An annual town-wide art exhibit! Art will be on display in stores, restaurants, and pop-up tents all along the trail — make sure to visit every restaurant, because there will be art in every nook and cranny in town. The Arts Trail returned in 2026 after being tragically swept away by flooding during hurricane Helene.
The Driving Force
Terry Thirion — Gallery 339 owner, renowned artist, and Hot Springs’ tireless advocate for local artists — calls Hot Springs home, with additional gallery space in Asheville and Charlotte. Terry is the driving force behind the Arts Trail. In October 2022, she organized the original Arts Crawl as a way to showcase local artists, and the event has since grown to include local musicians, tasty restaurants, and talents of every kind.
Every year will be a little different!
Stay tuned for the 2027 Hot Springs Arts Trail information!
2026 Throughout Town…
Trail Graffiti — A giant canvas will be set up downtown for visitors to paint, draw, or spray-paint their trail name. Hikers on the Appalachian Trail, which runs right through downtown Hot Springs, traditionally take on a trail name — something fun and silly inspired by an event, a color, a place, a favorite food, an expression. Think “Grey Guy,” “Cheez-it,” or “Sunshine Girl.” Come up with yours.
Business Installations — Local businesses are invited to create installations outside their establishments. We’ll see what happens! Vinyl Pies might hang hundreds of old scratched albums outside the store, or a giant spa could appear on a lawn somewhere. Hot Springs isn’t just a name — the town has an actual spa with water pumped from the hot springs in the French Broad River.
Discover the Arts Trail!
We are a bunch of creative, crazy characters waiting to be discovered.
Event Information: hotspringsartstrail.com
Artist Inquiries:hotspringsarttrail@gmail.com
