest, ZZ Top, and more! Go to Mystic Lake’s website for more information and to get your tickets!
Lakefront Music Fest
Live music along one of Minnesota’s beautiful lakes is a perfect way to spend a summer evening. Located at Lakefront Park in nearby Prior Lake, Lakefront Music Fest has a strong lineup you won’t want to miss including Sammy Hagar, Toby Keith, Collective Soul, Randy Houser, and more! Having been around for over 11 years, this festival has established quite the reputation in the community as a premier summer event! Get a ticket package for both evenings, or get your tickets for one night of music fun! Lakefront Music Fest is taking place July 8 & 9.
Rhythm on the Rails
Back for 2022, Rhythm on the Rails is the ultimate free concert experience! With top regional artists gracing the stage in Downtown Shakopee, the lineup for year 4 will have people as excited as ever! Every Wednesdays on June 22 & 29, July 13, 20 & 27, and August 3, head down to the Lewis Street parking lot in Downtown Shakopee, from 6 – 9 pm, for an incredible array of food vendors, great beverage options, and a fun Kids Zone.
Check out this year’s lineup:
Week 1: Arch Allies
Week 2: Gear Daddies
Week 3: The Crown Jewels
Week 4: The Rolling Stoners
Week 5: Free Fallin’
Week 6: Fabulous Armadillos Party Band Featuring Chris Hawkey
Dog Day Races at Canterbury Park
The annual Canterbury Park Dog Races are back for 2022! Head out to Canterbury to see a variety of dog breeds race against one another with winners advancing to the Dog Race finals and the chance to be crowned the champion in their category during the “Best in Show” Dog Day finals on Labor Day!
Bulldog Races: June 5
Basset Hound Races: June 26
Corgi Races: June 26
Wiener Dog Races: August 14
Grand Carnivale at Valleyfair
Valleyfair is always bringing AWESOME new traditions to Minnesota, and 2022 is no different. From June 25 – July 10, Valleyfair guests will be able to see, hear and experience how the world celebrates at Grand Carnivale – a larger-than-life cultural celebration with something for everyone! Take in the extraordinary sights and sounds of sparkling floats and extravagantly costumed performers during the Spectacle of Color parade. Experience thunderous music as it builds to a crescendo at the Carnivale Street Party, filled with performers and an interactive dance party. Also, taste extraordinary cuisine from global cultures!
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Every year, locals and visitors come to Shakopee to attend the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. This festival takes place mid-August through the first weekend in October and is a lot of fun for adults and families alike. Whether your kids are into fairies or swords, there’s plenty of entertainment available to pique imaginations of all ages. The Minnesota Renaissance Festival boasts 16 stages for magicians, musicians, comedians, jugglers, and more! Plus, the festival has over 150 food options, and a festival marketplace featuring over 250 artisans. Make it a summer tradition!
2022 Wacipi
Shakopee locals are proud of the Dakota heritage that still thrives throughout the region. Each August, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community hosts a Wacipi or Pow Wow. Historically, these gatherings were held to recognize a successful hunt or celebrate a positive event. Today, they consist of several parts and are open to the public. If you’ve never attended a Pow Wow, make this the year to learn more about the history and culture surrounding Shakopee.
If your idea of summer fun is sunshine, soaking up live music, tasting incredible food, spending quality time with friends and family, or digging into new culture, Shakopee is the place to be. We’ve got it all! With so much fun to have, summer will go by in a flash, so book your tickets today!
