Birding Festival of the South
Location: Hot Springs Convention Center, 134 Convention Boulevard
Event Date: October 8 - 10
Join us in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas for the Birding Festival of the South, a celebration of the fall bird migration presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs! Passes are on sale now! Click here for yours.
Hot Springs boasts unmatched birdwatching opportunities showcasing: 26 miles of trails in Hot Springs National Park, 31.5+ miles of trails at Northwoods Trails, 1.8 million acres of the Ouachita National Forest, 210-acres of botanical gardens at Garvan Woodland Gardens, specialized ponds at the Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery, and thousands of acres of shoreline at Lakes Hamilton, Catherine, Ouachita, and DeGray.
The Birding Festival of the South Festival will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. This event will include field trip opportunities, panels, workshops, music, and fun for all levels of birders.
For more information contact Alexis Hampo at ahampo@hotsprings.org or 501-321-2277. Follow us on Facebook at Birding Festival of the South.
Festival Passes on Sale Now!
Passes are on sale now here for the Birding Festival of the South, presented by Oaklawn! The inaugural festival will be held October 8 - 10 in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Passes are $35 for the full weekend of birding activities.
*Please note, registration is required for the field trips and capacities may vary. The festival pass does not include participation in exclusive field trips where transportation is provided.
The Birding Festival of the South will include field trips, live music, keynote speakers, workshops, panels, kids’ activities, arts and crafts, vendors and more!
Click here to purchase a pass!
Pass Package
Register by August 8 and you'll receive an awesome Festival Pass Package including:
-Official festival laminate
-Tote bag
-Metal tumbler
-Birding Festival of the South Field Guide
-Access to the vendor hall, workshops, panels, keynote speakers, kids’ activities and meet-you-there-field trips.
Click here to purchase a pass!
SPECIAL GUESTS
Alison Kondler
Internationally acclaimed bird-sounds expert Alison Kondler will give a keynote presentation and lead a field trip to Hot Springs’ Northwoods lakes as part of the inaugural Birding Festival of the South, Presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs, in October.
Kondler is an Audubon Master Birder, keynote speaker, and creator of the social media platform @birding_by_ear. Through bird sound mimicry, creative mnemonics, and storytelling, she teaches people how to identify birds by ear using techniques that connect with different learning styles. Her talks make bird sounds approachable, memorable, and fun.
Schedule of Events
October 8, 2026
12 PM - 7 PM Pass Pick-Up Open
Hot Springs Convention Center
12 PM - 7 PM - Vendor Hall Open
Hot Springs Convention Center
5:30 PM - 7 PM - Opening Flock-tail Party
Hot Springs Convention Center
7 PM - 10 PM - Bridge Street LIVE! - Free Block Party & Concert
Bridge Street
October 9, 2026
8 AM - 4 PM - Vendor Hall Open
Hot Springs Convention Center
8 AM - 4 PM - Pass Pick-Up Open
Hot Springs Convention Center
8 AM - 11 AM - Birding at The Northwoods with Alison Kondler
(Registration coming soon)
October 10, 2026
8 AM - 4 PM - Vendor Hall Open
Hot Springs Convention Center
8 AM - 4 PM - Pass Pick-Up Open
Hot Springs Convention Center
4 PM - 5 PM - Alison Kondler - Birds Heard in Words
A Creative Approach to Learning Bird
Hot Springs Convention Center
**Additional Schedule Announcements Coming Soon
*Schedule subject to change
Be a Vendor!
Vendor registration is now open! Register now to be a vendor by clicking here.
The timing of the event will coincide with the annual Fall Migration, opening the exciting opportunity to see birds not native to Hot Springs.
A limited number of 8x8 foot spaces will be available for vendors and a six-foot table with two chairs, with electricity available. Each vendor registration will include two vendor passes for the weekend. Each general vendor fee is $300. Vendor spaces for nonprofits will be $200.
The schedule for vendor participants will be:
Thursday, October 8, 2026
8 AM - 12 PM | Set Up
12 PM - 7 PM | Vendor Hall Open
Friday, October 9
7 AM - 8 AM | Set Up
8 AM - 4 PM | Vendor Hall Open
Saturday, October 10
8 AM - 4 PM | Vendor Hall Open
Where to Stay
Oaklawn Hot Springs will be the presenting sponsor and the official festival host hotel for the Birding Festival of the South, happening October 8 - 10, in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas!
Other options include Hotel Hot Springs and Embassy Suites, which are connected to the Hot Springs Convention Center. Click here to explore more places to stay.