Fort Wayne is emerging as one of the Midwest’s most accessible destinations thanks to the community’s vision to embed Universal Design into every aspect of the community. Travelers arriving at Fort Wayne International Airport step into a space designed for comfort and inclusion, featuring rolled curb cuts, lounge-style sofa seating, an adult-sized changing table, a cane trail, and so much more. From there, Fort Wayne unfolds as a navigable hub of adaptive sports, attractions like a recently renovated Louis Kahn-designed theatre, an Autism Certified Zoo, and a universally designed public riverfront park. In Fort Wayne, accessibility isn’t an add‑on; it’s built into the experience. Families with young children, seniors, and travelers with disabilities can all enjoy the same vibrant community without barriers. For more information, visit VisitFortWayne.com.
The Big Umbrella Festival returns to Lincoln Center this spring for a multi-week series of free and choose-what-you-pay performances, workshops, and outdoor installations designed with and for the neurodiverse community. From April 10-26, the festival invites audiences of all ages to experience the arts in welcoming, accessible ways with offerings across dance, music, theater, comedy, art installations, and more. Launched in 2018, the Big Umbrella Festival was the first large-scale performing arts festival of its kind designed specifically with neurodivergent audiences at its center. From the beginning, the festival has championed innovative, sensory-based, and interactive arts experiences that meet audiences where they are. Learn more atLincolnCenter.org/BigUmbrella.
From Feb. 6 to March 4, Caesars Entertainment’s Las Vegas resorts, including Caesars Palace, will celebrate the Year of the Horse with elaborate decorations in common areas for good luck and prosperity, such as hanging lanterns, banners, firecrackers and floral arrangements.
Traditional Lion Dances
Honoring Chinese traditions for the new year, Caesars Entertainment will host lively lion dances to bring good luck to the Las Vegas Strip. At each of the resorts, the lion dance performances will start outside and make their way through the casino floor.
Below is the lion dance schedule:
Friday, Feb. 20
12 p.m. – The Cromwell (soon-to-be The Vanderpump Hotel)
SAHARA Las Vegas invites guests to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a limited-time Lunar New Year menu at The Noodle Den, featuring the flavors of Northern China with unique hand-pulled noodles, dumplings and innovative twists on classic Chinese dishes. Additionally, SAHARA will host a lion dance, one of the most beloved traditions that herald the new year, through the casino on Friday, Feb. 20. The Noodle Den’s Lunar New Year menu items will be available Friday, Feb. 13, through Friday, Feb. 27, featuring an array of festive dishes and traditional delicacies. For the ceremonial lion dance, SAHARA Las Vegas has partnered with the Lion Dance Group to present this cherished cultural tradition believed to bring good fortune, prosperity and happiness in the coming year. The dance will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, at the SAHARA Las Vegas entrance and proceed through the property, passing Chickie’s & Pete’s, Balla Italian Soul, The Noodle Den, CASBAR and concluding at the High Limit Room. Dining hours at The Noodle Den are 5 to 10 p.m. daily. For more information, or to book a reservation at The Noodle Den, visit saharalasvegas.com.
