As COVID vaccines continue to become readily available and both the CDC and Governor Walz roll back COVID restrictions, Minnesota's biggest amusement park has announced its open date for 2021 and its policies for the season.

Roller coaster riders rejoice -- ValleyFair has announced that it will be open for the 2021 season starting May 22 with the sister park Soak City Waterpark opening for the season Saturday, May 29 (Memorial Day).

"Valleyfair will open May 22 and Soak City Waterpark will open on May 29," the amusement park posted on Facebook. "Thank you for your continued loyalty and we look forward to seeing you on our midways this summer!"

Grand Carnivale is also scheduled to proceed this year July 24 - August 8, featuring the Spectacle of Color Parade, Carnivale Street Party, global cuisine options and more.

All 2020 park passes will be honored in 2021. Currently, all state-mandated COVID guidelines must continue to be followed, though ValleyFair encourages checking their website before visiting for the latest updates on  requirements, policies, and safety protocols for the 2021 season.

Did you know Valley Fair is responsible for a Guinness World Record? On September 10, 2011, Valley Fair Amusement Park in Shakopee, MN hosted an event where adults read the book "Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown," (written by Charles M. Schultz, the creator of Peanuts™ and a Minnesota native) to children. The rules required individuals over the age of 18 to read to groups of 1 to 10 children ages 17 and under. A total of 360 adults read to a total of 367 children, technically breaking the previous record of 347 adults reading to 991 children at Matzke Elementary School in Houston, TX. You can read more about the record-breaking event here and visit ValleyFair's website here.