MAY 5 - 7, 2017
Festival Presented by: Conway
Rising Country Stars, Rock Legends Take Main Stage
Guide Preview
including toad suck history PageS 6-7
p.xx
PageS 18-21
Festival Fare From 30+ Vendors PageS 24-26
TOAD SUCK DAZE:
ARKANSAS’S FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR
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Festival amps up attractions Log Cabin Democrat
Toad Suck Daze festival organizers announced the entertainment line up and some new features during a news conference in April. “New contests, new giveaways and new partners are all combining with 36 years of tradition,” Brad Lacy, president and CEO of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “I think this year’s festival will prove we’re not finished coming up with new – and sometimes crazy – ways to have fun and support great causes.” Toad Suck Daze will be May 5-7 in downtown Conway. The theme for Friday night’s entertainment will be “Girls Night Out” and will feature rising country stars Aubrie Sellers and Clare Dunn. Kip Winger, Jack Russell’s Great White and Dokken, who have sold a combined 20 million albums, will headline Saturday’s “80s Rock Night.” Local and regional talent will perform reggae, folk, country Americana and rock music at King’s Live Music on the TriTechne Late Night Stage again this year. “One of the festival’s most exciting performances won’t involve real instruments at all. During the Saturday night entertainment, the McDonald’s/ Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage will host the US Air Guitar Championship regional qualifier,” organizers said in a news release. “Two local winners will move on to the US Air Guitar semifinals in Philadelphia and potentially compete in the World Air Guitar Championships this summer in Finland.” A new feature this year will be Toad Suck TV presented by Baptist Health, which “will allow allow festival attendees to keep up with everything taking place festival-wide during their visit,” organizers said. The 144-square-foot big screen will broadcast festival events, give real time updates, and screen original content about the history of Toad Suck Daze. Once again, the Cherokee Casino Concessions sweepstakes will reimburse every 36th customer for the full
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value of their concessions receipt. The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce’s Toad Suck Daze Committee presented $87,000 to seven nonprofits and scholarships recipients: • Arkansas Preschool Plus - $35,000. • Conway Downtown Partnership — $20,000. • Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre — $4,000. • University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton — $3,500. • Blackbird Academy of Arts — $1,500. • Conway Symphony Orchestra — $1,500. • Red Curtain Theatre — $1,500.
remind people of the festival’s mission. “Toad Suck Daze is about having fun and giving back,” he said. “The time and money you spend at Toad Suck Daze may help a child get ballet lessons, a recent grad go to college, or someone in the workforce learn a new skilled trade.”
The committee also announced $20,800 in scholarships to eight Faulkner County students. Past Chairman of the Chamber’s board of directors Jay Meyers said he hopes the contributions During the Saturday night entertainment, the McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/ Crafton Tull Main Stage will host the US Air Guitar Championship regional qualifier.
Toad state’s The friendl gold aw the Yea ALFiE tivals Lunche Jan. 2 sas Fes sociati ence an Rock. Acco site, th award val of of bud among state. C approa and en nity p taken i “Thi flects Suck D munity Mary directo and ev
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TSD wins statewide honors Log Cabin Democrat
Toad Suck Daze is the state’s top festival of 2016. The three-day, familyfriendly festival earned the gold award in the Festival of the Year category at the 2017 ALFiE (Arkansans Love Festivals and Events) Awards Luncheon, which took place Jan. 26 during the Arkansas Festivals and Events Association’s annual conference and trade show in Little Rock. According to AFEA’s website, the Festival of the Year award is granted to a festival of any size, regardless of budget, that stands out among all the festivals in the state. Crowd appeal, creative approach, media coverage, and enhancement of community pride were all factors taken into consideration. “This award not only reflects positively on Toad Suck Daze but on our community as a whole,” said Mary Margaret Satterfield, director of Toad Suck Daze and events at the Conway
‘This award not only reflects positively on Toad Suck Daze but on our community as a whole’ — Mary Margaret Satterfield Area Chamber of Commerce. “To be recognized as the best of the best among festivals in Arkansas – where there is no shortage of amazing festivals – speaks volumes. Our sponsors, vendors, committee members, volunteers, and festivalgoers made this award possible. We will work to make the festival even better in 2017.” Other contenders for Fes-
Mary Margaret Satterfield and Croaker Toad display the awards Toad Suck Daze earned at AFEA’s annual conference. In addition to winning Festival of the Year, Toad Suck Daze received gold awards for Souvenir and T-shirt/Sweatshirt (Croaker is wearing the winning design) as well as a silver award for Event Website.
tival of the Year included the Main Street Food Truck Festival and the Arkansas Cornbread Festival, both of Little Rock, which won silver and bronze awards, respectively.
