Things To Do

Outdoor activities

Lakefront Park and beach days

If you want one place that gives you the “this is Prior Lake” feel, start at the lakefront. The city’s big public gathering spaces are right on the water, with room to hang out, move around, and catch events.

• Lakefront Park is the hub for shoreline walks, playground time, a skate park, fishing access, and seasonal activities. It also has an amphitheater, a beach area, a sledding hill in winter, plus rentals like canoe/kayak racks and day-use amenities. Lakefront Park info
• Sand Point Beach Park is a popular swim-and-picnic spot with shelters and a beach open seasonally (typically May through Labor Day). I grew up near Sand Point and was there every day in the summer. A DNR-maintained public boat launch is adjacent, which makes this area especially active in summer. Public beach info
• On the water, the usual lineup includes boating, fishing, paddleboarding, kayaking, and sunset cruising when conditions are calm. More on all of that at Life on the Lake.

Trails, parks, and nearby nature

Beyond the shoreline, Prior Lake has plenty of “quick outside” options — neighborhood parks, sidewalks, and trail connections that make it easy to get a walk or bike ride in without planning a whole outing. The city has approved a $60 million parks investment plan for improvements over the next 20+ years, so this system keeps growing. For longer loops and bigger natural areas:

• Cleary Lake Regional Park (Prior Lake) — trails, a swimming beach, a campground, cross-country skiing in winter, and a 28-acre off-leash dog area. Cleary Lake info
• Spring Lake Regional Park (near Prior Lake) — 374 acres with walks through woods and wetlands, eagle watching, old-growth forest, a 10-acre dog park, and snowmobile trails that connect into the state system. Spring Lake info
• Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve (Savage, close by) — one of the best mountain biking trails in the metro with 9.6 miles and 508 feet of elevation gain. Also popular for skiing and birdwatching in a mostly-undeveloped setting. Murphy-Hanrehan info
• The Ponds Park — the main youth sports complex with nine baseball fields and an archery range.

Winter activities

Live music around town

Prior Lake’s live music scene is bigger than you’d expect for a town this size. Somewhere has a band most weekends from spring through fall, and indoor venues keep it going through winter.

• The Pointe — the most consistent live music spot in town. Local bands and weekly shows.
• Charlie’s on Prior — Live on the Landing every Wednesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the lake-side patio, plus seasonal events like Rock the Docks.
• Prior Lake VFW 6208 — occasional live music; check the calendar.

For the bigger touring acts, Mystic Showroom at Mystic Lake Casino (indoor) and Mystic Lake Amphitheater in Shakopee near Canterbury Park (outdoor, summer) bring in national concerts — more on those in the sections below.

See all upcoming live music →

Dining and drinks

Prior Lake punches above its weight on restaurants for a city this size. A few of the spots that come up most:

• Charlie’s on Prior — waterfront dining with lake views. A bite to eat and a drink overlooking the water.
• PLate on Main — upscale American, downtown.
• Perron’s Sul Lago — Italian, on the lake side of town.
• TJ Hooligans — Irish pub, reliable and comfortable.
• Boathouse Brothers Brewing Co. — local taproom right downtown, became a gathering spot fast. Bingo on Mondays, trivia on Wednesdays, and a rotating food truck on the patio (the brewery doesn’t serve food itself).
• Edelweiss Bakery — coffee and pastries, a longtime downtown fixture.
• Mystic Lake Casino Hotel also has multiple dining options on-site, including Mystic Steakhouse and The Meadows Bar and Grille.
• YT’s — new sports bar downtown with indoor and outdoor seating. Quickly became a downtown favorite.
• Chula’s — new Mexican and Latin spot downtown.
• Rhino Wine Bar — wine bar, good for a quieter date night.
• Extra Innings Saloon — sports bar with a regulars crowd.
• Whiskey Inferno — bit of a scene, good brunches.

