SEVERS CORN MAZE & FALL FESTIVAL
SHAKOPEE, MN
VISIT WEBSITE
This past weekend was so perfectly fall-y, my family felt obligated to find the falliest fall adventure we could. I wanted corn, hay, pumpkins, face painting, animals and fun! All signs pointed to one place – Severs Corn Maze & Fall Festival in Shakopee. The weather was mid-60s, the sun was on our side, and the activities were aplenty. This place is well worth the drive down south. We could’ve spent three hours jumping in the corn pit and feeding the parakeets, but there was so much more to do, we had to limit our time at each activity to get it all in. And, from a Wisconsin-born gal (hence the Packer shirts), their deep fried cheese curds are definitely worth their own shout-out! This is absolutely the best fall festival I’ve been to in the metro area and, while not the cheapest, it’s worth every penny.
What is it?
The Peterson family has been creating a new themed giant corn maze for nearly 20 years and they’ve been inviting families to enjoy their fall festival since the beginning. While it’s only open on fall weekends, this place is worth finding an open Sunday and spending many hours playing and pumpkin picking. The Fall Festival offers tons of kid attractions, including a jumping pillow, petting zoo, parakeet house, live music, straw bale maze, corn pits, tire mountain, face painting, giant slide, camel and pony rides, pumpkin blasters, zip line, food vendors, magic shows and of course, the corn maze that started it all! If you’re looking for a spacious outdoor adventure that will exhaust your littles to the max, this is the place to go! My kids were all smiles all the time (until it was time to go…there were tears).
2015 Severs dates are September 11 through November 1.
Fit for what ages?
We saw all ages here. There were young couples without kids, groups of teenagers, and tons of parents with little ones. Strollers are welcome even though it’s mostly dirt (it’s pretty flat), and there were plenty of babies tagging along with their older siblings. My 3- and 6-year olds were in heaven here. There seemed to be a little something for everyone. Jumping pillows were separated by height, corn pits are fun for everyone (yes, even us boring old adults), and the big maze (which can be intimidating for little ones) can be replaced by the hay bale maze (for those with shorter legs and attention spans). The giant corn maze is huge and will take you a good long time to complete, so unless your toddler is wired like the Energizer Bunny, maybe save that for when they get a teensy bit older. I would’ve taken my 6-year old through it, but we didn’t dare venture in there with his 3-year old sister.
How much are we talkin?
Admission prices can sound a bit intimidating, but you get a lot for your money. Ages 3 and under are free, but 4 and up will pay $15/person. Seniors and military are $12/person. If you order online or show this coupon on-site, you will save $1/ticket.
Almost everything is included in your admission: Both corn pits (one basic, one extreme), the rope spider web, tire mountain, jumping pillows, the parakeet house and petting zoo, the straw bale maze, shows and live music, playgrounds, the zip line and of course the giant corn maze.
What’s not included in the price of admission? There is a mini “arcade” with handmade skee ball and a couple other games for about $2/game. The pumpkin blasters looked super sweet, but we didn’t do them. It’s basically a pumpkin cannon and you aim for targets. Cost for that is $5/bucket and you get 7-8 pumpkins per bucket. Face painting ranged from $5-20 depending on complexity and the giant slide cost $2/ride. Hay rides were $1 and food and drink were typical fair prices ($3 for a soda, $6 for cheese curds, etc). Oh, and the parakeet house and petting zoo charged $1 for a feeding stick or snack cups for the animals, but you just gotta have one of those if you want to fully enjoy the experience. Also, if you purchase pumpkins or gourds, those are additional too.
Want to try and snag a discount? Keep an eye on Groupon at the beginning of fall.
Want some tips?
The crowds at Severs definitely pick up around lunch time, so if you can get there right at open, you might be able to avoid the lines for the jumping pillows and giant slide. The extreme corn pit (which has jungle gym equipment and rope swings in it) gets very busy very quickly, so that’s always nice to do early as well. The extreme pit gets drenched in children and it’s a lot crazier and more aggressive than the normal corn pit, so depending on the ages of your kids, be safe. Shoes can’t be worn in the corn pits, but I advise wearing socks. That corn gets awfully chilly on bare feet. Also, they warn you to remove all jewelry (especially rings) since the corn oils can make them easily slip off. I didn’t worry about this because my pregnant fingers are like miniature sausages right now, but for all you regular-sized-finger people…haha.
Prepare for some small lines if you go on a sunny day. We waited for face painting, the giant slide, the parakeet house and the jumping pillows. The two jumping pillows are divided by height, so one is specific towards toddlers and small kids. The one with big kids gets a little rowdy, but to be expected, right? The workers set a timer and let one big group in at a time so the line goes quickly.
There are porta potties available in many areas, so finding one when the urge strikes isn’t a problem. Handicap accessible stalls and baby changers are also available.
Bring your camera! The corn stalks and pumpkins make for some wonderful backgrounds for fall pictures. Leave your pets at home. They aren’t allowed.
Their kettle corn, mini donuts and cheese curds were delicious and there were plenty of shaded picnic tables to sit and enjoy a nice family meal. I don’t think there were any rules to bringing in your own food and drink, but they serve some yummy stuff. Just so you know.
Do your kids like magic? Juggling? Pig Races? Monkeys? Maybe they just need a break to sit down and re-energize? There is a show tent that hosts a variety of entertainment acts, including Matt Dunn who performs at The Big Thrill Factory every summer and is fantastic! Check out show times on their website.
There are ATMs available on-site because you will definitely want and need cash.
Hours and Location
1100 Canterbury Road | Shakopee, MN 55379
2016 Severs dates are September 9 through October 30.
Fridays: 1 – 8 pm (last ticket into festival sold at 6:30 pm)
Saturdays: 10 am – 8 pm (last ticket into festival sold at 6:30 pm)
Sundays: 10 am – 6 pm (last ticket into festival sold at 4:30 pm)
The festival is tucked back behind Canterbury Park right off Hwy 169. Take Canterbury Road off 169 and go left at the Culvers and McDonalds. There are signs off the highway as well as the side roads directing you to the maze. Look for the big white tents and lots (and lots) of corn stalks. Parking is free.
Follow Severs Corn Maze & Fall Festival on Facebook to find hours updates, MEA announcements, weather, vendor updates, ticket giveaways, news stories, and event updates. Severs does host an Oktoberfest night and Halloween Bash that both sound super fun!
