Travel & Tourism

Irving – September 25, 2026 -- The 2026-27 Irving Marathon Running Series opens Oct. 3 with the Irving Oktoberfest Half Marathon, offering a half marathon, 10K and 5K with bratwurst and beer waiting at the finish line.

Six race weekends span nearly eight months

The series continues with the Irving Turkey Trot on Nov. 26, 2026 (8-mile, 5K), followed by the Irving Frost Marathon on Dec. 19, 2026, a Boston qualifier offering marathon, half marathon, 10K and 5K distances. The Love on the Run Half Marathon runs Feb. 13, 2027, ahead of the series' flagship event, the 15th Annual Irving Marathon, held March 20-21, 2027, and also a Boston qualifier. The Fiesta de Mayo Half Marathon closes the season on May 15, 2027.

Kunshan – September 25, 2026 -- The 2026 Chinese Opera Gala opened September 23 in Zhouzhuang, launching a program of performances, exhibitions and cultural experiences running through November. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Jiangsu Provincial People's Government, the gala presents 57 excerpts and 10 full-length productions spanning 46 opera genres.

Sixteen organizations received recognition for opera media work

At the opening ceremony, 16 organizations received commemorative certificates for outstanding opera-related media projects from across China. Organizers also introduced The China Kunqu Opera Blue Book 2026 and unveiled Meeting Liang Chenyu — The Origins of Kunqu Opera, an AI-generated micro-drama produced in Kunshan.

Galena, Ill. – September 24, 2026 -- Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa is offering a lineup of seasonal getaway packages this fall and winter, giving Midwest travelers a road-trip alternative about 150 miles west of Chicago in northwest Illinois' Driftless Region.

The 6,800-acre resort overlooks Lake Galena and sits within driving distance of Madison, Dubuque, Milwaukee, Rockford and the Quad Cities.

A Spooky Weekend Package Runs October 22-25

The two-night Spooky Weekend Getaway includes $75 in Eagle Ridge Dollars, two tickets per bedroom to Fear Forest at Shenandoah Riding Center, and round-trip transportation to the nighttime walking experience, recommended for ages 13 and older. Rates start at $573, with accommodations ranging from Inn rooms to five-bedroom distinctive homes.

A separate Halloween Party takes place October 30 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Highlands Restaurant & Lounge, featuring drinks and entertainment.

Bismarck – September 24, 2026 -- North Dakota Tourism is highlighting fall road trips as autumn color spreads across the Turtle Mountains and the Sheyenne River Valley, with foliage typically starting mid-September and peaking by mid-October. Travelers can use North Dakota Tourism's fall foliage guide and prediction map to time their visit.

Scenic byways wind from wooded hills to open prairie

Lake Metigoshe State Park sits amid some of the state's most colorful fall scenery in the Turtle Mountains, while Fort Ransom State Park brightens the Sheyenne River Valley National Scenic Byway farther south. Near Bismarck, changing leaves frame the Missouri River at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, and trees along the Little Missouri River add color to Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota.

Lehigh Valley – September 24, 2026 -- Discover Lehigh Valley, the region's official destination marketing organization, is challenging visitors to see how many fall experiences they can pack into one trip, from covered-bridge drives to a 15th-anniversary bacon festival.

Peak foliage hits mid- to late October, timing the region's biggest events

Alex Michaels, President and CEO of Discover Lehigh Valley, said travelers can start a day picking pumpkins at Valley Fruits and Veggies, spend the afternoon at a festival or scenic trail, and end with a cocktail at Eight Oaks Farm Distillery while taking in the foliage.

Xiangxi – September 24, 2026 -- A delegation of international social media influencers traveled through the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture in Central China's Hunan province from Sept 22 to 24, exploring ethnic traditions, mountain landscapes, and rural development projects.

The tour started at Fenghuang Ancient Town's historic streets and river

Participants wore traditional Miao garments, sampled regional dishes, and cruised the Tuojiang River past rows of stilt houses. Thai journalist Pichayapa Sutabutra sang a love song on the river celebrating bonds beyond wealth and social standing.

Nigerian content creator Oluwabunmi Jimoh praised Fenghuang's scenery, cuisine, and cultural appeal, urging people to visit during the upcoming National Day holiday. French influencer Marius Etrillard highlighted the architecture and clear waters, noting the town's status as a 5A-rated tourist attraction in China.

Macao – September 24, 2026 -- More than 20 legendary hypercars are now on public display, free of charge, at Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace through November 22 as part of the fourth annual "Wynn Signature – 2026 Hypercar Exhibition."

The exhibition, themed around the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse, traces six decades of automotive design from the 1960s to today, featuring models from Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, Pagani and Aston Martin. The show runs alongside the Macau Grand Prix season with support from the Macao Government Tourism Office and the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government.

Three Ferrari flagships trace the Prancing Horse's evolution

Wynn Palace hosts the F40, personally approved by founder Enzo Ferrari to mark the brand's 40th anniversary; the F50, limited to 349 units and built with Formula 1-derived technology; and the LaFerrari, capped at 499 units and credited with introducing the brand's hybrid era.

Dubai, UAE – September 24, 2026 -- The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and travel app Wego have launched a joint campaign encouraging travellers across the Middle East and North Africa to explore Saudi Arabia's cities, coastlines and cultural sites.

The campaign spans Riyadh to the Red Sea

The initiative highlights destinations including Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla's archaeological landscapes, and the Red Sea coastline, positioning them as parts of a single travel itinerary rather than separate trips. Organizers say the campaign targets different traveller types: families combining culture with entertainment, couples seeking coastal escapes and dining, and adventure travellers interested in diving, desert activities and mountain landscapes.

Putian – September 24, 2026 -- Meizhou Island, the birthplace of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu in southeast China's Fujian Province, drew about 3.23 million tourist visits in 2025, surpassing 3 million for the first time as the destination shifts from quick temple stops to multi-day stays.

Mazu, born as Lin Mo on the island in 960, is worshipped as a protector of seafarers by more than 300 million followers worldwide. In 2009, UNESCO added "Mazu belief and customs" to its representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Chambersburg – September 24, 2026 -- Franklin County Visitors Bureau will host a two-day "Learn & Explore Weekend: Road to Freedom" on October 3-4, spotlighting the local history of John Brown, Frederick Douglass, and the raid on Harpers Ferry.

A bus tour retraces the county's role in the 1859 raid

The weekend opens Saturday, October 3, with "A Freedom Tour of Franklin County," running 9 AM to 3 PM. The bus tour stops at sites tied to the Underground Railroad, John Brown, Frederick Douglass, and the United States Colored Troops, including the Mary Ritner Boarding House, the capture site of John Cook, the home of bounty hunter Daniel Logan, Wertz Farm, and USCT cemeteries.