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Hi Hot Springs, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Documentary film festival shake-up, a beloved 1950s ice cream stand, and classic amusement park thrills + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

New energy behind the scenes: Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute announced six new board members and named LaTricia Hill-Chandler board chair, ahead of the 35th festival and a continued push for innovative documentary storytelling — get the full board lineup.

An Arkansas ice cream institution: Hot Springs locals love Bailey’s Dairy Treat, a 1950s walk-up serving ultra-creamy soft-serve, sundaes, banana splits, and seasonal favorites. Simple, no-frills, and absolutely worth the drive — read the full story.

Timeless fun, modern ease: A recent feature spotlights Magic Springs in Hot Springs as a classic old-school amusement park with nostalgic charm and plenty of thrill rides that keep families coming back — read the full story.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Craft custom Derby hats and fascinators
• Buy baked goods to fight cancer
• Young children explore nature with stories, hikes
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Burger fix, solved: Hot Springs icon The Ohio Club grills handmade, custom-blend Black Angus patties on brioche, landing perfectly between juicy and just-messy. Order The Ohio Burger with pepper jack, bacon, and an onion ring, and call it the midweek win you deserve.

Easy win for cabin fever: Craving a quick, low-effort plan that’s still fun? Funtrackers Family Fun Park packs go-karts, laser tag, mini-golf, bumper boats, and an arcade in one spot, perfect for burning energy, sparking friendly competition, and curing boredom fast, rain or shine.

Science you can touch: If cabin fever creeps in, sneak a mini adventure to Mid-America Science Museum, with booming Tesla coil shows, the Bob Wheeler Science Skywalk, and hands-on tinkering that doubles as learning. Low effort, high delight, and it’s all right here in Hot Springs.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Hot Springs for grown ups

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🌲 The Woodland Workshop @ Garvan Woodland Gardens | Thursday (3/5) at 10:00 AM – If your 9-12-year-old could use fresh air that is not from the carpool line, Garvan’s Woodland Workshop delivers hands-on activities at Bonsai, a garden hike, and unstructured play. It runs first and third Thursdays in spring, with a six-session bundle including guardian admission, or drop-ins.

🎨 Paint Your Own Tea Cup Drop-In @ Emergent Arts | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Ring in Lunar New Year with a low-stress win, dropping by Emergent Arts to glaze your own tea cup or tea bowl. It’s $15 for the first, $10 for extras, you paint it, they fire it, and you’ll look very cultured at the Tea Festival.

♀ Glitter and Grit: International Women’s Day Brunch @ The Music Box Lounge | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – If you need an excuse to toast the women who keep this town running, consider this your sign. The Music Box Lounge is hosting an International Women’s Day brunch performance, directed by Amber Moss, equal parts glitter, grit, and good company. Tickets drop soon.

☘ Shamrocks & Shimmer @ Vivacious Glam Wellness & Aesthetics | Monday (3/9) at 4:00 PM – Skip the green beer and snag a glow-up at Shamrocks & Shimmer on Airport Road. First 10 get a free lip flip, drawings hit every 15 minutes, and prizes top five grand. Deals on tox, filler, lashes, waxing, and more, wear green for extra luck.

♨ Historic Hot Springs Tour @ TBD | Monday (3/9) at 5:00 PM – Whether you grew up cruising Central or just know where the taffy is, this guided stroll from the Malco to the candy shop past the Arlington serves Hot Springs history with a wink. Meet at Central and Bridge, bring $20, and call it cultural cardio.

👒 Derby Hat Making Bar @ Unwrapped Event and Gift Boutique | Tuesday (3/10) at 5:00 PM – Channel Churchill Downs at a Derby Hat Making Bar, where Veiled Rose whips up hats and fascinators while you pick trims, offer opinions, and pretend you know horse stats. Call Unwrapped Event & Gift Boutique at 501-521-3600, because spots are scarce, and bragging rights plentiful.

🧁 Relay for Life: Bake Sale @ Garland County Library | Wednesday (3/11) at 10:00 AM – Your favorite librarians are trading Dewey decimals for desserts at Garland County Library’s Relay for Life bake sale, where calories for a cause count. Bring cash, or tap to donate on your phone, snag something sweet, pick up a luminary, and know every dollar helps.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/6 Cliff & Susan @ Oaklawn – 4:00 PM
• 3/7 501Bryze @ Vapors Live – 8:00 PM
• 3/10 Tuesday Night Karaoke! @ Oaklawn Hot Springs – 6:00 PM
• 3/13 Cliff & Susan @ Oaklawn Hot Springs – 4:00 PM
• 3/13 Valley of the Vapors Independent Music Festival @ Whittington Place – 5:00 PM
• 3/13 Christopher Cross @ Oaklawn Event Center – 7:00 PM
• 3/14 South of Saturn @ The Big Chill – 9:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Hot Springs report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 78°F – Low: 62°F – Precip: 60%

Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South southeast wind around 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 82°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 36%

A chance of rain showers before 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This 4-bed, 2-bath lakefront estate spans 3.83 gated acres with over 500 feet of main-channel Lake Hamilton shoreline in Hot Springs. A two-story layout with a main-level primary suite. Firelit living spaces frame lake and mountain views. Outdoors feature a stone and brick patio at the water’s edge, a boathouse with lift, and mature landscaping with a waterfall.

Take a peek inside →