Trivia, bingo, and weeknight regulars

If you’re looking for something low-key on a weeknight, a few downtown spots run regular bar games and music:

• Boathouse Brothers — bingo Mondays, trivia Wednesdays.
• Charlie’s on Prior — Live on the Landing Wednesdays, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• T.J. Hooligans — music bingo Thursdays.

The VFW has been downtown since the 60s — it was a movie theater before that, though that’s before my time. I’ve walked in plenty of parades that went straight through Main Avenue over the years.

Family-friendly

A lot of Prior Lake’s family-friendly stuff is woven through the outdoor and community sections above, but here’s the short list organized for parents scanning for “what can I do with the kids this weekend?”

Outdoor and active

• Lakefront Park — playground, beach, skate park, amphitheater. The biggest single park in town.
• Sand Point Beach — public swim and picnic spot, open seasonally May through Labor Day.
• The Ponds Park — youth sports complex with nine baseball fields and an archery range. Big draw for baseball families.
• Sledding hill at Lakefront Park — staple in winter.

Indoor

• Playworks at Dakotah! — big indoor play structure connected to Dakotah! Sport and Fitness. Reliable rainy-day or cold-day option.
• Dakotah! Ice Center — open skate, hockey, and lessons year-round at the same complex.
• Prior Lake Library — story times, kids programs, and after-school events. Free.

Seasonal

• Valleyfair (Shakopee, 15 min away) — classic summer family day trip. Rides, water park, and seasonal events. Open May through October.
• Sailer’s Greenhouse — pumpkin patch in fall, planting events in spring.
• Lakefront Music Fest — Friday afternoon family activities before the headliner shows.
• DecemBRRR Dazzle — winter lights and family events downtown.

See all family events on the calendar →

Shopping, markets, and local makers

Prior Lake’s retail isn’t outlet-mall scale, but downtown has held onto a real walking strip and a few destination stops keep people coming back.

• Prior Lake Farmers Market — Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, May through early October. The Saturday morning ritual. See the farmers market hub →
• Downtown Prior Lake — Main Avenue SE is the walking strip. A few hours covers most of the local shops, plus Edelweiss Bakery, Boathouse Brothers, PLate, YT’s, and Chula’s for stops along the way.
• Sailer’s Greenhouse — seasonal destination for spring planting and fall pumpkins. Big draw both seasons.
• Queen Bee’z Lawn & Garden — garden center that hosts community events through the season.

For special events and pop-up markets, the calendar’s Market / Shopping category is where to look.

Mystic Lake Casino and entertainment district

Mystic Lake Casino Hotel is a destination in its own right and worth its own section because most “things to do” around here eventually point back to something there. Owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, the resort runs:

• Mystic Showroom — concerts and comedy year-round, indoors. Touring national acts plus tribute bands and seasonal shows. Shows & events
• Casino floor — 24/7 gaming.
• Mystic Lake Hotel — full-service hotel on-site, useful even if you’re not gambling.
• Dining — Mystic Steakhouse, The Meadows Bar and Grille, and a handful of casual options on-site.
• The Meadows at Mystic Lake — USGA-rated 18-hole public golf course (covered in more detail in the golf section below).
• LaunchPad Golf at The Meadows — year-round indoor golf venue (also covered below).

The whole complex sits about 5 minutes from downtown Prior Lake. People come up from the Cities to spend a day here without going anywhere else. We post the Showroom concert lineup on the Prior Lake Events calendar as shows are announced.

Note: Mystic Lake Amphitheater, despite the name, is not at the casino. It’s a separate venue in Shakopee near Canterbury Park — covered in the next section.

