Skip to main content

Fall | Hot Springs National Park Arkansas

Fall

Blanketed in the colors of fall, the Ouachita Mountains are a beautiful backdrop for outdoor activities of all kinds. When the weather begins to shed the heat of the Summer, now is your chance to get outside and explore!  Back-to-school and a return to the daily grind for alot of folks may also mean you are on the lookout for weekend activities that allow you to do and see it all! Hot Springs has got what you are looking for this Fall!


The Big Steam

The season kicks off with live jazz, blues, and R&B over Labor Day weekend with, “The Big Steam". The festival features regional, national and international acts with performances by up and coming bands and performers — a musical menu to keep a smile on your face and rhythm in your feet!


Spa-Con Pop Culture & Comic Convention

Hot Springs hosts some major arts and entertainment events every fall, beginning with Spa-Con, a pop culture and comic convention that celebrates the geek in us all. The event, held in September, includes panels, workshops, celebrity guests, games, contests, vendors, and thousands of costumed attendees. Past celebrity guests have included Shannon Purser from Stranger Things, Sherilynn Fenn and Sheryl Lee from Twin Peaks, Pam Grier from Star Trek, and many more! After the comic con ends, be sure to fuel up at one of several restaurants within walking distance like Brick House Grill, Deluca's Pizza, or Copper Penny Pub. For more information on Spa-Con, click here.


Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival

Grab your popcorn, the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival is the longest running non-fiction film festival in North America and takes place each October in Hot Springs. The annual event includes documentary features and shorts from all around the world, plus film panels, parties and the opportunity to rub shoulders with a host of celebrity guests and visiting professionals. Enjoy a nightcap after the films end at one of Hot Springs popular craft cocktail spots like The Heist, The Bourbon Bar at 501 Prime, or The Rooftop at The Waters. For more information on the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, click here.


Güdrun Mountain Biking Festival

Mountain biking is among the most popular, thanks to three IMBA Epic Rides and the Northwoods Trail System. The Northwoods is the site of the annual Güdrun Mountain Biking Festival held each November in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The multi-day event includes a Slow Roll group ride to kick off the weekend, the Enduro and Mini Enduro, the Dual Slalom, the Jump Jam, the annual Attila the Hun Mountain Bike Race. Start your race day with a cup of coffee from Red Light Roastery or Kollective Coffee + Tea, then recover after the race with a trip to the Quapaw Bathhouse or the Buckstaff Bathhouse. For more information on the Güdrun Mountain Biking Festival, click here.


Spa Running Festival

The Spa Running Festival is a family-friendly event with multiple races, including a 5k, 10k, Spa Squirt kids race, and the Summit2Summit Half Marathon. Each race caters to a different running level, with unbelievable scenery throughout. The half marathon takes runners past Historic Bathhouse Row, through Hot Springs National Park, and over both North and West Mountain with breathtaking viewpoints along the way. After you cross the finish line, fuel up with some breakfast at one of Hot Springs iconic breakfast spots like the Pancake Shop, the Colonial Pancake House, or the Best Cafe & Bar. For more information on the Spa Running Festival, click here.

Featured Listings

Red Light Roastery

501-609-9357 | 1003 Park Avenue 71901

Colonial Pancake House

501-624-9273 | 111 Central Avenue 71901

Brick House Grill

501-321-2926 | 801 Central Avenue, Suite 24 71901

Copper Penny Pub

501-622-2570 | 711 Central Avenue 71901

The Heist

210-382-7454 | 723 Central Avenue, Suite 200 71913

Travel Tips

  • What to Wear

    Bring a jacket for chilly fall evenings and early mornings. Bring hiking shoes to set out and see spectacular fall foliage.

  • Best Time to Travel

    The fall foliage in Hot Springs begins as early as mid-October with the peak falling around early to mid-November. 

  • How to Get Around

    Take your car to the different vistas for fall foliage views or hike the trails to immerse yourself in the brightly colored leaves!