Theme park news today centers on two big items: Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest haunt season kicks off this Friday with four new mazes, and ABC’s US Open men’s final broadcast set a record for the most-watched final since ESPN began airing the tournament.
Beyond the coasters and haunts, this theme park news roundup also covers Dutch Wonderland’s Happy Hauntings kickoff, National Geographic Expeditions’ new private jet itinerary, and fresh Muppets Haunted Mansion and Bluey merchandise, along with the SVB LIVE 2026 conference at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, Pierce The Veil’s tour-closing Petco Park show, and ADÉLA’s chart-topping debut album.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest Returns With Four New Haunted Mazes
- Stadiums & Arenas: ABC’s US Open Men’s Final Broadcast Draws Record 3.2 Million Viewers
- Live Music & Venues: Pierce The Veil Closes Tour With Sold-Out Petco Park Show
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest Returns With Four New Haunted Mazes
Fright Fest presented by Snickers opens Friday, Sept. 18, at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, running select nights through Nov. 1, according to Amusement Today. Four new mazes debut this year — Jason: Blood Reign, Final Destination: Death’s Playground, Twisted Holidays, and Deadwood Cabin — alongside returning favorites like the Conjuring Universe and Army of the Dead mazes and the Dead Man’s Party stage show. Scare zones, live entertainment, and nighttime coaster rides round out the after-dark event, though the mazes require a separate Haunted Attractions Pass.
Dutch Wonderland’s Happy Hauntings Returns for Not-So-Spooky Halloween Fun
Happy Hauntings begins Saturday, Sept. 19, at Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, running select days through Oct. 31, according to Amusement Today. The kid-friendly event includes a costume party, a trick-or-treat trail along Mill Creek, puppet shows, and more than 30 rides and attractions, alongside festive fall food and drink.
National Geographic Expeditions Adds Culinary Private Jet Trip, Discounts 2028 Departures
National Geographic Expeditions has unveiled a new culinary-focused itinerary called Tasting the World by Private Jet, and is offering up to $7,500 off select private jet departures running Jan. 4 through May 10, 2028, according to WDWNT. New travelers can save $5,000 per person, returning travelers get an additional $2,500, and bookings must be made by Dec. 17, 2026.
Muppets Haunted Mansion 5th Anniversary Merchandise Now Available
Mickey’s of Glendale has released a new merchandise collection marking the 5th anniversary of Muppets Haunted Mansion, according to WDWNT. The lineup includes apparel, a drinking glass, a throw blanket, and several character pins, though the pins sold out quickly. Shipping is limited to U.S. addresses.
Bluey Merchandise Coming to Barbie, Hot Wheels, and Other Mattel Brands
Mattel and BBC Studios announced a multi-year licensing deal bringing Bluey to five Mattel brands — Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price Little People, Polly Pocket, and UNO — starting in fall 2026, according to Attractions Magazine. Specific release dates, prices, and retailers have not yet been announced.
Stadiums & Arenas
ABC’s US Open Men’s Final Broadcast Draws Record 3.2 Million Viewers
Alexander Zverev’s four-set win over Ben Shelton in the US Open men’s final this past Sunday, Sept. 13, drew 3.2 million viewers on ABC, the most-watched men’s final since ESPN began broadcasting the tournament in 2009, according to Front Office Sports. That’s up 9% from last year’s final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, which drew 3 million viewers.
SVB LIVE 2026 Nears Capacity Ahead of Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium Gathering
SVB LIVE 2026, a sports and venues industry conference, is approaching full capacity with roughly 300 industry leaders expected to attend Oct. 1-2 at Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, according to Sports Venue Business. Speakers will represent organizations including AECOM, AEG, Aramark, Arup, Everton, Liverpool FC, Newcastle United, and Inter Miami CF.
Live Music & Venues
Pierce The Veil Closes Tour With Sold-Out Petco Park Show
Pierce The Veil wrapped its ‘I Can’t Hear You World Tour’ with a sold-out show at Petco Park in San Diego on Sept. 12, drawing more than 42,339 fans, according to Pollstar. The band called it their biggest headline show to date, capping a tour that sold over 760,000 tickets across 70 global dates.
ADÉLA’s Debut Album ‘PRIMA’ Tops Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart
Slovak singer-songwriter ADÉLA’s debut album PRIMA opened at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart and reached No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 with 56,000 first-week equivalent album units, according to Billboard. The album was released Sept. 4 via Capitol Records.
Explore more: Count Basie Center for the Arts, Agora Theatre and Ballroom.
Theme Park News FAQs
When does Fright Fest start at Six Flags Great Adventure in 2026?
Fright Fest presented by Snickers opens Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, and runs select nights through Nov. 1. The event features four new haunted mazes plus returning favorites like the Dead Man’s Party stage show.
When does Happy Hauntings start at Dutch Wonderland?
Happy Hauntings begins Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, and runs select days through Oct. 31. It’s a kid-friendly Halloween event with trick-or-treating, a costume party, and more than 30 rides.
Who won the 2026 US Open men’s final and how many people watched?
Alexander Zverev defeated Ben Shelton in four sets to win the 2026 US Open men’s final on Sunday, Sept. 13. The ABC broadcast drew a record 3.2 million viewers, the most-watched men’s final since ESPN began airing the tournament in 2009.
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Photo: Jeremy Thompson / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.