Hot Springs Freedom 250 Events

Join local opportunities to celebrate our national story at America's oldest federal park.

As part of the Freedom 250 commemoration, Hot Springs National Park will offer a variety of programming and partnerships throughout the year 2026 to provide local and national communities with ways to participate in national celebrations-particularly on federal holidays and annual National Park Service celebration days.

All programs will be free to the public and many will be co-sponsored by local groups and organizations. See our calendar of events and our social media pages for more information.

*Events may be added and removed from the calendar.

 

Hot Springs National Park will host large community events for Freedom250 throughout 2026

NPS/CWebber

Special Events

Freedom 250 offers a time to commemorate the history of the United States and carry on the duties of citizenship. Hot Springs National Park, first protected in 1832, is the oldest national park in the United States, and is the only Arkansas protected resource to predate the state of Arkansas.

Event Dates:

National Park Week-April 18-25, 2026

Saturday, April 18

-Preserving the Natural State

As the oldest protected resource in the Natural State, Hot Springs will host federal, state, local, and non-profit groups who protect natural areas in Arkansas and share the legacy of preservationists who have contributed to the state across generations.

Sunday, April 19

-Junior Ranger Day
Part of the National Junior Ranger Day celebration to kick of National Park Week. The event will include multiple activity areas and large swearing in ceremonies. The event will also feature representatives from the U.S. Navy, including a small detachment of musicians.
-Navy Week
Representatives from the United States Navy, including a woodwind quintet and Navy sailors, will be stationed along Bathhouse Row for small musical performances and public events.

Monday, April 20

-Hot Springs' 194th Birthday

Come celebrate 194 years as the oldest federally protected natural area for public use. There may be cake.

Wednesday, April 22

-Earth Day

Join rangers at a community event at National Park College as they participate in the largest single-day global event for environmental protection.

America's 250th Birthday, July 4, 2026

Saturday, July 4

-Red, White, and You Picnic

Hot Springs National Park and Friends of Hot Springs National Park co-host the Red, White, and You: Picnic in the Park on Arlington Lawn to celebrate 250 years of American independence. Arlington Lawn has hosted community events and military parades for over a century and will turn into the "front yard" of Hot Springs once again. The event will include educational booths, activity areas, and patriotic entertainment.

Constitution Day, September 17, 2026

Tuesday, September 17

-Constitution Signing

The Hot Springs chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) offers a Constitution Day event at the Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center.

Hot Springs Water Festival, October, 10 2026

Saturday, October 10

-Hot Springs Water Festival

Celebrate America's beauty and the Natural State through the waters of the oldest national park. Hot Springs hosts booths to explore the wonders of the waters alongside federal, state, local, and non-profit groups who protect the area's precious water resources.

 

Volunteer efforts help restore native forest environments in Hot Springs National Park.

NPS/KBarat

Volunteer Opportunities

Community members and service organizations interested in contributing to Hot Springs National Park projects as part of our Freedom 250 celebrations will have many opportunities to do so throughout the year. Volunteer events will allow community members to contribute to the environmental management and historic preservation projects that maintain the natural and historic beauty of Hot Springs National Park. If your organization is interested, you may reach out to [e-mail] or find opportunities listed on volunteer.gov.

Service Opportunities

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Servce

Saturday, January 17, 2026

-Join rangers in a park beautification event.

Event Recap: 14 volunteers contributed over 40 hours of community service work and contributed to park beautification by collecting over 30lbs of trash.

September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance

Date TBD

-Join rangers in a park service event

Event Recap:

National Public Lands Day

Saturday, September 26, 2026

-Participate in one of the largest service days in the United States at your local national park.

Event Recap:

 

Ranger programs throughout the month offer multiple opportunities for the community to learn about Hot Springs National Park

Garland County Library

Special Programs

Hot Springs National Park has contributed immensely to the nation’s stories of medical science, veterans affairs, and environmental protection. Park rangers will provide numerous special-topic presentations and programs throughout the year to share these stories with the local and national community.
More information on our community programming can be found on our public events page and our park calendar.

Hot Springs Hikes

2nd Saturday, Monthly

Join rangers on moderate 1.5-to-3 mile hikes exploring the natural history and human stories of Hot Springs National Park. Starting location varies, follow social media for more information.

Park Chats Speaker Series

4th Wednesday, Monthly

Join park rangers and guest speakers for 1-hour in-depth presentations of the stories of America's oldest national park.

 

Education Programs

Hot Springs Park Rangers offer a variety of free education programs on Hot Springs’ history and science. To see our program options, visit the Hot Springs Education page.