The season 6 premiere episode aired a month after the season 5 finale episode Chapter Ninety-Five: RIVERDALE: RIP (?) (2021).
Welcome to Rivervale took major inspiration from folk horror films such as Midsommar, Children of the Corn, and The Wicker Man.
Archie reads a sports magazine bearing the picture of Chuck Clayton. He was one of the first Black characters to be featured in Archie Comics (along with Valerie from the Pussycats).
The Rivervale welcome board changes between beginning and end. At the beginning it reads, "You'll Never Want to Leave." At the end it says, "The Town With Heart," referring to a previous event.