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Author: amusementtoday

Accesso Intelligence introduces Agentic AI for automated workflows in visitor attractions

LONDON, U.K. — accesso Technology Group (AIM: ACSO), a leading global technology provider for the leisure, entertainment and cultural markets, today introduced new capabilities that enable attraction operators to turn conversations with accesso Intelligence into recurring automated workflows. Users can now ask the platform to monitor performance, conduct research, detect and investigate changes, develop forecasts, […]

ADG announces three vice president promotions, strengthening company leadership

COHOES, N.Y. — Aquatic Development Group (ADG) is pleased to announce the promotion of three key company leaders: Ray Lauenstein to Vice President of Project Development, Salvatore D’Aniello to Vice President of Construction & Project Delivery, and Julie Kline to Vice President of Sales & Engineering. The promotions are part of ADG’s continued investment in […]

Monsters have moved in! A new Halloween neighborhood has opened in Carlsbad on Brick Or Treat Street at Legoland California Resort

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Knock, knock… who’s there? A neighborhood of LEGO monsters! This Halloween, Wacky Witch, Mummy, Scarecrow, Spider Lady, and Wolf Guy are officially calling the new Brick or Treat Street home as they get ready to settle into their new neighborhood at LEGOLAND California Resort during Brick or Treat! This all-new neighborhood features six life-sized LEGO Monster […]

Making magic for children in need: Ronald McDonald House families enjoy a brick-tacular Brick or Treat Adventure at Legoland California Resort with Merlin’s Magic Wand

CARLSBAD, Calif. — Laughter, play and adventure filled the air as LEGOLAND California Resort, in partnership with Merlin’s Magic Wand, Merlin Entertainments’ official children’s charity, welcomed over 200 guests from Ronald McDonald House® Southern California for an unforgettable experience during the opening weekend of Brick or Treat.  On Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, children impacted by childhood […]

Adventureland’s Phantom Fall Fest opens this Saturday with an oversized new nightmare

ALTOONA, Iowa — Adventureland is taking screams to the extreme beginning this Saturday, Sept. 26, as Phantom Fall Fest creeps out of the shadows for its fifth season. This year, visitors will face an oversized nightmare as a reimagined haunt comes to life at Adventureland. MALICE: Jabberwocky’s Revenge dares guests to step through the rabbit […]

Amusement Products brings gas-powered go-karts back with new Octane model

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Amusement Products is expanding its commercial go-kart lineup with the return of gas-powered racing and the introduction of the new Octane go-kart. Developed for operators who continue to value the familiarity, performance, and straightforward operation of traditional gas-powered karts, Octane provides another option for facilities seeking a commercial-grade racing experience backed by […]

The wait has a date: Dubai Parks and Resorts welcomes guests from 7 October

DUBAI, U.A.E. — The wait is almost over. Dubai Parks and Resorts will welcome guests from 7 October 2026, bringing together MOTIONGATE Dubai, Real Madrid World, LEGOLAND Dubai Resort and The World of Riverland for the start of a highly anticipated entertainment season. As one of the region’s largest integrated theme park destinations, Dubai Parks and Resorts gives […]

Imagicaaworld unlocks 248 crore growth capital through strategic hotel transaction

INDIA — Imagicaaworld Entertainment Limited, India’s largest amusement and water park player, today announced that its Board has approved the proposed divestment of its 287 key Novotel Imagicaa hotel at Khopoli to Juniper Hotels Limited for an aggregate consideration of ₹248 crore, marking a strategic capital allocation move that strengthens the company’s next phase of […]

Dinosaur-themed Happy Halloween Weekends roaring back to Holiday World

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. — Holiday World’s fan-favorite Happy Halloween Weekends is returning with dinosaurs in 2027. The family-friendly event features a 12-acre Dino Corn Maze Adventure with life-sized dinosaurs, some of which are animatronic and feature realistic sound effects. Every Saturday night, weather permitting, Dinos Soar in the Sky drone show will feature 500 drones and fireballs. This year, the show […]

Halloween Haunt returns to Worlds of Fun this weekend

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The fear returns to Worlds of Fun as Halloween Haunt takes over the park on select Fridays and Saturdays starting this Saturday Sept. 19 through Oct. 31, including Sunday, Oct. 25.  Worlds of Fun’s transformation into a terrifying, haunted playground, packed with haunted attractions, sinister scare zones, live entertainment, seasonal food and beverages and thrilling rides in […]

International Ride Training expands global reach with new European affiliate, IRT Attractions Consulting, SLU

MADRID, Spain — International Ride Training LLC, a recognized leader in operational safety, training, auditing, certification, and consulting for the attractions industry, today announced the launch of its new European affiliated company, IRT Attractions Consulting, SLU, based in Madrid, Spain. The new company will allow International Ride Training to better serve its growing client base […]

“Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” is now open!

