The inaugural Birding Festival of the South is taking flight in a big way.
Since Visit Hot Springs first announced the festival earlier this year, organizers have continued to add nationally recognized birding experts, musicians, conservation advocates, and educational programming, transforming the October event into one of the most anticipated outdoor festivals in Arkansas this fall.
Presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs, the three day festival will take place October 8 through 10, 2026, with the Hot Springs Convention Center serving as the festival hub. Activities will extend throughout Hot Springs National Park, Northwoods Trails, Garvan Woodland Gardens, the Hot Springs Greenway, the Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery, and other birding hotspots across the region.
A Festival Built Around Fall Migration
The timing is no accident.
Early October coincides with the peak of the fall bird migration, giving participants opportunities to observe species that either spend the winter in Arkansas or are simply passing through on their journeys south.
With access to Hot Springs National Park, the Ouachita National Forest, Garvan Woodland Gardens, Northwoods Trails, the fish hatchery, and the shorelines of Lakes Hamilton, Catherine, Ouachita, and DeGray, the area offers one of Arkansas’ most diverse birding destinations.
The festival is designed for everyone, from first time birdwatchers to experienced birders, and combines field trips, workshops, keynote presentations, live music, vendors, children’s activities, and conservation education.
Ted Floyd Headlines the Educational Lineup
One of the festival’s biggest announcements is the addition of Ted Floyd, one of North America’s best known voices in birding.
Floyd is the longtime editor of the American Birding Association’s Birding magazine and author of eight books, including the latest National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada. Throughout the festival he will lead bird walks, present a keynote address, and teach an eBird workshop designed to help birders better document and share their observations.
His involvement brings national credibility to the inaugural event and reflects Visit Hot Springs’ goal of creating a festival that appeals well beyond Arkansas.
Music Meets Birding
Rather than limiting the weekend to bird identification and field trips, organizers have blended birding with live music and the arts.
Arkansas native Melissa Carper will officially open the festival with a free concert on Bridge Street in downtown Hot Springs on Thursday evening. Known for her traditional country sound rooted in western swing, jazz, blues, and bluegrass, Carper is also recognized for her deep appreciation of nature and outdoor spaces. She will share the opening night with the Arkansas band Sad Daddy.
Another featured performer, Bonner Black, combines music with conservation. An avid bird advocate, Black will lead the festival’s “Birds on the Brain” meditation and bird walk before performing later that evening. Her programming emphasizes mindfulness, nature, and bird conservation alongside live music.
Perhaps the most unusual addition is Extremely Accurate Bird Songs, the musical duo of Tommy Siegel and Billy Libby. The pair has undertaken the ambitious project of writing a song about every bird species on Earth. During the festival they will perform live, host a songwriting workshop, and lead a guided bird walk that combines humor, music, and bird identification.
Learning from Birding’s New Generation
The festival also embraces modern birding culture.
Brothers Derek and Ryan Sallmann, creators of the popular Badgerland Birding YouTube channel, will present “The Changing World of Birding,” discussing how social media, technology, and digital communities are introducing new generations to birdwatching. Together they have built an online audience of more than 135,000 subscribers by making birding approachable for beginners while still appealing to experienced enthusiasts. They will also lead field trips during the weekend.
Bird Sounds Take Center Stage
Bird songs are often as important as visual identification, and internationally recognized bird sound expert Alison Kondler will help participants sharpen those listening skills.
Kondler, an Audubon Master Birder known for her engaging presentations on bird vocalizations, will guide a field trip around the Northwoods lakes and later present “Birds Heard in Words,” a creative program that explores learning birds through sound and storytelling.
Oaklawn Becomes Presenting Sponsor
Another major development since the festival’s original announcement is the addition of Oaklawn Hot Springs as presenting sponsor and official host hotel.
Festival organizers say the partnership provides visitors with a convenient lodging option while adding significant support to what they hope becomes a signature annual event for Hot Springs.
Festival passes are $35 for the weekend and include access to workshops, keynote speakers, vendor exhibits, panels, children’s programming, and many field trips. Some guided excursions with limited capacity require separate registration.
More Than Birding
While birds remain the focus, the Birding Festival of the South showcases the broader outdoor recreation opportunities that make Hot Springs an increasingly popular destination.
Visitors can pair birding excursions with hiking in Hot Springs National Park, mountain biking at Northwoods Trails, paddling nearby lakes, or exploring downtown restaurants, breweries, and entertainment districts. The festival reflects a growing trend of combining outdoor recreation with cultural experiences to attract travelers interested in nature based tourism.
For Arkansas birders, outdoor enthusiasts, photographers, and anyone curious about wildlife, the inaugural Birding Festival of the South promises to offer far more than simply checking species off a life list.
Festival Information
Birding Festival of the South
- October 8 through 10, 2026
- Hot Springs Convention Center and multiple outdoor locations throughout Hot Springs
- Weekend festival passes: $35 (Available now)
- Presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs
- Includes keynote speakers, field trips, workshops, live music, vendors, family activities, and conservation programming.
This article was originally published on ArkansasOutside.com, your trusted source for outdoor news and updates in The Natural State. Unless otherwise credited, all photos included in this piece are the property of Arkansas Outside, LLC. We take pride in sharing the beauty and adventures of Arkansas through our lens—thank you for supporting our work!