Shows, golf, and bigger nights out

• Mystic Lake Casino Hotel hosts concerts and shows year-round at the Mystic Showroom. Shows & events
• The Wilds Golf Club is an 18-hole championship course (par 72, 7,012 yards) designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish, with over 150 feet of elevation changes and 70-plus bunkers set among ponderosa pines and wetlands. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired clubhouse includes Slate North restaurant and views of the Minneapolis skyline. Open to the public. Course info
• Legends Club is another 18-hole championship course (par 72, 7,063 yards) designed by Gill Miller, with 50 acres of water features. It’s been recognized as a National Golf Course of the Year. Open to the public. Course info
• The Meadows at Mystic Lake is a USGA-rated, 18-hole public course owned and operated by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The course offers lessons, TrackMan swing analysis, and The Meadows Bar and Grille on-site. Adjacent to Mystic Lake Casino Hotel. Course info
• LaunchPad Golf at The Meadows is a year-round indoor golf venue with 40 climate-controlled suites across two floors, a full-service restaurant, two bars, and league play. Rental clubs are included with suite bookings. LaunchPad info
• Cleary Lake Golf Course is a 9-hole public course inside Cleary Lake Regional Park, operated jointly by Scott County and Three Rivers Park District. The moderately rolling layout is beginner-friendly and also offers FootGolf, a driving range, cart and club rentals, and youth programs through First Tee Minnesota and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf. Seasonal (approximately April through November). Course info
• Canterbury Park (Shakopee, 10 min away) — live horse racing May through September, a casino card room, summer outdoor concerts, and free festivals throughout the season. Canterbury info
• Mystic Lake Amphitheater (Shakopee, next to Canterbury Park) — outdoor concert venue hosting big-name touring acts in summer. Despite the name, this is a separate venue from Mystic Lake Casino. We post the Amphitheater lineup on the Prior Lake Events calendar as shows are announced.
• Valleyfair (Shakopee, 15 min away) — Minnesota’s biggest amusement park. Rides, water park, seasonal concert nights, and Halloween Haunt in October. Open seasonally, typically May through October. We post the Valleyfair event lineup on the Prior Lake Events calendar. Valleyfair info

Community events

Prior Lake has a steady rhythm of community events — some hosted by the city, some by local organizations — and the lineup changes by season. A few of the biggest:

• Lakefront Music Fest — a major summer concert weekend at Lakefront Park, run by Prior Lake Rotary. Draws 20,000+ people and the lineup keeps getting bigger. Festival site
• Prior Lake Days — a downtown summer celebration in August. Friday night is the 21+ Sip and Stroll through downtown businesses, then family activities fill the weekend. Event details
• Prior Lake Farmers Market — runs Saturdays from May through early October. A popular Saturday morning stop. Full details →
• Prior Lake Plunge — a winter polar plunge that’s raised over $3.1 million for Special Olympics over 17+ years. One of the biggest community fundraisers in town.
• DecemBRRR Dazzle and Winterfest — winter events that keep the calendar going when the lake freezes over.

By season — what’s good when

What’s “the best thing to do in Prior Lake” depends a lot on when you’re asking.

Spring (April — May) — Sailer’s Greenhouse opens for planting season, the farmers market kicks off in early May, ice goes off the lake, and trails dry out. The amphitheater starts hosting weekend gatherings.

Summer (June — August) — Peak season. Lake days at Sand Point, weekly farmers market, live music Wednesdays at Charlie’s and weekend shows at The Pointe, Mystic Lake Amphitheater concerts, Valleyfair, Lakefront Music Fest in July, Prior Lake Days in August, and basically every park is in use. Make summer plans early.

Fall (September — October) — Pumpkin patches at Sailer’s, leaves on the Cleary Lake and Murphy-Hanrehan trails, fall festivals, last farmers markets before close-out, and the start of indoor golf season at LaunchPad. Cooler weather makes patios at Boathouse Brothers and Charlie’s especially good.

Winter (November — March) — Sledding at Lakefront Park, cross-country skiing at Cleary Lake, snowshoeing at Spring Lake, ice skating at Dakotah! Ice Center, ice fishing on the lake when conditions allow, Mystic Showroom concerts year-round, indoor play at Playworks, and Prior Lake Plunge in February. The DecemBRRR Dazzle lights up downtown in December.

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