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Universal Studios Hollywood’s highly anticipated high-speed, outdoor roller coaster, “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” is now open. With its striking visual design and state-of-the-art ride technology, this all-new spectacular roller coaster—the fastest in the Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio—redefines the thrill ride experience and delivers an unprecedented surge of adrenaline to Universal […]

Golden Ticket Awards give honorable mention to Intercard’s Impulse Plus Reader

ST. LOUIS — Intercard is pleased to announce that its Impulse Plus reader received an honorable mention at the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards in the best innovation category. On September 12, 2026, Amusement Today presented awards in 22 categories determined by results from an international poll consisting of more than 500 ballots sent to knowledgeable people within […]

Six Flags Fiesta Texas captures Golden Ticket Award for Best New Show with Monster Mash Bash

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Six Flags Fiesta Texas has once again earned one of the amusement industry’s highest honors, capturing the 2026 Golden Ticket Award for Best New Show for its electrifying Fright Fest production, Monster Mash Bash, presented by Amusement Today during the annual Golden Ticket Awards held Sept.12 in the Austin area. The recognition marks the second consecutive year that Six […]

Fort Wayne Zoo announces “Pick It Up for Penny” conservation campaign

FORT WAYNE, Ind. — “Pick it up. Pitch it in. Protect Wildlife” that’s the slogan for Fort Wayne Zoo’s new “Pick it up for Penny” Conservation Campaign. After a plastic cup blew into the African Veldt and led to a partial amputation performed on Penny the ostrich’s right wing, the Fort Wayne Zoo is announcing […]

Popular New England resort adds mini golf course from Adventure Golf & Sports

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Waterville Valley Resort, tucked entirely inside the White Mountain National Forest area of New Hampshire, and famously known as the birthplace of freestyle skiing, recently added an 18-hole miniature golf course designed and constructed by Adventure Golf and Sports near the site of a new 16,000 square foot Adventure Center building the resort […]

Dutch Wonderland puts the happy in Halloween with Happy Hauntings

LANCASTER, Pa. — The Kingdom for Kids is opening for another season of not-so-spooky Halloween fun as Happy Hauntings returns to Dutch Wonderland beginning Saturday, Sept. 19. Running select days through Oct. 31, families can celebrate the season with kid-friendly Halloween entertainment, trick-or-treating, more than 30 rides, attractions and shows, festive fall flavors and plenty of […]

Fright Fest starts this Friday at Six Flags Great Adventure with four new haunted mazes and the return of Dead Man’s Party

JACKSON, N.J. — The wait is almost over. Fright Fest Presented by SNICKERS begins this Friday, Sept. 18, at Six Flags Great Adventure, unleashing four new haunted mazes, returning fan favorites, sinister scare zones, live entertainment and world-class thrill rides after dark. The Northeast’s premier theme park destination is preparing to transform after dark with one of its […]

Kings Island’s Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare earns top honors at Golden Ticket Awards

MASON, Ohio — One of the year’s most celebrated family attractions is at Kings Island, the premier entertainment destination in the Midwest. Saturday night, Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare earned top honors in the amusement industry, capturing first place for Best New Family Attraction and second place for Best New Attraction Installation at the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards.  Widely recognized as the amusement industry’s highest honors, the Golden Ticket Awards are […]

The Great Big BOO is back for Halloween family fun at Gilroy Gardens, Sept 25 – Nov 1

GILROY, Calif. — The Great Big BOO at Gilroy Gardens Family Theme park has become one of the Bay Area’s most popular family-friendly Halloween events and will be returning on select evenings from September 25 through November 1. During this immersive experience, guests enter the world of BOO Alley to enjoy live musical shows, interactive challenges, the […]

Dollywood earns four more Golden Ticket Awards

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — Four more Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards are on their way to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, with Dollywood claiming more “best of” honors than any other theme park in the world during the annual award ceremony held Saturday evening. The Golden Ticket Awards, the theme park industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony, took place Saturday […]

Ghost Train returns to Tweetsie Railroad Sept. 25

BLOWING ROCK, N.C. — Ghost Train returns to Tweetsie Railroad this fall, transforming the Wild West theme park into a nighttime Halloween adventure filled with spooky attractions, trick-or-treating, live entertainment and rides after dark. Ghost Train operates Friday and Saturday nights from September 25 through October 31, 2026. Gates open at 7:30 p.m., with earlier […]

