For residents and visitors alike, Shakopee is known as “the” place to be for fun-filled entertainment and more for the young and the young at heart.

Families love Valleyfair Amusement Park in Shakopee. The Upper Midwest’s largest amusement park, Valleyfair offers more than 75 rides and attractions — including a waterpark. New in 2007 is the Renegade, a world-class wooden roller coaster.

The $7 million coaster combines the best features of out- and-back and twister coasters. There’s also KidWorks, Challenge Park, Pepsi IMAX® Theater and other exciting amusements as well as Whitewater Country Waterpark and more.

Racing enthusiasts can feel the thunder at Raceway Park, which features a quarter-mile, semi-banked asphalt oval and a Figure-8 course. Even first-time visitors can enjoy the thrill of the hobby stocks, short trackers and bombers.

For racing of another kind, check out Canterbury Park – home to live thoroughbred and quarter horse racing. The live season runs from mid-May through Labor Day. Canterbury Card Club offers another entertainment option, with 10 different card games played 24 hours a day.

History enthusiasts enjoy Historic Murphy’s Landing, which recreates a 19th century settlement along the Minnesota River. Located just east of downtown Shakopee, Murphy’s Landing offers self-guided tours of a village filled with shops, homes, church and railroad depot. It also hosts several special event activities that explain what life was like more than a century ago.

In August and September, Shakopee is home to the six-weekend-long Renaissance Festival. The festival marketplace features artisans displaying and selling their hand-crafted treasures, costumed characters who perform and entertain, knights who compete in armored jousting, food to tempt every tastebud and special events for children.

If musical or comedy entertainment is of interest, check out the headliners at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel — featuring the largest casino in the state and the only one in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. A campground, fitness center and new golf course round out the recreation options here.

Shoppers can find it all in and near Shakopee too, from the world-famous Mall of America in nearby Bloomington to charming antique and gift stores.
Get to know Shakopee – there’s so much to see and do ... and it’s all in your own backyard.