United States

New York – October 05, 2026 -- Knix is releasing a limited-edition intimates and sleepwear line inspired by Sarah J. Maas' bestselling A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR) series, launching October 15 exclusively at knix.com/acotar.

The collection pairs Knix's leakproof underwear technology with designs tied to the series' fictional Courts of Prythian. Maas has sold more than 85 million books in English, and ACOTAR has generated over two million posts on TikTok, making it one of BookTok's most active fan communities.

Five silhouettes draw directly from named ACOTAR characters

The line includes a Satin Corset tied to the character Nesta, a Sheer Skirt and Lace Teddy referencing a scene involving Feyre in the Court of Nightmares, a Shimmering Robe and Slip Set based on Feyre's Starfall night, a Lace Bodysuit and Sheer Skirt linked to Elain, and Satin Slips associated with Amren and Morrigan.

Horseshoe Bay, Texas – October 05, 2026 -- Horseshoe Bay Resort has announced its 2026 holiday season, "Big & Bright: A Hill Country Holiday," running Nov. 28 through New Year's Eve, with rates starting at $274 per night for resort guests and Club members.

Santa kicks off the season with a 50-foot tree lighting on Nov. 28.

On Nov. 29, families can ride the Jingle Bell Express to the "North Pole," complete with a hot cocoa station, dance performances by Pulse Dance Project, Santa visits and a holiday breakfast buffet.

Georgetown, Texas – October 05, 2026 -- Veterans and active-duty service members can get a free haircut at participating Sport Clips locations on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, as the haircare chain launches its 13th annual Help A Hero fundraising campaign.

The campaign runs Oct. 5 through Nov. 14, 2026, with donations collected at participating Sport Clips stores nationwide to benefit the VFW's Sport Clips Help A Hero Scholarship program.

The program has funded more than 3,600 scholarships since it began

Sport Clips, its clients, franchisees, team members and product partners have raised nearly $17 million through the campaign, funding over 3,600 scholarships via the VFW Foundation for veterans and service members pursuing civilian education and training.

Dallas – October 05, 2026 -- Urban Air Adventure Park is giving every family a free unlimited play pass worth up to $49 through its KidHub app, timed to National Adventure Day on Oct. 9.

Families must download the free KidHub app to claim a pass

Starting now, anyone who downloads and registers for KidHub, Unleashed Brands' free family activity app, by 11:59 p.m. local time on Oct. 9 will receive one unlimited play pass to a participating Urban Air park. Existing KidHub users also qualify automatically. The passes are limited to one per account, and anyone planning to visit on Oct. 9 itself is advised to download the app at least an hour in advance so the ticket has time to process.

Seattle – October 05, 2026 -- Holland America Line will mark 80 years sailing Alaska in 2027 with a new eight-day Inside Passage cruise, expanded Denali Lodge rooms and the return of a 28-day Arctic Circle voyage.

Six ships will sail Alaska from April through September 2027

Eurodam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Noordam, Westerdam and Zaandam will depart from Seattle, Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska. The new eight-day "Alaska Inside Passage" cruise runs roundtrip from Vancouver, stopping at Glacier Bay, Skagway, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

The 28-day "Legendary Alaska Arctic Circle Solstice" cruise returns for a third year aboard Noordam, departing June 6 from Seattle and sailing into the Bering Sea and Arctic Circle. Noordam will also offer a seven-day "Great Bear Rainforest" cruise, while Zaandam runs two 18-day "Great Bear Rainforest & Alaska Explorer" sailings.

Purchase, N.Y. – October 05, 2026 -- Pepsi is marking the New York Knicks' championship season with limited-edition cans and bottles that give fans a shot at winning game tickets. The "Champions Deserve Pepsi" campaign launched October 5, ahead of the Knicks' 2026–27 season tip-off at Madison Square Garden.

Limited-edition 16 oz Pepsi x Knicks Championship cans, along with 20 oz Pepsi and Pepsi Zero Sugar x Knicks bottles, are now on shelves at participating retailers across the Tri-State region. Shoppers can scan a QR code at point of sale for a chance to win tickets to a Knicks game inside The Garden.

Chicago – October 05, 2026 -- McDonald's is giving away free bottles of its pickle brine to runners and spectators during Chicago Marathon weekend, betting on a long-rumored cramp remedy to win over endurance athletes.

Free samples hit the Lakefront Trail before race day

On Friday, Oct. 9, McDonald's will set up a "Pickle Boost Preview" station at 2401 N Lake Shore Drive from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. CT, timed to catch runners during popular pre-race shakeout runs along the Lakefront Trail.

Five Chicago locations offer bottles on race morning

On Sunday, Oct. 11, the chain will distribute two bottles per person, free of charge, at five McDonald's restaurants across the city from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CT while supplies last. The locations are 2635 N Clark St, 1563 N Wells St, 600 N Clark St, 203 N LaSalle St, and 207 E 35th St.

Herndon – October 05, 2026 -- Patients who shed significant weight on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic often lose fat from the buttocks and hands faster than anywhere else, leaving too little tissue to harvest for traditional fat grafting. Dr. Amir Mahan Ghaznavi of AMG Plastic Surgery in Herndon, Virginia, is now offering an alternative: alloClae, a donor-derived structural adipose tissue product placed directly into the body without liposuction.

The procedure skips the operating room entirely

Unlike autologous fat grafting, which requires harvesting a patient's own fat through liposuction, alloClae arrives ready for placement. Dr. Ghaznavi injects it in his office under local anesthesia -- no donor site, no general anesthesia. Most patients return to desk work within one to two days.

Allston – October 05, 2026 -- First Chapters Preschool has opened an 8,000-square-foot flagship location at the new Enterprise Research Campus in Allston, Massachusetts, offering eight age-based classrooms for children from infancy through Pre-K. The center is already serving families living and working in the surrounding area.

First Chapters is part of Babilou Family, which has run early education programs for more than 20 years and operates over 40 centers across New England under brands including Little Sprouts, Heartworks and Building Blocks.

Berkeley, Calif. – October 05, 2026 -- Once Upon a Farm PBC (NYSE: OFRM) has launched Electrolyte Blends, a new line of organic fruit and veggie purée pouches designed to support hydration for school-age kids heading back into busy, active routines.

The pouches use coconut water and sea salt instead of added sugar

The refrigerated 4oz pouches combine fruits, vegetables, coconut water, and sea salt to naturally deliver electrolytes rather than relying on traditional sports-drink formulas. They are sold as single-serve pouches and in four-pack bundles, and each pouch is cold-pressure processed (HPP) to preserve nutrients and flavor.