The Red White & You Picnic in the Park

Join us in celebrating America's 250th birthday! Get ready for a once-in-a-generation Fourth of July! On Friday, July 4, 2026, Hot Springs National Park is throwing the ultimate Semiquincentennial bash with the “Red, White & YOU” Parade and Picnic, and you’re invited! The patriotic fun kicks off at 9:00 AM at Hill Wheatley Plaza with a flag-raising ceremony and an epic community-led parade down historic Bathhouse Row. Grab your best red, white, and blue, dress up as a Founding Father, or deck out a wagon float to march along a timeline of Hot Springs history! Following the parade, the celebration shifts to Arlington Lawn from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a massive community picnic. Expect live performances every half hour, delicious food vendors, face painting, cupcake eating, games, and a costume contest for kids and pets alike! Best of all? Admission is completely FREE and open to everyone. Don't miss out on making history—bring your family, your friends, and your American spirit! Want to march? Register your wagon float by June 20, 2026. Learn more and sign up at: nps.gov/HotSpringsJuly4 or FriendsOfHotSpringsNationalPark.org   All-American Community Parade The celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. with the All-American Community Parade, through the heart of the park along Bathhouse Row. Participants will assemble at Hill Wheatley Plaza, where the morning will begin with raising the American flag and singing the National Anthem. This is a “no spectators” parade – if you show up, you get to be in it! The parade will proceed north along Bathhouse Row to Arlington Lawn, following a timeline through Hot Springs history from a drop of rain falling 4,400 years ago to the present day. The entire route is paved, mostly flat and half a mile long. Community members are encouraged to dress as Uncle Sam, a Founding Father or Mother, or simply wear their best red, white, and blue. Small, decorative wagon floats are welcome and encouraged! Parade participation is free. Register your wagon float by June 30, 2026, via the event page at: go.nps.gov/HotSpringsJuly4 . Please note that costumes should reflect that this is a commemorative, fun, and family-friendly community event. Leashed pets are welcome, provided they behave well with other pets and people. “Red, White & YOU” Community Picnic Following the parade, the celebration will continue on Arlington Lawn with the “Red, White & YOU” community picnic. Activities and booths will be ongoing from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. Activities include costume contests for children and pets, live performances, face painting, cupcake eating, arts and crafts, games, and photo booths. Shade tents, tables, and cooling stations will be set up throughout Arlington Lawn, and food vendors will be available in the vicinity with burgers, hot dogs, and ice cream for sale. Stage Line-Up 10 a.m. – Kids and Pets Costume Contest (no registration required) 10:15 a.m. - Dilly the Clown 10:30 a.m. – Sean Alexander Dixon, Musician 11 a.m. – American Heroes, Speaker Panel 11:30 a.m. – Jonathan Erlandson, Illusionist 12 p.m. – Dona Pettey and Steve Malec, Musicians 12:30 p.m. – Cupcake Races 1 p.m. – Laura Lee Williard, Musician 1:30 p.m. – The Diamond Dance Company Gems 2 p.m. – Big Papa Binns, Musician All events on July 4, 2026, are free and open to the public. Hill Wheatley Plaza is located at 625 Central Avenue and Arlington Lawn is located at 301 Central Avenue in Hot Springs, AR. For more information about the 4th of July events, please visit the park’s website at go.nps.gov/HotSpringsJuly4 or the Friends of Hot Springs National Park’s website at FriendsOfHotSpringsNationalPark.org Places to Stay Places to Eat Things to Do Events to Attend Careers Contact Us Media Room Advertising and Promotion Tax Privacy Policy Customize Your Itinerary 134 Convention Boulevard · Hot Springs, AR 71901 501-321-2277 or 1-800-SPA-CITY · hscvb@hotsprings.org Facebook Twitter You Tube Instagram TikTok Pinterest Back to Top