Plan Your 2024 Summer in Shakopee

Activities Attractions Best of Shakopee Events Festivals Outdoors Parks and Trails

This summer, discover all that Shakopee has to offer!  Conveniently located near the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Shakopee is fun for all ages, with immersive attractions, top-notch concerts, and popular festivals that draw crowds from across the region.

Top Twin Cities Attractions in Shakopee

At Valleyfair, you can zoom down roller coasters, sing along with the Peanuts gang at Planet Snoopy, and cool off in the wave pool at Soak City Waterpark.  The Upper Midwest’s largest amusement park has over 75 rides and attractions, from low-key, kid-friendly options to wild thrill rides.  Valleyfair opens for the 2024 season on May 12, with Soak City Waterpark opening on May 25. 

Watch thrilling live horse racing at Canterbury Park, with the 2024 racing season running from May 18-September 28.  For a totally different take on racing, check out the special Dog Race Days throughout the summer.  Watch adorable bulldogs, bassets, wiener dogs, poodles, and corgis race around the track, hoping to score a spot in the Best in Show Championship on Labor Day.

Slots, blackjack, bingo, electronic table games—as Minnesota’s largest casino, Mystic Lake is home to exciting action for both casual and experienced gamblers.  It’s also an entertainment destination, with concerts and comedy shows year round at the Mystic Showroom and an outdoor summer concert series at the Mystic Amphitheater.  Save the date for Lady A (June 13) and New Kids on the Block (June 23), with more concert announcements coming soon.

Shakopee is also conveniently located to some of the region’s best attractions.  Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is running at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres through September 28, and the theater also hosts concerts and a comedy club.  Appreciate the great outdoors at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, where many of the flower gardens are in full bloom throughout the summer.  Step into Prince’s world with a tour of Paisley Park, his longtime home and studio.

Songs of Summer

Love live music?  Shakopee has outdoor concerts scheduled all summer long!

Rhythm on the Rails is a free concert series on Lewis Street in Downtown Shakopee with local opening acts and regional headliners, plus family-friendly activities and food and beverages for purchase from local vendors.  Concerts are held on Wednesday evenings, with shows scheduled for June 19, June 26, July 10, July 17, July 24, and July 31.

Canterbury Park’s Concerts at the Park are grandstand shows in a more intimate setting, with seating that gets you up close to your favorite artists.  The 2024 concert lineup includes rock acts Night Ranger (June 7), Hairball (June 14), and 38 Special (August 2).

Rock or country?  You don’t have to play favorites at the Lakefront Music Fest on July 12-13, 2024.  The first night features rock acts, with headliners Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.  Night two is all about country, with headliner Dierks Bently, plus performances by Elle King and Morgan Evans.

Summertime Festivals 

Travel back in time at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, held weekends August 17-September 29, 2024, plus Labor Day and Friday, September 27.  Watch live jousting, peruse handcrafted goods from hundreds of vendors, feast on a turkey leg, and enjoy live music, dancing, and comedy.  There are plenty of kid-friendly activities, too, including crafts, games, and the chance to meet mermaids, fairies, and princesses.

Celebrate Native American culture at the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Wacipi (powwow) held August 16-18, 2024.  Visitors are welcome at the SMSC Wacipi, which is a contest powwow, with dancers of all ages competing in various dance categories.  The wacipi also incorporates Native American religious ceremonies, traditions, and drumming.  Native American artisans and crafters will have handmade items available for purchase, plus food vendors will offer a variety of authentic meals and treats.

This summer, Shakopee is the place to play and stay!  Choose from campgrounds and hotels, with comfortable accommodations at a range of price points.  There are great options for families and groups, too.  Book your stay in Shakopee today!