A must-do experience is Fort Mose Historic State Park’s annual Flight to Freedom event, Feb. 26-28. Tours and demonstrations by historians, reenactors, and community members tell the brave story of men, women, and children who risked everything to flee enslavement on a British plantation and reach the free Black settlement of Fort Mose, laying the groundwork for the original Underground Railroad. In May 2025, the Florida State Park celebrated the grand opening of the replica of 1738 Fort Mose. A true community effort nearly 30 years in the making, the new fort provides a tangible monument to the settlement’s inhabitants. Over the two weekends from Feb. 6-15, history and music merge at the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series. A curated lineup of Grammy Award-winning musicians delivers powerful performances on the grounds where freedom first took root. The Series features performances by Ledisi, Gray Clark Jr., Robert Cray and Ruthie Foster, Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, and Samara Joy. I Lived Here, As Well: The Final Chapter Tour at Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, Feb. 5-28, is a compelling look at the experiences of Black Americans who lived in the historic house, portrayed by costumed interpreters. The St. Johns County Parks and Recreation Department is hosting guided experiences that highlight the voices of St. Johns County’s African American community. The History of Butler Beach Walk on Feb. 11 will explore the life of Frank B. Butler, a St. Augustine visionary who purchased and opened Butler’s Beach, an oceanfront space for African Americans to enjoy during segregation. Rails, Roots & Freedom: African American Stories of St. Johns County, on Feb. 25, held at Fort Mose Historic State Park, brings together local historians and community leaders to discuss the area’s history and the communities shaping its future. The Black History App allows visitors and locals to explore the brick-lined streets and create their own immersive tour. It details the history and location of landmarks such as the Lincolnville Historic District and the Dr. Robert B. Hayling Freedom Park; profiles significant figures such as Frederick Douglass and Francisco Menendez; covers historical topics such as time periods, themes, and local groups; and presents a historical timeline of Black History in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches. The Black History App is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. For more information, visit www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
As part of its commitment to a more accessible travel experience, Avianca joined the global Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, training more than 3,100 operational employees to assist passengers with hidden disabilities. The initiative aims to promote inclusion, acceptance, and understanding by allowing travelers to discreetly and voluntarily wear the sunflower lanyard, a symbol indicating they may need extra time or assistance during their journey. Thanks to this training, nearly 60% of Avianca’s operational team is equipped to recognize the lanyard, understand its purpose, and provide empathetic, respectful support—helping ensure a more humane flight experience for all passengers. The Sunflower lanyard does not confer priority service; rather, it serves as a tool to promote understanding for travelers with hidden disabilities. Its use is entirely voluntary and can be requested at participating airports or Avianca’s Special Assistance counters. During the training process, Avianca’s teams learned about different types of intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, as well as neurodivergence, along with inclusive communication strategies, crisis management, and ways to support accompanying family members or caregivers. The airline continues to advance its accessibility strategy, recognizing that this is an ongoing journey and seeking guidance and feedback from experts and relevant authorities. This initiative builds on other efforts aimed at improving accessibility and the travel experience, such as “El Dorado a tu Ritmo,” a program at Bogotá’s airport that also promotes more inclusive and empathetic spaces. Initiatives like these highlight that creating a more accessible travel experience is a shared commitment among airlines, airports, and all industry stakeholders. For more information, visit www.avianca.com.
Rhythms of the Night, long considered the quintessential dinner-and-show experience of Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit, is entering a new culinary chapter. Adventures Group, the leading tour operator in Mexico’s Bay of Banderas, has introduced Premier Gastronomic Journey, a refined dining experience created in collaboration with acclaimed Mexican chef Paco Ruano. For the first time, Mexico’s No. 1 nighttime experience, ALMA, Rhythms of the Night, is partnering with a chef to develop a signature menu, bringing haute cuisine to one of the country’s most iconic evening spectacles. The result is an immersive experience that seamlessly blends gastronomy, nature and performance art in a dramatic waterfront setting. Widely recognized for a contemporary style deeply rooted in Mexican culinary traditions, Ruano has built an international reputation through his work in some of the world’s most prestigious Michelin-starred kitchens. His flagship restaurant, Alcalde, is featured on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list and ranked No. 15 on Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, following notable placements in previous editions. At ALMA, Rhythms of the Night, Ruano presents an exclusive menu inspired by the flavors of the Pacific and executed with modern technique. The dishes spotlight local seafood, seasonal produce and regional culinary heritage, interpreted through a refined and contemporary lens. The evening begins with a sunset cruise across Banderas Bay, transporting guests to a secluded tropical cove illuminated only by candles and torches. Following the dining experience, guests enjoy preferential access to ALMA, the acclaimed open-air performance directed by Artistic Director Mukhtar Mukhtar. View more information at https://www.vallarta-adventures.com.
The Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival returned to Florida’s Historic Coast on December 6, 2025, at Armstrong Park in Elkton. This free festival celebrates the unique heritage of the Gullah Geechee people through traditional music, dance, food, and arts. The Gullah Geechee Heritage Festival kicked off with a special Rails to Trails Bike Tour at 9 a.m. The Palatka to St. Augustine State Trail is a multi-use recreational trail that runs through St. Johns and Putnam counties. The festival began at noon and featured live musical and dance performances by Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters, El Shaddei Dance Ministry, Str8up Jax, Cellus, and JW Gilmore & The Blues Authority; authentic cuisine; cultural demonstrations; a craft fair with traditional and modern wares; and plenty of opportunities to learn about the Gullah Geechee. The festival is free and includes entertainment and activities for all ages, from small children to adults. All festival proceeds benefit the SEA Community Help Resource Center, which provides meals, school supplies, and countless other resources to members of the communities of Spuds, Elkton, and Armstrong. Visitors can continue learning and exploring by using the free Florida’s Historic Coast St. Augustine Black History App. Created in partnership with Visit St. Augustine, the app showcases nearly five centuries of Black history. Users can read about the changemakers, from well-known figures like Zora Neal Hurston to St. Augustinians like Richard Aloysius Twine, visit pivotal locations, including the Woolworths Lunch Counter, 56 Park Place, and Andrew Young Crossing, and learn about events such as the Fort Mose Historic State Park’s Flight to Freedom Re-enactment, which brings history to life. The St. Augustine Black History app is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. For advance travel information, go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
Nobu Hotel Los Cabos, the Mexico outpost of Nobu Hospitality and luxury lifestyle brand that blends modern luxury and minimal Japanese tradition, announced the continuation of its On Exhibition program with a robust event lineup. From November 24 to 30, 2025, attendees will immerse themselves in a world of creativity, featuring art galleries displaying captivating pieces, live art demonstrations, and exclusive opportunities to acquire unique artworks. In collaboration with Chayul Collective, an art collective creating pop-up experiences that connect people through art, On Exhibition aims to create A Sense of Belonging by exploring what it means to find a home away from home, and ultimately, a home within yourself. This year’s theme, A Sense Of Belonging, draws from the concept of finding comfort not only in a place but also in identity and self. The exhibition invites artists and guests alike to reflect on the meaning of home – whether as a physical space, a sense of self, or an evolving identity. The diverse range of artists ensures a dynamic and eclectic showcase of talent. From traditional painting and sculpture to film and digital art, guests are encouraged to wander through the installations. For more details about On Exhibition, please visit nobuhotels.com/loscabos
With biting humor, Autistic playwright Dave Osmundsen developed his latest stage play, “Bum Bum: or, This Farce Has Autism,” which will premiere at HERE Arts Center from December 4 to 14. Farce meets authenticity in this wild, subversive, and deeply personal satire of performance, representation, and what society really wants from its Disabled artists. The play, produced by EPIC Players, New York’s leading neurodivergent theater company, features a cast of mostly neurodivergent actors. This hilarious original play which flips disability tropes on their head. The talented cast, mostly comprised of neurodivergent actors, will show audiences what they really think about “inspirational stories.” Set during a chaotic live telethon benefiting “Singing and Hearing Autistic Greatness” (aka SAHAG or SHAG), the play follows three Autistic performers as they’re pressured to deliver sanitized, “palatable” routines for a mainstream audience. Lisa is going to perform a little ballet. Sean is going to do a family-friendly comedy routine. And Jason is going to perform with his trusty ventriloquist dummy, Gil McGillicuddy. But the three can only take condescending press reps, problematic pop stars, and the widescale infantilization of autistic people for so long. When they band together to take over the broadcast and perform their less “appropriate” routines, hijinks (naturally) ensue. For more information, visit www.epicplayersnyc.org.
Multicultural Travel News 