Toad Suck Daze also earned gold awards in the Tshirt/Sweatshirt and Souvenir categories and a silver award in the Event Website category.
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Log Cabin File Art
A history of Toad Suck Daze Log Cabin Democrat
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When John Ward and his colleagues realized what they had created, they were, in a word, amazed. What came out of their fertile brains was the concept of Toad Suck Daze, a celebration of tremendous potential, a money maker and a delicious slice of the good life. This was to bring the city of Conway out of the doldrums, said John Ward, the managing editor of the Log Cabin Democrat at the time. It was his thought to bring people into a spring day and have fun on the banks of the Arkansas River. And it did, to the amazement of members of the “Council of Toads” that had sparked the idea. Ward said in retrospect that “Working out a way to put it on the river took some doing, but we got it done and the idea of where to park vehicles was the real challenge until someone hit upon the idea of talking to the American Transportation Corporation about providing busses for shuttle service so that people could park at the high school and other places and be picked up via the busses. AmTran was super and the shuttle service may have meant the difference to success or failure because with hundreds and hundreds of people riding the busses the traffic was still awful around the river.” The best estimates had put the opening crowd for Toad Suck Daze at 5,000. The actual number was more than 25,000 that first year – April 30 to May 2, 1982.
Artist Foy Lisenby’s original toad
In effect, Toad Suck Daze has become one of, if not the best celebrations of its type in Arkansas “because we have fresh people coming on board to meet changing times,” John Ward said. Over the years Toad Suck Daze has accumulated thousands of dollars for education in the city. According to Brad Lacy, president of the Chamber of Commerce and Mary Margaret Satterfield, the first event was a pie supper to raise money for the festival. Toad Suck Daze moved from the river to downtown Conway in 1990 because of flooding. It went back to the river in1991, and then in 1992 it moved permanently to downtown. Since the festival began, over $1.5 million has been donated to education initiatives. This includes scholarships to local colleges, scholarship endowments at the colleges and with the Community
Foundation, donations to the Arkansas Preschool Plus, and donations to other scholarship programs. In addition to scholarship monies, the festival has donated $50,000 to downtown Conway, $26,000 to the parks and recreations departments for Simon Park updates, and $30,000 to special projects of the three colleges. All sorts of images of Toad Suck Daze are rampant. For example, a school teacher was horrified when one of her students came to class wearing a shirt that read “Toad Suck”. She demanded that he return home to change shirts before returning to class. Such is the way it is with Toad Suck – amusing, curious, and bewildering. Today Toad Suck Daze has carved a niche in the psyche of Arkansas and the city of Conway, dishing up its happy and delicious fare – and fun – to hordes of visitors. The legend of the Toad Suck Ferry is mired in folktales and anecdotes that revealed the history of river crossings that spanned more than 250 years. It all started in the days of yore when travelers making their way across the Arkansas River at the Perry County line in skiffs and other conveyances were somewhat aghast at the sight of a stout Indian boatman and his Toad Suck appearance. The rotund fellow gave every indication that his propensity to alcoholic beverages to excess made him resemble a “fat toad” sucking booze from a bottle. “He looks like a fat toad suck”, one traveler was quoted as saying, and the remark was lasting. The Indian met
that de tavern showin he was carried Hist were lo Toad S ed on t County The two Ge accomm ing the thirst. The river cr year af as a te with 27 For transpo types o Duri powere tion of ferry c minute er was. River b
in File Art
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that description languishing in front of a tavern smoking a long, slender pipe and showing off his roly-poly torso. Otherwise he was occupied plying conveyances that carried travelers across the river. History of the taverns show that they were located at most boat landings and Toad Suck was no exception. It was located on the west side of the river in Perry County. The nondescript place was operated by two German brothers named Kirspol, who accommodated river travelers by offering them copious libations to “slack” their thirst. The earliest date documented for the river crossing is 1820. This was only one year after the establishment of Arkansas as a territory, as a sparsely settled place with 276 people. For many years the Toad Suck Ferry transported people, animals, and various types of vehicles across the river. During the days when the ferry was powered by diesels prior to the construction of the lock and dam, the time of the ferry crossing varied from five to seven minutes depending on how full the river was. One description of the Arkansas River before the construction of the navi-
Log Cabin File Art
gation system was comically said to be “6 inches deep and a half mile wide.” The fare charged for river crossing fluctuated with the economic times. One early record shows the toll charge for a man on foot was twenty-five cents – a man on horseback 50 cents – a man with a horse and buggy a dollar.
