Visit Hot Springs

The future's looking bright with many opportunities for fun this year in the Spa City.

WINTER

  • Don’t miss the Hot Springs Christmas Parade in downtown Hot Springs the first week of December each year.
  • The Persistence of Vision Film Festival (POV Fest) is a weekend full of short films by directors from all over the state at Malco Theatre from Jan. 3-5, 2025.

AR Dept. of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

  • Oaklawn Hot Springs will host themed weekends during the 2025 racing season, the most popular being Smarty Jones Day on January 4, Southwest Day on January 25 and Rebel Day on February 22.
  • The biggest holiday event in Spa City is the Annual Holiday Lights Display at Garvan Woodland Gardens—with more than 7 million lights displayed from late November to January 1 each year.

SPRING

  • Tulip Extravaganza is scheduled for March 1 at Garvan Woodland Gardens, and you won’t want to miss it!
  • The Valley of the Vapors Music Festival is coming to Hot Springs at Whittington Place from March 14-16.

Visit Hot Springs

  • Mark your calendar for the 22nd Annual World’s Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 17. This 98-foot, fan-favorite parade always includes two celebrities as the grand marshal and official parade starter (Valerie Bertinelli and Flavor Flav) at Bridge St. LIVE! Entertainment District.
  • Oaklawn’s racing season may start in January, but it lasts well through spring 2025. Don’t miss Arkansas Derby Day on March 29 at Oaklawn Hot Springs.
  • An Elite Sumo Competition is coming to Hot Springs again this year, so mark your calendars for April 11 for the All-Star Sumo event of the season.
  • Hot Springs is known for its Cherry Blossom trees in the spring, so come check out the annual Cherry Blossom Festival on April 12.
  • The last weekend of the racing season in Arkansas is May 2-3, so stop by Oaklawn Hot Springs to see the races before the season ends.

SUMMER

  • The 2025 Bridge Street LIVE! Concert Series will take place downtown every Thursday in June. Enjoy this block party on the city’s shortest street with free music, local food and drinks, games, and vendors.
  • Come to Bathhouse Row on June 6 and 7 for the World Championship Running of the Tubs. Watch teams race decorated tubs while people dressed in robes and slippers shoot super soakers at them. This wacky event is truly one-of-a-kind.

AR Dept. of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

  • Don’t miss one of the three annual free fireworks displays over Lake Hamilton for Memorial Day, Fourth of July (rain date July 5), and Labor Day. Best viewed by boat!
  • The eighth annual Hot Springs Seventh Annual Baseball Weekend on August 8 through the 9th celebrates the city’s rich history as the birthplace of Major League Spring Training. Former Major Leaguers make appearances.

FALL

  • Spa-Con Pop Culture and Comic Convention——a Comic Con that draws in comic fans, cosplayers, gamers and more—will return this September 19-21.
  • The 34th Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival from October 10-18 highlights documentary filmmakers of the south and has a lineup of compelling stories from around the world. Enjoy film screenings, panels, and workshops with acclaimed filmmakers and special guests.
  • Don’t miss Feast Month throughout November, where you can enjoy diverse culinary delights!

AR Dept. of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

  • The Güdrun: Northwoods MTB Festival will return this November 7 -9. Mountain bikers from all over the country will compete and celebrate Spa City’s avid biking community.
  • Enjoy the Spa Running Festival on November 15. From a 1K Squirt Race to a half marathon, this festival allows every level of athlete to get out and enjoy the city’s natural beauty. Visit hotsprings.org to register!
  • The Tom Daniel Holiday Chili Cook-Off is an all-you-can-eat chili competition that will be held on November 24 at the Exchange Street Parking Deck.