ValleyScare is Valleyfair’s after-dark Halloween event in Shakopee, Minnesota. For 2026 the park lists Friday and Saturday nights from September 19 through October 31, from 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. The lineup is five haunted mazes and four scare zones. New this year are interactive lanterns that trigger effects in the scare zones and shows.
ValleyScare is aimed at teens and adults. The park calls it an intense nighttime event that may not suit younger guests, and it advises parental discretion. Families with younger kids have a separate daytime option called Tricks and Treats. ValleyScare is a separately ticketed event, so regular daytime admission does not cover it, but eligible 2026 season passes include it.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: Valleyfair, Shakopee, Minnesota
- Dates: September 19 to October 31, 2026
- Event nights: Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
- Haunted houses: 5
- Scare zones: 4
- New for 2026: Interactive lantern experiences that trigger effects in the scare zones and shows
- Ticket: Separate ticket (mazes included; parking listed with the ValleyScare-only ticket; eligible season passes cover it)
What’s new for 2026
The item the park lists as new for 2026 is an interactive lantern experience. Guests can use the lanterns to trigger effects throughout the scare zones and shows, and the lanterns are sold as souvenirs in park shops. The park has not highlighted a brand-new maze on its event page, so the five mazes and four scare zones below are the lineup to plan around. Valleyfair now sits under the Enchanted Parks banner and its event pages are hosted there, but the event name is still ValleyScare.
Haunted houses and scare zones
The five mazes are Berserkers Valkyries’ Vengeance and Undertakers, both behind High Roller. Cryptidland is near the Midway Games, Mr. Cleaver’s Bloodshed is near Mad Mouse, and The Chateau: 7 Deadly Scares is in the Chateau. The park describes Berserkers as a Norse-themed nightmare, Undertakers as a mortuary with restless spirits, Cryptidland as a cryptid roadside attraction and Mr. Cleaver’s Bloodshed as a slaughterhouse experience.
The four scare zones are Hemlock’s Coven near Mad Mouse, Blood on the Boundary Waters behind High Roller, CarnEVIL: Midway of Mayhem in the Planet Snoopy area, and Signal Zero near The Wave. All of the haunted mazes are included with ValleyScare admission.
Daytime and family activities
Tricks and Treats is the family-friendly alternative. The park describes trick-or-treat trails, crafts, kid-friendly shows, character meet and greets, family rides and midway games. Local coverage lists it for Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., September 26 through November 1. Check the park calendar before you go, because hours can change by date.
Scare content does not start until the ValleyScare gates open at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, so a Tricks and Treats visit will not include mazes or scare zones.
Tickets, passes and Fast Lane
Tickets are sold at valleyfair.ticketspice.com/valleyscare. The official ticket page lists these online prices: $49.99 for ValleyScare only, $74.99 for a combo of daytime Tricks and Treats admission plus ValleyScare on the same date, and $37.99 for Tricks and Treats only. The ValleyScare-only ticket lists nighttime admission, all haunted mazes and parking. The combo and Tricks and Treats-only tickets list admission but do not list parking, so confirm parking terms at checkout. Tickets are for ages 3 and up, with children ages 2 and under free. The page lists higher gate prices, so buying online is the safer plan.
Two skip-the-line add-ons cover the haunted mazes. Fright Lane at $64.99 gives priority rides plus one-time entry to each maze. Fright Lane Plus at $94.99 gives unlimited priority rides and unlimited priority entry to every maze. Neither includes park admission. A daytime Fast Lane at $59.99 covers priority ride access only.
ValleyScare admission is included with eligible season passes, including Enchanted Parks Legend and Hero passes, Six Flags Gold and Prestige passes bought before April 6, and Six Flags Memberships. Check your pass terms for details.
Tips for your visit
Arrive close to 7 p.m. if you want shorter waits in the mazes, since lines tend to build as the evening goes on. Later Saturday nights in October will usually be the busiest, so a Friday can be calmer. Dress for Minnesota fall weather, with layers and comfortable shoes for walking between mazes.
Guests aged 17 and under need a chaperone who is at least 21 years old. ValleyScare has a no re-entry policy, so plan meals and breaks before you enter. Costumes and face paint are not allowed. Parking is listed only with the ValleyScare-only ticket, so check the checkout page for parking terms if you buy the combo. The park lists no height requirement for the event, but the intensity warning applies to everyone. Treat the park’s own calendar as the final word on which nights are open.
Explore more: every theme park Halloween event for 2026, by state.
ValleyScare 2026 at Valleyfair FAQs
When does ValleyScare 2026 start and end?
The park lists ValleyScare for Friday and Saturday nights from September 19 through October 31, 2026, from 7 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Check the park calendar for the exact open nights.
Is ValleyScare included with park admission?
No. ValleyScare is a separately ticketed event. The official ticket page lists $49.99 online for ValleyScare only, which includes all haunted mazes and parking, and $74.99 for a combo with daytime Tricks and Treats. Eligible season passes include ValleyScare.
Is ValleyScare too scary for kids?
It can be. The park calls it an intense nighttime event that may not suit younger guests and advises parental discretion. Guests aged 17 and under need a chaperone aged 21 or older. Families with younger children can choose Tricks and Treats during the day instead.
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Photo: Wacky Windjammer / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.