The demise of the ferry did not mean the end of probably one of the most colorful and picturesque place names in the country, Toad Suck. Perpetuation of the name has been assured by Congress, thanks to the efforts of the Conway Chamber of Commerce and the Faulkner County Historical Society.
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To catch and race a toad By David McCollum Staff Writer
Conflicting opinions abound about how to handle a toad at the annual Toad Suck Daze races. Proceed at your own risk. Racers can call in a “Toad Whisperer” but the creatures don’t always respond to whispers. Many of the bumpy-skinned amphibians have a tendency to go on their own tangent — or “toadgent,” as it is called in toad racing circles. A rogue toad can be frustrating. Someone with debatable experience has suggested handling a toad is like handling his girlfriend: Whisper in the ear and it will do anything. The trick is finding the toad’s ear. There’s the fairy tale method for females: Caution. Kissing a toad has not been proven to either give it a burst of energy or turn it into Prince Charming Then, there’s the diva method: Ap-
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Procure your Toad! WHEN: TUESDAY, MAY 2 | 6 – 8 p.m.
WHERE: Join Nabco and the Toad Suck Daze committee at Pompe Park on Prince (next to Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market), as we round-up toads for the festival.
plause. A toad, like humans, will reach back for a little extra with applause. Sometimes. Another method is referred as the wifenurturing approach: Blow on its back and the toad will be at your command — at
least for awhile. No guaranteed it get into super-hop mode. And there’s the ‘Mom’ in her ‘clean your room’ approach: Yell at it. Steady and stern. Over and over and over. There’s the heavy-handed strategy: Slap just behind the toad. (Could get messy if the toad doesn’t make a sudden backward move). When former Razorback football coach Ken Hatfield was the celebrity racer, he used the traditional coaching approach with a motivation speech and an exhortation for greatness that scared the bejabbers out of toad and it had to be carried away for a life of peace at grandpaw’s farm. When then-Gov. Bill Clinton participated in the race in 1988, he tried political strategy. His toad jumped off — way out of its lane. Clinton analyzed: “Just like the Legislature. It took a turn to the right.”
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Log Cabin File Photo A toad racing participant prepares to get his toad moving at the starting line with a little hot air.
Crawl, Drag & Squirt By David McCollum Staff Writer
Spectators can get a glance of what it’s like to be a firefighter, mini style, during Toad Suck Weekend. Youngsters in the Crawl, Drag & Squirt competition will go through a timed obstacle course that requires many of the skills used by firefighters. They include putting on a coat and pack, then crawl through a confined space, then pull a sled, smashing objects with a rubber mallett. They close by dragging a hose a short distance, then squirting it at a target. Competition is age-graded (grades 1-2 and 3-4) with separate divisions for boys and girls. The youngsters learn about fire safety in the process. Preliminary competition was held at local elementary schools. Another preliminary competition will begin at 5 p.m. Friday at the Central Fire Station. Finals will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday
Log Cabin File Photo An elementary student takes off during the Crawl, Drag & Squirt event during Toad Suck Daze.
at a roped-off area on Front Street. Each finalist receives a medal and trophies will be awarded to the top three fin-
ishers in each division. A traveling trophy goes to the elementary school that accumulates the most points in the finals. 9
Toadal Kids Zone
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The Conway Regional Health System/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone is a great place to entertain kids of all ages. Performances by clowns, magicians, balloon artists, dance and gymnastic groups, school choirs, and more take place on two stages. Held on the lawn of the Faulkner County Courthouse, there is also room for a children’s play area, sand box, petting zoo and pony rides.
FRIDAY, MAY 5 TIME
EVENT
4:00 p.m. Paw Patrol Show 4:30 p.m. Carl Stuart Middle School Choir 4:30 p.m. Balloon Man Magic Show 5:30 p.m. Pet Show with Paw Patrol 6:00 p.m. Grand Sand Opening and Toady Prize Dig 6:00 p.m. Conway Institute of Music
LOCATION Small Stage Large Stage Small Stage Small Stage Sandbox Large and Small Stages
10:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m.
Ida Burns Elementary Choir Checkers the Clown Magic Show
SATURDAY, MAY 6 Large Stage Small Stage
10:1 10:3 10:3 11:0 11:0 11:3 11:4 12:0 12:1 12:3 1:00 1:00 1:30 1:30 2:00 2:30 2:30 3:00 3:00 4:15 4:15 4:45 5:15 6:00
11:0 12:3 1:00 1:30 2:30 3:00
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TIME
rmancon the
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10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 12:15 p.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:15 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 5:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m.
