What To Know About ValleyScare At Valleyfair In 2025

It's one of the most spooktacular and popular events of the fall season in Minnesota. ValleyScare is back at Valleyfair starting this weekend, but with a big change for 2025.

Valleyfair, 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, a lazy river, and children’s water features.

Last summer, Valleyfair announced that it had new owners, as a merger deal between Cedar Fair and Six Flags had officially closed. That means Valleyfair has been part of the Six Flags Entertainment Corporation for over a year already, and is among what a release called 'the largest and most diverse amusement park operator in North America,' with a total new combined portfolio of 42 parks across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

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Before the merger announcement last July, the Valleyfair campus in Shakopee was affected by rising floodwaters from the Minnesota River and was forced to close several rides, as well as part of its parking area. Check out what things looked like in late June (and, no, that's NOT a water ride!)

Flooding at Valleyfair in June 2024 (Valleyfair)

Everything You Need to Know About ValleyScare's Big Changes

Thankfully, there wasn't any flooding this year, so Valleyfair's signature fall event, ValleyScare, can kick off its 2025 run without any problems.ValleyScare is Minnesota’s largest Halloween event, Valleyfair says, and features five haunted mazes, seven scare zones, bone-chilling live entertainment, and specialty food and drink, along with thrills and chills to welcome in fall.

There's also a new twist. Making its debut this weekend is a new ticket policy. It's actually a *lack* of ticket policy, seeing as Valleyfair said in a release that you *won't* need a separate ticket to check out all the haunted events and attractions at ValleyScare this year:

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"New for this year, ValleyScare will not require a separate admission ticket for entry. The purchase of a single admission ticket will provide guests with daytime and nighttime park access, including Tricks and Treats and ValleyScare," the release noted.

ValleyScare (Valleyfair/photo by Ruby Glass Media)

Don't Get Scared! How to Navigate ValleyScare's New Ticket Policy

However, you *will* need to buy a ticket if you want to check out any of ValleyScare's haunted mazes this fall, as ValleyScare is introducing what it calls its 'Haunted Attraction Pass.' A release explained it like this:

Those seeking the heart-pounding terror of the park’s haunted mazes can enhance their visit with the purchase of a Haunted Attractions Pass, while those seeking night rides, scare zones and live entertainment only require park admission.

ValleyScare Brings Big Changes to Minnesota's Biggest Halloween Event

ValleyScare runs select nights from September 20 through November 1, 2025. For more information about ValleyScare policies (including their existing chaperone policy and date changes when the chaperone-to-guest ratio is modified), as well as tickets and products, click HERE.

And speaking of regular admission to Valleyfair, just how well do you know your classic Valleyfair rides? Keep scrolling to check out a gallery of some of Valleyfair's popular rides and attractions!