Here are today’s 9 verified theme park & live event stories, covering Theme Parks & Roller Coasters, Stadiums & Arenas and Live Music & Venues.
Every item below links to its original source.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Dreamworld to Rebuild Shuttered Coaster as Lost Mine Mayhem
- Stadiums & Arenas: WNBA Star Nneka Ogwumike Announces Retirement
- Live Music & Venues: Grahame Lesh Announces Fall Headline Tour
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Dreamworld to Rebuild Shuttered Coaster as Lost Mine Mayhem
Australia’s Dreamworld has announced it will rebuild its former Motocoaster into a new $20 million attraction called Lost Mine Mayhem, set to open in late 2027, per Screamscape. The ride’s old hydraulic launch and motorcycle-themed trains will be replaced with an electric tyre-driven launch and new ATV-style vehicles, and the rebuilt track will add several near-miss moments plus a redesigned interactive queue.
TrainerTainment’s Sullivan to Speak at Amusement 360
TrainerTainment coach Genevieve Sullivan will lead a session called “Build it Once: Designing Staff Training That Sticks” at the Amusement 360 conference on August 26 at 3:30 p.m., aimed at operators building longer-lasting staff training programs, per Amusement Today.
EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Returns for 86 Days
Disney has confirmed the 2026 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will run 86 days, marking the event’s 30th anniversary with 30 dishes revived or reimagined from its history, according to Attractions Magazine.
Gordon Ramsay Returns to Disneyland for Carnaby Photo Op
Mickey Mouse and Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino welcomed chef Gordon Ramsay back to the resort on August 19 for a photo op outside his restaurant, The Carnaby, in the Downtown Disney District, per WDW News Today.
Cinemark Unveils Light-Up Batmobile Popcorn Bucket
Cinemark has revealed a light-up Batmobile popcorn bucket inspired by Adam West’s 1966 Batmobile, complete with a Bat-Signal, ahead of its Batman Day celebration, according to Attractions Magazine. Pricing and an exact release date have not yet been announced.
Fright Fest Returns to Six Flags Darien Lake
Six Flags Darien Lake’s Fright Fest returns on select dates from September 19 through October 11, bringing haunted mazes, scare zones and nighttime entertainment to the New York park, per Amusement Today. Daytime hours will include the family-friendly Kids Boo Fest, with trick-or-treating and costume contests on weekends during the same run.
Stadiums & Arenas
WNBA Star Nneka Ogwumike Announces Retirement
Nneka Ogwumike, an 11-time WNBA All-Star and one-time league MVP, announced she will retire from the league at the end of the 2026 season after 15 seasons, according to Front Office Sports. She led the Los Angeles Sparks to a championship in 2016 and currently serves as president of the WNBA players’ union.
Live Music & Venues
Grahame Lesh Announces Fall Headline Tour
Grahame Lesh, son of the late Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, has announced a fall headline tour with Grahame Lesh & Friends, adding dates in Boston, Nantucket, Los Angeles, Asheville, Nashville and Fort Lauderdale between late October and New Year’s Eve, according to Pollstar. Local presales begin August 20, with general on-sale following on August 21.
Canadian Promoter MRG Group Opens Australian Office
Canadian independent promoter MRG Group has launched MRG Live Australia, a new Sydney office led by general manager Graham Kennedy, a former Live Nation Australia arts and entertainment executive, according to IQ Magazine. The company says the move marks a step in its international growth strategy across music, comedy and family touring.
Explore more: Nagashima Spa Land, Gies Memorial Stadium.
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Photo: Larry D. Moore / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.