EVENT
LOCATION
Kidz Choice Toothfairy and Friends! Small Stage Ellen Smith Elementary Choir Large Stage Tommy Terrific Magic Show Small Stage Julia Lee Moore Elementary Choir Large Stage Toadally Paint Studio Toadal Kids Zone lawn Theodore Jones School Choir Large Stage Daniel the Tiger Book Giveaway Small Stage Woodrow Cummins Elementary Choir Large Stage Balloon Man Magic Show Small Stage Jim Stone Elementary Choir Large Stage Carolyn Lewis Elementary Choir Large Stage TOTS Basketball Small Stage Greenbrier Westside Choir Large Stage Kidz Band Small Stage Lego Building Station Toadal Kids Zone lawn Stage Door Dance Arts Large Stage Tommy Terrific Magic Show Small Stage Sonshine Dancers Large Stage Poppy Troll Show with Balloon Man Small Stage Minion Show with Balloon Man Large Stage Groovy Smiles with Groovy Squirrel Small Stage Checkers the Clown Small Stage Tommy Terrific Magic Show Small Stage Conway Institute of Music Large and Small Stages
For a full schedule of events, see pagES 12-17
SUNDAY, MAY 7
11:00 a.m. Roundabout Brass Quintet 12:30 p.m. Lego Building Station 1:00 p.m. Kinder Music 1:30 p.m. Checkers the Clown 2:30 p.m. Lauren Dance Studio 3:00 p.m. Just Cause Band
Large Stage Toadal Kids Zone lawn Large Stage Small Stage Large Stage Large Stage
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Schedule of Events
TI
6:00
FRIDAY, MAY 5 TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
4:00 p.m.
Paw Patrol Show
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
4:30 p.m.
Carl Stuart Middle School Choir Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
4:30 p.m.
Balloon Man Magic Show
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
5:00 p.m.
Kid’s Crawl Drag and Squirt
Central Fire Station
5:00 p.m.
Very Important Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
5:15 p.m.
Taylor Dawn Nealey
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
5:30 p.m.
Pet Show with Paw Patrol
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
5:30 p.m.
Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
6:00 p.m.
Conway Institute of Music
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Both Stages
6:4
7:45
8:30
9:00
9:15
11:0
TI
8:00
10:0
10:0
10:0
10:0
10:0
10:1
10:3
10:3
10:3
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TIME
Y5
Stage Stage Stage
EVENT
FRIDAY, MAY 5
LOCATION
6:00 p.m.
Grand Sand Box Opening
and Toady Prize Dig!
6:45 p.m.
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kis Zone
Ashley & Abbie
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
7:45 p.m.
Aubrie Sellers
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
8:30 p.m.
Shannon Boshears Band
JJ’s Grill
9:00 p.m.
Going Jessies
TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music
9:15 p.m.
Clare Dunn
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
11:00 p.m.
Cody Martin Band
TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music
SATURDAY, MAY 6
Stage Stage
Stages
TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
8:00 a.m.
Toad Suck Run 10K/5K and Tadpole Trot Conway High School
10:00 a.m.
Ida Burns School Choir
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Large Stage
10:00 a.m.
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Checkers the Clown Magic Show
Small Stage
10:00 a.m.
Sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield —
AETN Character Meet & Greet
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
10:00 a.m.
Tricycle Race
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
10:00 a.m.
Conway Corporation Power Zone opens
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
10:15 a.m.
Kidz Choice Toothfairy and Friends!
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
10:30 a.m.
Ellen Smith School Choir
Small Stage Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Large Stage
10:30 a.m.
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Tommy Terrific Magic Show
Small Stage
10:30 a.m.
Festival Grounds
Mardi Daze Parade
Continued Page 14 13
Continued from page 13
TIME
EVENT
SATURDAY, MAY 6 LOCATION
TI
10:30 a.m.
Baby Crawl
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
12:0
11:00 a.m.
Julia Lee Moore School Choir
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
12:0
Large Stage
11:00 a.m.
Toadally Paint Studio
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
12:0
11:00 a.m.
Kid’s Crawl Drag and Squirt
Front Street
12:1
11:00 a.m.
Very Important Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
12:3
11:15 a.m.
MedExpress presents a
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
1:00
Book Reading with Miss UCA
11:30 a.m.
