Valleyfair Bringing Back Popular Minnesota Festival in August

Valleyfair has been one of Minnesota's top attractions for nearly 50 years, and it just announced that a popular festival will be back again this August.

Minnesota's lone amusement park has been standing tall along Highway 169 in Shakopee since opening back in 1976. The park features more than 75 rides, including eight roller coasters, Planet Snoopy featuring 15 children’s rides, and is home to Soak City, a seven-acre water park filled with slides, a wave pool, lazy river, and children’s water features.

Just last week, Valleyfair announced an unprecedented offer to celebrate its one-year anniversary as part of the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation. According to a Valleyfair release, if you buy a 2026 season pass, not only will you get unlimited access to Valleyfair *and* more than 40 Six Flags Entertainment Corporation parks for all of 2026, but for the remainder of 2025 as well. This special anniversary deal will be available starting July 31st and will run through September 1st, Valleyfair said.

SEE ALSO: The Most Mispronounced City Name in America Is Here in MN

Valleyfair also announced that its popular Corn Fest will be back again this summer, as well, running weekends from August 16 through September 1, 2025.  Here's how Valleyfair describes Corn Fest:

Corn Fest is back, and it's a-maize-ing! Join the shuckin' good time celebrating Minnesota's golden crop! This cornucopia of fun brings you cornalicious delights galore – from sweet to savory – along with live and local music plus fun games, like our corn-eating contest. Corn Fest promises a bushel of kernel-popping fun for the whole fam!

 

Valleyfair also noted last year that Corn Fest features live music, special corn-based dishes, and drinks, as well as corn-eating contests, cobs of games, and other corn-based crafts, all led by 'Mayor Shuck and his friendly associates.'

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And here are some of the delectable corn dishes Corn Fest offered last year, in addition to butter-dipped corn-on-the-cob:

+ Rainbow Elote
+ Frito Pie with Corn and White Bean Chili
+ Corn Ribs
+ Roasted Green Chile Corn Burgers
+ Roasted Black Bean and Corn Queso Fries
+ Loaded Corn Nuggets
+ Corn Ice Cream Funnel Cakes
+ Caramel Corn Funnel Cake Fries.

And, Corn Fest last year also featured several corn-inspired drinks, as well, including special Jack Daniels cocktails (Maizie’s Rhubarb Refresher, Tennessee Whiskey Mule, Front Porch Peach Fizz) and popcorn and beer flights.

Corn Fest will officially be open on Saturdays and Sundays (including Labor Day) starting Saturday, August 16, and running through September 1. Admission to Corn Fest is included with Valleyfair's regular park admission.

This summer hasn't been *quite* as memorable as the summer of 2024, however, when the Valleyfair campus in Shakopee was affected by rising flood waters from the Minnesota River and was forced to close several rides as well as part of their parking area. Check out what things looked like in late June of last year (and, no, that's NOT a water ride!)

Now, though, it's over a year since the waters have receded, and all rides and the parking area have been open as scheduled all year. But just how well do you know your classic Valleyfair rides? Keep scrolling to check out a gallery of some of Valleyfair's most popular rides and attractions!

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