FACE Amusement brings teddy bears to Central Park for the annual New York City Buddy Walk

NEW YORK, N.Y. — FACE Amusement Group joined forces with National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) for the 31st Annual NYC Buddy Walk at Times Square, one of the country’s largest Down syndrome advocacy and awareness events.  Gathering in Times Square, more than 2,500 participants joined the Buddy Walk to celebrate community, shift perceptions and advocate for greater opportunities for individuals with Down […]

Six Flags celebrates 2026 Golden Ticket Awards with top honors for new attractions, roller coasters and entertainment

ARLINGTON, Texas — Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:FUN), the largest regional amusement park operator in North America, today announced a standout showing in the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards, earning top honors across numerous categories and reinforcing its position as a global leader in thrills, family entertainment and immersive guest experiences. This year, Six Flags parks and attractions earned 25 top […]

Gardaland Resort is bringing Halloween forward: 51 days of thrilling fun from 12 September and the arrival of ‘Prey’, the terrifying new maze

Halloween is arriving earlier and earlier. Already a cultural and consumer phenomenon in the United States, Summerween reflects an increasingly widespread trend in bringing forward the atmosphere and imagery of the year’s scariest festival by several weeks, if not months, rather than concentrating it into a single night. Gardaland Resort is tapping into this international […]

Zero Latency VR launches “Venue Success” program, names industry veteran to lead it

 Zero Latency VR, the world’s leading immersive VR company, has launched a new global support function for its venue network, Venue Success, and named industry veteran Brett Bovio as Senior Venue Success Manager to lead it. Venue Success is a newly created program giving Zero Latency’s global network of operators dedicated, practical support beyond the technology and […]

The 2026 Golden Ticket Awards honor 28 amusement industry winners

AUSTIN, Texas — Established in 1998 by Amusement Today, the Golden Ticket Awards have spotlighted achievements and accomplishments within the field of amusements and attractions. Celebrating the “Best of the Best,” the awards are among the most-recognized within the industry of theme parks, amusement parks, family entertainment centers, water parks and other attractions. On September […]

EXTRA! EXTRA! The 2026 Golden Ticket Awards issue is now available!

The 2026 Golden Ticket Awards honor 28 amusement industry winners Presented live from brand-new park COTALand AUSTIN, Texas — Established in 1998 by Amusement Today, the Golden Ticket Awards have spotlighted achievements and accomplishments within the field of amusements and attractions. Celebrating the “Best of the Best,” the awards are among the most-recognized within the […]

Autumn comes alive at Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana

PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. — With a refreshing coolness soon on its way to the evening air of the Smokies, the time is perfect for Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana (Sept. 14 – Oct. 31). A longstanding tradition for many, the Harvest Festival greets guests with an amazing autumn atmosphere, thanks to the glowingly popular […]

Six Flags Magic Mountain announces Thrill Glider, the world’s first Thrillglider Roller Coaster, opening in 2027

VALENCIA, Calif. — Six Flags Magic Mountain, the Thrill Capital of the World and one of Southern California’s premier theme parks, today announced that Thrill Glider, a first-of-its-kind roller coaster, will debut in 2027. Created exclusively for Magic Mountain, the attraction combines flying, motorbike and suspended coaster technologies to establish an entirely new roller coaster category: the Thrillglider. It will combine the freedom of flight with the intensity of a multi-launch thrill coaster, delivering an […]

Pomvom appoints Deborah Eicher as VP Global Sales & Business Development

LONDON, U.K. — Pomvom, a global leader in AI‑powered digital content creation and guest‑experience technology, announces the appointment of Deborah Eicher as Vice President, Global Sales & Business Development. Eicher will lead Pomvom’s worldwide commercial strategy, partner acquisition, and revenue growth across theme parks, attractions, and entertainment destinations. Eicher brings more than two decades of […]

Keeping the promise to Never Forget 9/11: Cal Expo to host the 25th Remembrance Ceremony

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — On September 11, 2001, the nation experienced a tragedy that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 innocent people and forever changed the course of history. In the years since, September 11 remains a day of remembrance, honoring the lives lost and the countless individuals whose courage, compassion, and service emerged in the […]

Play all day, fright all night during Lake Compounce’s Phantom Fall Fest

BRISTOL, Conn. — Fall is in the air at Lake Compounce as Phantom Fall Fest creeps out of the shadows for 18 nights beginning on Saturday, Sept. 19. This season, America’s First Amusement Park introduces new family-friendly entertainment, new food offerings, and turns the fear up to 10 after 6 p.m. Families are encouraged to visit every Saturday and […]