Theodore Jones School Choir
1:00 Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
1:30
Large Stage
11:30 a.m.
Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
1:30
11:45 a.m.
Daniel the Tiger Book Giveaway
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
1:30
Small Stage
1:30
2:00
2:00
2:30
2:30
2:30
3:00
3:00
3:00
4:15
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SATURDAY, MAY 6 TIME
Zone
EVENT LOCATION
12:00 p.m.
Tour de Toad
Conway High School
12:00 p.m.
Woodrow Cummins School Choir
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Zone
Zone
12:00 p.m.
The Cons of Formant
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
12:15 p.m.
Balloon Man Magic Show
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
12:30 p.m
Jim Stone School Choir
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
1:00 p.m.
Carolyn Lewis School Choir
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
1:00 p.m.
TOTS Basketball
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
1:30 p.m.
Greenbier Westside School Choir
Zone
ge
Large Stage
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
1:30 p.m.
Kidz Band
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
1:30 p.m.
Boy Scouts District Pine Wood Derby
1:30 p.m.
Dave Sadler
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
2:00 p.m.
Lego Building Station
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
2:00 p.m.
Jump for Education Race
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
2:30 p.m.
Stage Door Dance Arts
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
2:30 p.m.
Tommy Terrific Magic Show
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
2:30 p.m.
Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
3:00 p.m.
Ethan Willis & the Long Goners
Front Street
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
3:00 p.m.
Sonshine Dancers
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
3:00 p.m.
Poppy Troll Show with the Balloon Man
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Small Stage
4:15 p.m.
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
Minion Show and Balloon Man
Large Stage
Continued Page 16 15
Continued from page 15 For more details, registrations, maps, etc. log on to www.toadsuck.org
SATURDAY, MAY 6 TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
4:15 p.m.
Groovy Smiles
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
with Groovy Squirrel
Small Stage
4:30 p.m.
Dazz & Brie
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
4:45 p.m.
Checkers the Clown
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
5:00 p.m.
Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
5:15 p.m.
Tommy Terrific
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
6:00 p.m.
Conway Institute of Music
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Both Stages
6:00 p.m.
The Brothers Beckham
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
TI
7:30
8:25
8:30
9:30
11:0
10:0
11:0
11:3
12:3
1:00
1:30
1:30
1:30
2:30
2:30
3:00
3:00
3:30
4:30
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Y6
Stage
Stage
Stage
tages
Stage
Log Cabin File Art
SUNDAY, MAY 7 TIME
EVENT
LOCATION
7:30 p.m.
Kip Winger of Winger
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
8:25 p.m.
Jack Russell’s Great White
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
8:30 p.m.
Maximum Overdrive
JJ’s Grill
9:30 p.m.
DOKKEN
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
11:00 p.m.
The Cons of Formant
TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music
10:00 a.m.
CityChurch Community
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/
Worship Service
Crafton Tull Main Stage
11:00 a.m.
Roundabout Brass Quintet
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
11:30 a.m.
AETN Character Meet & Greet
Sponsored by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield —
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
12:30 p.m.
Lego Building Station
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone
1:00 p.m.
Kinder Music
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
1:30 p.m.
Checkers the Clown
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Small Stage
1:30 p.m.
Han Duo
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
1:30 p.m.
Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
2:30 p.m.
Lauren Dance Studio
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
2:30 p.m.
Totten
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
3:00 p.m.
Just Cause Band
Conway Regional/Caldwell Toyota Toadal Kids Zone Large Stage
3:00 p.m.
Championship Toad Races
Walmart/Sam’s Club Toad Dome
3:30 p.m.
L.DeJuan
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
4:30 p.m.
The City Boys
McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage
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Entertainment
En
Log Cabin Democrat
There are three entertainment stages at Toad Suck Daze. The McDonald’s/ Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage at Simon Park, the stage at King’s Live Music and the stage at JJ’s Grill. Entertainment at the main stage is free and seating is general admission. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own seating. Do you have amazing air guitar skills? Toad Suck Daze is a regional qualifier of the US Air Guitar Championships on July 22. To compete visit www.usairguitar.com, click on the compete button and register for the May 6 Toad Suck Daze show. The Toad Suck Daze Air Guitar contest will take place during Saturday’s headline entertainment. For a full list of entertainers, see pages 20-21.
AY ,M Y DA I FR
Clare Dunn is an
American country musician from southeast Colorado.After support from satellite radio as a “Highway Find” on The Highway (Sirius XM), she signed with Universal Music Group Nashville and BMG. She has opened for many notable country acts such as Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, and Hank Williams, Jr.
