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News • Arkansas • United States • 2013-05-19

Toad Suck Daze and Riverfest: Two Great Central Arkansas Festivals

Kerry Kraus, travel writer

Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism

Get your entertainment fix with the two huge events that begin and end the month of May in Central Arkansas.

As it has for the past 31 years, May jumps off to a hopping start with the Annual Toad Suck Daze. The 32nd edition is May 3-5 in Conway.

The festival has a boatload of entertainment packed with local and national performers. The schedule begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with Handmade Moments followed by Erin Enderlin, Drake White and Kip Moore. Saturday brings Hanna Belle at 11:30 a.m. The rest of the day’s roster includes Song Writers Round, Interstate Buffalo, Eleven Cent Ransom, The Mighty Electric St. Jude Band, Canvas and Erin Enderlin, leading up to the headliners – Diamond Rio. On Sunday, the performances begin at noon with Some Guy Named Robb, along with Beautiful Disaster, Kingsdown, and Hawk Nelson.

The Toadal Kid Zone is back with activities for children of all ages with puppet shows, music, games, magic and crafts. Over 35 vendors will be selling a wide variety of food including Mexican, hamburgers, hot dogs, turkey legs, gyros, sausages, roasted corn, baked potatoes, pizza, sandwiches, fried green tomatoes, and tons of sweet treats.

The always popular Stuck on a Truck, the Toad Run 10 and 5K, Mardi Daze parade, and Tour de Toad bicycle ride, plus the general and championship toad races are just a few of the other events taking place. This free, family festival has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships and scholarship endowments to students in Faulkner County.

Everything takes place in downtown Conway. Phone 501-327-7788 or visit www.toadsuck.org for more information.

Little Rock and North Little Rock’s Riverfest wraps up the month over Memorial Day Weekend: May 24-May 26. Riverfest is known for its wide variety of entertainment and this year is no different. Local and regional performers are showcased along with headliners such as Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley, and Peter Frampton.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Family Zone area has free activities including music, Super Retriever Crown Championship Series and other dog-oriented contests, an International Village, a fun run, and more. The Deltic Timber KidZone area features arts and crafts for children, face painting, finger casting, bean bag tossing, bubble blowing, a rock climbing wall, and Chalk it Up Art. At the time of this writing, Merchant Row had 35 vendors scheduled, with more expected to be added. A fireworks display over the Arkansas River on Sunday evening concludes the celebration.

Events take place at the following locations: Julius Breckling Riverfront Park, River Market District, and the Clinton Presidential Park in Little Rock, the North Shore Riverwalk in North Little Rock. Advance admission is $17.50 available only at Walgreens, $35 at the gate. More information is available by visiting www.riverfestarkansas.com or calling 501-255-3378.

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