Canterbury Park, Shakopee, Minnesota: 2024 Review

What Canterbury Park Offers Its Guests

Most people may already have an idea of what to expect at Canterbury Park, and it’s a wonderful place where you can bring your whole family and friends and spend the day enjoying the races, playing at the casino, or eating your heart out. It has something for everyone, young and old. And even if Canterbury Park itself does not have any hotel or accommodations on the site, patrons can easily find other hotels in the area, as there are plenty. While you’re there, you can also shop at the many stores within the vicinity of Canterbury Park.

Parking is free as well and valet parking is also available, and the place has numerous dining options, including breakfast, artisanal pizzas, sandwiches, Asian dishes, burgers, soups and salads, and everything else you could think of. You can even order ahead or dine in, it’s entirely up to you. There are also many bars and pubs where you can enjoy a few beers or cocktails, and some of the restaurant venues are also available for events and gatherings. There is also a bevy of events in store for everyone, and upcoming events include a Junk Bonanza Holiday Show, Snocross, the Turkish Festival of Minnesota, and Extreme Horse Skijoring and Dog Races, to name a few.

Hotel

Since there is no Canterbury Park hotel, there’s good news: you can still easily find accommodations in the immediate vicinity as there are plenty of hotels near Canterbury Park. First on the list is Hampton Inn Minneapolis, which is 1.7 km away. Another option is Holiday Inn Express & Suites, an IHG Hotel, approximately 1.8km away. The third alternative is Comfort Inn, around 2km away, and 4th on the list is Comfort Inn, which is only 1km away from Canterbury Park. A little farther away is Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, which also has gaming options, about 7km away. But you only have to be patient until next year, because during the spring season, Canterbury Park will open its brand-new, very own hotel. This will be accompanied by a gigantic amphitheater, restaurants, and many more options for entertainment.

For now, you also have the option to stay in a myriad of Canterbury Park apartments nearby, such as The Triple Crown Residences, the Omry Apartments at Shakopee, and more.

Spa

Although Canterbury Park has no spa to speak of, there are also a slate of spa options in the surrounding area, especially if you need to relax and rest your feet after an exciting day at the races. For spas in Shakopee, you have several options, including Jenesis Massage, Zoya Medspa, Day Massage, Radiant Dreams Spa, LifeSpa Chanhassen, and Tigercave Massage & Foot Spa.

Dining at Restaurants

Fortunately, Canterbury Park is also known for its wide assortment of food options, and whatever your budget, you are sure to find a restaurant venue that suits it. At Canterbury Park, the choices range from cheese curds to artisanal pizzas, and you even have the option of ordering ahead through the advanced ordering service of Canterbury Eats. Come 2025, Canterbury Park will open another brewpub, the Badger Hill Brewery. In the meantime, have a look at your full range of options at Canterbury Park:

Shopping

Many are not aware of it, but Canterbury Park actually has gifts and merchandise for its customers. These range from branded mugs to t-shirts to pullovers, sweatshirts, jackets, derby-style hats, and even cowgirl boots. There are also more than a few gift options available, especially for the holidays, such as chips for gifts, gift certificates, and ticket experiences to various events such as a live racing season pass, a Canterbury Racing Club membership, a general admission ticket for the AMSOIL Championship Snocross Races, and general admission tickets to the Extreme Horse Skijoring Event on February 29, 2025. There are also tickets on sale for the Twin Cities Summer Jam, a three-day music festival with artists such as Pitbull, Nelly, Carrie Underwood, and Third Eye Blind.

But for those who are looking for regular shopping, there are plenty of malls and shops near Canterbury Park as well, and the roster includes Shakopee Trading Post, Target, and Top Star Market. There is also the Eden Prairie Center, the Galleria Shopping Center, Asia Mall, Southdale Center, and Shakopee Town Square.

Active Events

Canterbury Park is home to a slew of exciting events year-round, but most especially during the summer as it is when racing season occurs. From May to September each year, Canterbury Park events is proud to present its horse races, and the track is abuzz with activity and entertainment during this time. Alongside the horse races are all kinds of other events, such as dog races and exotic animal races – get ready for the corgi races and the ostrich races; they’re a real joy to watch and experience. Aside from this, there are arcade days, funfair days, and there are also trade shows, concerts, bazaars, and every community event imaginable.

But the end of the year and its beginning are still exciting times at Canterbury Park, as it makes sure it has all sorts of activities for the entire family. The events for the end of 2024, for example, include the Turkish Festival of Minnesota, the Junk Bonanza Holiday Show, the Snocross Nationals event which is eagerly awaited by both residents and visitors alike, and it is an exciting form of snowmobile racing that combines air-jumps, x-games, and the thrill of a Minnesotan winter. There is also Horse Skijoring, on its sixth season on the 22nd and 23rd of February, 2025, and it will feature riders and horses racing down the track and pulling skiers over various obstacles, jumps, and gates. Aside from this, there will also be winter dog races featuring Corgis and Wiener dogs as well as newcomers like Australian shepherds and Bernese Mountain dogs. The event will also feature other activities, such as a freestyle show where skiers and snowboarders showcase their tricks, bonfires, a game zone, a kids zone, and other activities.

But wait - there’s more. The biggest draw for next year is predicted to be the Canterbury Park amphitheater, which is scheduled to open in May of 2025. The amphitheater will hold 19,000 seats and will bring even more entertainment options, restaurants, and a hotel to Canterbury Park.

Parking

There is ample parking, and Canterbury Park also offers it for free. There is also a valet service available. You can choose a shuttle service from nearby area hotels as well.