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Aubrie Lee Sellers is an American country music singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of singer/songwriters Jason Sellers and Lee Ann Womack. Seller’s debut album, New City Blues, was released on Jan. 29, 2016. She was featured on Dr. Ralph’s 2015 album, “Ralph Stanley and Friends: A Man of Constant Sorrow,” where she sang “White Dove” with her mother, Lee Ann Womack. 18
Dokke
hard rock cumulate sold more
Entertainment
SATURDAY, MAY 6
Dokken is an American heavy metal and
hard rock band formed in 1978. The group accumulated numerous charting singles and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide.
Kip Winger is an American rock musician, a member of the rock band Winger, and a solo artist Great White is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The band gained popularity during the 1980s and early 1990s. The band released several albums in the late 1980s and gained airplay on MTV with music videos for songs like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy�.
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Entertainment TIME
EVENT
5:15 p.m. Taylor Dawn Nealey 6:45 p.m. Ashley & Abbie 7:45 p.m. Aubrie Sellers 8:30 p.m. Shannon Boshears Band 9:00 p.m. Going Jessies 9:15 p.m. Clare Dunn 11:00 p.m. Cody Martin Band
TI FRIDAY, MAY 5
LOCATION Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull JJ’s Grill TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music
SATURDAY, MAY 6 12:00 p.m. The Cons of Formant 1:30 p.m. Dave Sadler 3:00 p.m. Ethan Willis & the Long Goners
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Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull
4:30 6:00 7:30 8:25 8:30 9:00 9:30 11:0
1:30 2:30 3:30 4:30
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EVENT
4:30 p.m. Dazz & Brie 6:00 p.m. The Brothers Beckham 7:30 p.m. Kip Winger of Winger 8:25 p.m. Jack Russell’s Great White 8:30 p.m. Maximum Overdrive 9:00 p.m. TBA 9:30 p.m. Dokken 11:00 p.m. The Cons of Formant
1:30 p.m. Han Duo 2:30 p.m. Totten 3:30 p.m. L. DeJuan 4:30 p.m. The City Boyz
LOCATION Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull JJ’s Grill TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull TriTechne Stage at King’s Live Music
SUNDAY, MAY 7
Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull Main Stage Sponsored by McDonald’s/Crain Certified Pre-Owned/Crafton Tull
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Toadally Timed Runs take new turns in 2017 By David McCollum Staff Writer
Participants at the annual Toad Suck Daze 10k/5k may need a map or be “toadally” confused. They will experience some new twists and turns on Saturday, May 6. Both the 10k and 5k courses have been be redesigned by veteran road runner Don Potter of Conway. Because of that, the 10k course again meets standards to qualify for a state championship as part of the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Grand Prix series. That means the event should attract some of the top road runners in the state as well as recreational runners who partici-
pate as groups and families. There will be also the usual Tadpole Trots, agegraded races for youngsters. The races still begin and end at John McConnell Stadium at Conway High. And if participants still have energy after the runs, they can hop of a bicycle and go for “Iron Toad” status as part of the Tour de Toad. As one of the oldest, continually held events at Toad Suck Daze, the 10k and 5k, entering the 34th year, have raised almost $390,00 for local charities. Proceeds from this year’s race will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Faulkner County, Conway Athletics, Help for Abuse Victims in Emergency Need (HAVEN) and Braves Field for special needs athletes.
Online registration ends at noon Friday, May 5. Online and mail registrants can pick up a racing packet, number and timing chip from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4, and Friday, May 5, at The Sporty Runner in Downtown Conway or the morning of the race at the fieldhouse at John McConnell Stadium. Chip timing technology will be used in the run. Participants registering after 7:30 a.m. on race day will not receive a timing chip and will not be timed. The Tadpole Trots start on the Conway High School track about 9:45 a.m. (after the 5k and 10k events) and includes races for children, ages 4-12. Youngsters, ages 4 -8 will run 200 me-
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ters. Ages 9-10 will run 400 meters (a lap), and ages 11-12 will run 800 meters. The first-, second- and third-place finishers in each Tadpole Trot receive trophies. The school with the largest percentage of registrants (based on enrollment) in the Tadpole Trots will be presented with a traveling trophy and $200 for its physical education department. Entry fee for the 10k and 5k is $25 until noon Friday, May 5, when it increases to $30. Those who pre-register for the 5k and 10k receive a technical shirt. The Tadpole Trot registration is $10, which includes a cotton T-shirt. The Conway Kiwanis Club is the
main organizer of the event, which is supported by the Conway Running Club and Conway Convention & Visitors Bureau and sanctioned by the Arkansas chapter of the RRCA. The Toad Suck 10K was started by the Conway Kiwanis Club in 1982 and held in conjunction with the Toad Suck Daze Festival. In 1984, First National Bank of Conway (now Regions) began a race in memory of a fellow employee, Randy Baker, who died of cancer. The Randy Baker 8K was conducted for two years, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society. In 1986, the two races were combined in Baker”s memory.
