Wednesday Night Poetry
Hot Springs has been hosting Wednesday Night Poetry every Wednesday evening since it began on February 1, 1989. It is thought to be the longest continuously-running poetry event in the country. The weekly event is held from 6:30 – 9 p.m. at Kollective Coffee+Tea at 110 Central Avenue in downtown Hot Springs. From mid-March 2020 to mid-June 2021, Wednesday Night Poetry was held virtually with poets from across the country and even internationally submitting video that can be found on the Wednesday Night Poetry Facebook page. As always, Wednesday Night Poetry is free and open to all ages.
For more information click here (link to: https://www.facebook.com/kollectivecoffeetea)
Hot Springs Poetry Fest – November 1–8, 2025
The first Hot Springs Poetry Fest will take place November 1–8 in downtown Hot Springs—the home of the nation’s longest-running open mic poetry series, Wednesday Night Poetry. This free, week-long celebration will bring together poets, writers, and art lovers to honor the city’s cultural legacy through readings, workshops, competitions, and pop-up performances in historic venues, bookstores, and public spaces.
Festival highlights include:
- Poetry performances throughout the week, culminating in a Slam Poetry event on November 8
- Creative workshops presented in partnership with Emergent Arts and the Garland County Library
- Collaborative events with local businesses including Kollective Coffee + Tea, RetroFit, and Black Ribbon Books inside the Arlington Hotel
- A lively Poetry Crawl, where local restaurants, art galleries, and shops invite participants to collect stamps in their Poetry Passports
The Hot Springs Poetry Fest is designed for all ages and all levels of poetry lovers—whether you’re a writer, performer, or simply someone who enjoys the power of words.
Hot Springs Renaissance Faire
Travel back to ye days of olde November 1-2, 2025 with The Hot Springs Renaissance Faire, located at the Garland County Fairgrounds! With over 80 merchants, 15 acts located on 6 different stages, dragons, live medieval combat, jousting, and so much more merriment just waiting for thee! Enjoy a new tradition with our Feast of Saint Hubertus, a five course medieval dining experience. With each passing day the merriment keeps growing and growing and there is only one renaissance faire in the State of Arkansas that can bring it to you, Only at The Hot Springs Renaissance Faire, Where MERRIMENT lives on! For more information hsrenfaire@gmail.com.
Hot Springs Pocket Community Theatre
The only year-round live theatre in Hot Springs, Arkansas, the Pocket Community Theatre is located at corner of Ravine and Ramble Streets off Park Avenue in downtown Hot Springs. For more information about the schedule or tickets, visit www.pockettheatre.com.
