Wildflower walks, birding walks and other special hikes may be scheduled throughout the year. The evening summer campfire programs present a variety of in-depth information on the history, natural history topics, and archeology of the area. The city of Hot Springs has a large number of art galleries. A Festival of the Arts in the fall includes an extensive documentary film festival. Other festivals include a jazz festival, Oktoberfest, Miss Arkansas Pageant, and outdoor summer concerts.
Several museums cover the history of the town.
There is also a hands-on science museum. Area lakes offer the chance to enjoy a variety of water sports. The name was changed to Hot Springs National Park on March 4, 1921. The Hot Springs National Park is the oldest area in the national park system. It is also the smallest of the national parks.