Get the 5K map online at thecabin.net
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Tour de Toad on the road again By David McCollum Staff Writer
The Toad Suck Daze Run partners with Literacy Action of Central Arkansas, which sponsors the Tour de Toad bicycle event, which is also held on Saturday, May 6. Participants who complete the Toad Suck Daze 5k or 10k and the
Tour de Toad receive a custom “Iron Toad” medal. The 10th Tour de Toad, which is geared toward all skill levels, begins at 11 a.m. (10 a.m. registration) from the Conway Municipal Airport. Cyclists can pick among three routes through the surrounding countryside: a 10 mile (Family Ride), 25 mile (Interme-
diate), and 50 mile (Half-Century) route. The three routes increase in intensity depending on the miles. Tacos and beer will be served at the finish line celebration. All proceeds from the ride support Literacy Action for Central Arkansas. . For more information on Tour de Toad, visit LiteracyActionAR.org/tourdetoad. 23
Shopping
Toad Market, Oak Street Galleria
The Toad Market consists of nearly 150 vendors that line Parkway, Oak, Locust and Main Streets during the three-day Toad Suck Daze festival. The vendors sell both commercial products and handmade arts and crafts, including furnishings, clothing, jewelry, home décor, face painting and caricatures, skincare, spices and seasonings, and more. The Oak Street Galleria is a retail area that showcases vendors that complement the merchants of downtown Conway. Vendors include high-end boutiques, fine art, fine crafts, and other specialty retailers. The 2017 Toad Suck Daze retail vendors are listed below. Visit toadsuck.org/toad-market for updates.
OAK STREET GALLERIA
• Clary Woodworking: handcrafted birdhouses, jewelry handmade with dictionaries, maps and vintage marbles •Equinox Outdoor Concepts: outdoor furnishings •Hammock Outfitter: hammocks, straps, backpacks and other related items •Lula Roe / Meg Prince: women’s clothing, tunics, dresses, skirts, leggings, children’s leggings
PARKWAY
•Country Deep: T-shirts and tank tops •DC’s Juntiques: items made of rod iron, rocks and horseshoes – trellis, baskets, planters, topiaries, bottle trees, creatures (birds, turtles, fish, snails) •Harwell Designs: women’s clothing, children’s clothing, shoes, bows and accessories •Leatherworks: handcrafted cowhide and buffalo wallets, belts, small leather purses and accessories, coin holders •Monica Reap Limelight by Alcone: chemical-free professional makeup and skincare •Origami Owl: jewelry, locket rings, locket necklaces, charms •Pratt Family Salsa: packages of all-natural spices, salsa mix, spice rubs •Rainmaker Cus-
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toms LLC: powder coat and personalized custom tumblers, wine glasses, growlers and bottles, custom metal work •Red Nova LLC: hanging metal yard art that spins in the wind and reflects light •Southern Chics: screen-printed T-shirts •The Scuba School LLC: scuba equipment, scuba training, hand-painted scuba towels and signs•The Sparkling Sparrow Boutique: women’s and children’s boutique clothing and accessories •Water for Christ: water bottles, water canteens, T-shirts, stickers, hoodies, W4C license plates •Young Living Essential Oils: Young Living essential oils, supplements, skincare products, diffusers, home care products
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OAK STREET
•All that Airbrush: custom airbrush T-shirts, hats, beanies, hoodies, headbands, puzzles, tumbler cups, car tags, bags, koozies •Angel’s Fragrances and Apparel: women’s apparel, Jadelynn Brooke shirts, ATX Mafia shirts, Girlie Girl Orginals shirts, Southern Limits men’s T-shirts, and women’s accessories •Bo’s Gourmet Creation: jelly, jams, honey, slushy mixes in assorted flavors •Earlusion: handcrafted earrings with real stones, 14kt gold and 925 sterling silver, Swarovski crystals, fresh water pearls and diamonds •Hands Unlimited: life castings of customers’ hands •Happy Feet: massaging, glycerin-gel-filled shoe insoles •Henna Gypsy: henna tattoos •Kirby Crafts: animal marionettes constructed of yarn, fabric, wood, wood roses made of painted wood shavings •McTaggart Woodworking: custom cedar signs – special orders and ready made •Rock City Outfitters: Arkansas-inspired tees, tanks, and kids tees •Southern Drift Apparel: T-shirts, tanks, caps and jackets with Southern Drift logo •Turzak Sunglasses: sunglasses, straps, cases
