Summertime is drenched in fun with tons of events and plenty of ways to beat the heat! Head to the water park, hit the three area lakes, spray bathtub racers with super soakers down Central Avenue! Check out our list of summer activities that make even the best summer vacation plans even more exciting!
Bridge St. Live!
The summer of fun kicks off every Thursday in June in the Bridge St. Live! Entertainment District in Downtown Hot Springs! Bridge St. Live! features live music, food and drink vendors, and local artisan vendor booths. This block party style event is free and open to the public, so grab your lawn chair and bring your four legged friends (on a leash) for an amazing time!
Hot Springs BikeFest
Hot Springs offers amazing views from the seat of your motorcycle, so hop on your bike and head to Hot Springs BikeFest - held each June! While sipping the beverage of your choice, you can enjoy some of the areas best live bands each night while browsing a variety of bike vendors in the Bridge St. LIVE! Entertainment District.
Firework Displays
All summer long, the skies of Hot Springs are bursting with bright, booming fireworks! Plan your summer trip around one of three amazing firework displays for Memorial Day, Independence Day, or Labor Day. Enjoy the fireworks on Lake Hamilton from your car or a front row view from your boat on the lake. Rent a boat from one of several marinas on Lake Hamilton like Hot Springs Marina, and be sure to grab dinner before or after the firework display at Trejo's Del Lago, Brickhouse Grill, or Fisherman's Wharf.
Magic Springs Theme & Water Park
Hot Springs is buzzing all season long, and Magic Springs Theme and Water Park is open daily! You can enjoy live music all season long at Magic Springs annual Summer Concert Series with a diverse lineup of legendary performers from rock n roll legends to country music stars. Take in the thrills at the theme park with rides for all ages and thrill levels. Thrill seekers, head to the X-Coaster, the Gauntlet, Brain Drain, the Twister, or the Hawk for an epic adventure. For those looking for a smaller scale of adventure, check out Big Bad John, Rum Runner, Looney Ballooney, or the Bugga Booga Wheel. After exploring rides it's time to cool off with a visit to the water park. Hop in the Crystal Cove Wave Pool, the Kodiak Canyon Adventure River, the Seven Falls Raceway, or the Grizzly Creek Family Splash Zone. Riding thrill rides and swimming all day can work up an appetite, try one of several drive up dairy bars like King Kone or Bailey's for a delicious burger and an ice cream cone for dessert.
Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs
For more summer fun, don’t miss The Stueart Pennington World Championship Running of the Tubs! This zany event celebrates Hot Springs’ bathing history with costumed teams racing customized bathtubs on wheels. Onlookers get in on the action too, cheering on their favorite teams and hosing participants with super soakers as they race by. Get to the Running of the Tubs early for the perfect spot to watch, then take the whole family out for breakfast at one the breakfast spots within walking distance like The Pancake Shop, the Colonial Pancake House, or Kollective Coffee + Tea.
Lake Fun
Hot Springs offers three beautiful area lakes to enjoy to beat the heat during the summer! Visit Lake Hamilton, Lake Catherine, or Lake Ouachita for a relaxing day fishing, exploring islands, wakeboarding, or kayaking! Each lake offers boat rentals and After a day on Lake Hamilton, boat up to Fisherman's Wharf or Back Porch Grill for a delicious dinner. If you spent the day on Lake Catherine, take your dinner plans to Mr. Whisker's for a catfish meal or burger. And if you spent the day exploring the amazing islands on Lake Ouachita, be sure to stop at Burl's Country Smokehouse for a sandwhich and some beef jerky for the ride back to your hotel.
Hot Springs Music Festival
Hot Springs also hosts several music festivals downtown throughout the summer! Classical music lovers will love the Hot Springs Music Festival, held in June, featuring live performances and live rehearsals presented by over 100 world-class musicians from major orchestras, chamber ensembles, and conservatory faculties. Before catching a live performance, visit 501 Prime or The Porterhouse for a fine dining meal. For more information on the Hot Springs Music Festival, click here.