New safety strap enables worry-free roller coaster rides for people with leg prostheses

People with leg prostheses can now ride roller coasters without removing them, thanks to SafeStrap, launched today by Efteling, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation and Orthopaedic Technology. During the launch at Efteling, several people with leg prostheses boarded Baron 1898 while wearing both their prosthesis and SafeStrap. A moment that […]

Ventola Projects completes first South American project with immersive bowling installation in Ecuador

Ventola Projects completes first South American project with immersive bowling installation in Ecuador Ventola Projects has completed its first project in South America, delivering an immersive bowling experience at PlayGo Entertainment in Mall del Alto, Cuenca, Ecuador. The UK-based company worked alongside US-based VAvR Alliance partner Evogence to introduce ball-responsive projection technology across the venue’s […]

Unveiling of Dollywood race car by park officials and ARCA Driver Quinn Davis/ Media Day for Dollywood’s Harvest Festival presented by Humana

Dollywood hasserved as an associate sponsor for City Garage Motorsports (CGM) featuring 17-year-old driver Quinn Davis in this season’s ARCA Menards East Series. Quinn, CGM, and Dollywood officials will unveil the race car she will pilot in the 2026 season finale at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 17. Davis will also display the special […]

Ventola Projects to launch new innovation at IAAPA Expo in London

Ventola Projects will be returning to IAAPA Europe Expo (International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions) from September 21st to the 24th at London’s Excel Arena. Final preparations are underway as the team gets ready to bring its latest VAvR innovation to life: Tetrapix EM4, which will officially launch at the London show. Ventola Projects is […]

Six Flags Great Adventure’s Kids Boo Fest and Oktoberfest begin Saturday

JACKSON, N.J. — Fall fun begins Saturday at Six Flags Great Adventure as Kids Boo Fest and Oktoberfest presented by Cash App return for another season of family-friendly Halloween activities, festive entertainment and seasonal flavors. Running select dates through Nov. 1, the popular daytime events combine trick-or-treating, seasonal activities, German-inspired cuisine and the park’s collection of world-class rides and attractions into […]

New Clean Hands Index research finds major handwashing gaps at amusement parks and attractions

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Amusement parks and attractions invest heavily in creating memorable guest experiences, but new research from the 2026 Clean Hands Index suggests one fundamental part of the visitor experience may be receiving far less attention: handwashing. An analysis of 45 handwashing environments at amusement parks and attractions found that none provided all […]

Intercard is chosen by Family Entertainment Group for its strategic partnership with Topgolf

ST. LOUIS — Intercard is proud to announce that Family Entertainment Group, one of the nation’s premier developers and operators of entertainment experiences, will use Intercard’s cashless technology as part of FEG’s new strategic partnership with Topgolf. Following a successful pilot program at seven Topgolf venues, FEG and Intercard have begun a nationwide phased rollout […]

Six Flags introduces Flex Pay by Upgrade, allowing guests a new way to plan and pay for fun

ARLINGTON, Texas — Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE:FUN), North America’s largest regional amusement-resort operator, introduces Flex Pay by Upgrade, a new payment option that allows eligible guests to purchase Season Passes and other qualifying products and pay over time through fixed monthly installments. Available on eligible online purchases of $49 or more, Flex Pay gives approved guests […]

Intercard’s Impulse Plus is ready for Europe

ST. LOUIS — Cashless technology pioneer Intercard will showcase its kiosk-free Impulse Plus reader at the 2026 IAAPA Expo Europe to be held September 22-24 in London. CEO Scott Sherrod and Alberto Borrero, vice-president of international sales, will be there for the year’s top European show. The powerful Impulse Plus reader doesn’t need to be […]

Carowinds opens Fall Season with return of signature fall events and festive fun for all ages

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As summer gives way to fall, Carowinds will once again transform the state line into the Carolinas’ premier seasonal destination with the return of fan-favorite fall events, Tricks and Treats and SCarowinds. Both events are included with park admission and open this weekend through Nov. 1. “From day to night, fall is one of the most exciting […]

Six Flags acquires iconic ArieForce One, bringing fan-favorite roller coaster back to life

ARLINGTON, Texas — Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, North America’s largest regional amusement-resort operator, has acquired ArieForce One, the celebrated steel roller coaster that captured the imagination of thrill-seekers around the world and quickly earned recognition as one of the most acclaimed coaster experiences of the modern era. Six Flags will introduce the attraction at one of […]