LOCUST STREET
•Cartoon of You: caricatures drawn on the spot •Conway Firefighters Local 4016: T-shirts and coin raffle •Crooked Tree Graphics: professional face painting and henna tattoos •Hope Art: bracelets, necklaces, headbands, keychains •Joe Bear Apparel: T-shirts, teddy bears, charm bracelets, caps, coozies, pens •LARM Communications: cellphone accessories, personalized cases, toys, wallets, gun holsters, car tags, name chains, mugs, personalized picture items •Linda’s Bowtique: hairbows, headbands, bowties, coasters, aprons, nursing covers, maternity sash, infinity scarves, bandana skirts, bibs/burp cloths, car seat canopies, barefoot sandals, fridge magnets, key fobs, neck coolers •M&K Creations: snap jewelry, rings, bracelets, necklaces and Angela Coller necklaces •M&R Concessions: engraved jewelry, rings, bracelets, keyrings, pet tags, black cord necklaces, stainless steel chains, anklets and religious items •Socks Plus: socks, Yeti Cups, dish towels, pot holders, T-shirts
MAIN STREET
•Henna Temporary Tattoos: henna tattoos •Sun Lizard – Gappers America Inc.: sunglasses and mixed items •The Wind: Native American flute music, jewelry, pan and Native American flutes, ocarina whistles
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FOOD
Visit the Concessions Sweepstakes sponsor Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland during the festival to turn in your receipt from one of our concession vendors for your chance to win prizes. Every 36th receipt turned in is a winner!
CONCESSION SAMPLE of OFFERINGS Beta Sigma Phi – Laureate Nu Chocolate Covered Frozen Bananas Boyd’s Funnel Cakes Funnel Cakes, Fried Oreos, Church Alive Grilled Cheeseburgers/Hamburgers, Compass Academy Strawberry Shortcake, Sausage on a Stick Conway Twilight Optimist Club Kettle Corn, Kool-Aid Drink Cozy’s Concession Jumbo Corndogs, Polish Corndog, Shaved Ice Doc’s Street Grill Grilled items, Caribbean Stir Fry The Food Commander Ribeye Steak Sandwich, Cajun food Holly’s Homemade Pizza Pizza, Pretzels Kathy’s Kabana Quesadillas, Fajitas, Huge Taco Salad Katie’s Kickin Chicken Chicken on a Stick, Chili Fries, Corn Dog Kona Ice Kona Ice L & M Concessions Root Beer, Cotton Candy, Carmel Apples L & M Concessions Pineapple Whip Ice Cream, Shakes & Malts Las Delicias Ice Popsicles (Paletas), Bottle Mexican Soda Linda Chan’s Vendor Teriyaki Chicken on a Stick, Shrimp Fried Rice Mountain Home Kettle Corn Kettle Corn, Bratwurst, Street Taco Original Corn Roast Roasted Corn, Corn in a Cup Ozark Candies and Nuts Kettle Korn, Roasted Nuts, Frozen Lemonade, Pat’s Kitchen Spaghetti & Meatballs on a Stick, Indian Fry Bread Patsy’s Funnel Cakes Funnel Cakes with Toppings, SnoCone Patsy’s Sugar Shack Cotton Candy, Candy Apples, Nachos Patton Concessions (2) BBQ Sandwich, BBQ Nachos, BBQ Fries Rodeo Style Mud Bugs & More #2 Funnel Cakes, Fried Twinkies, Fried Snickers, Rodeo Style Mud Bugs & More #1 Boiled Crawfish Dinner, Alligator on a Stick S&S Concessions Funnel Cakes, Corn Dogs, Nachos Sissy’s Place Pork Chop on a Stick, Fried Green Tomatoes, Smoothie King Smoothies, Jumbo Pretzels, Chips Springhill Concessions (2) Chicken on a Stick, Corn Dog, Lemonade, Tea W & M Concessions (2) Jumbo Corn Dog, Cheese Sticks, Popcorn Chicken Wild Bill’s Olde Fashion Soda Root Beer in a Collectable Mug Main Street
For a complete list of offerings and locations, log on to toadsuck.org.
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