CONWAY, Ark. – Toad Suck Daze announced today more than $140,000 in charitable giving, as well as headline entertainment and key programming for its 44th annual festival in downtown Conway on May 2-4.
Toad Suck Daze is the largest, free family festival in Arkansas with more than 100,000 attendees every year. Since its inception in 1982, it has contributed more than $2.4 million in scholarships, endowments, STEM education, preschool funding, arts education, and community development. Toad Suck Daze is presented by Baptist Health, Chris Crain Hyundai, and Genesis of Conway.
“Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway is proud to once again bring this longstanding tradition that honors education, arts and culture, and family to central Arkansas, along with our co-sponsor, Chris Crain Hyundai and Genesis of Conway,” said April Bennett, president of Baptist Health Medical Center-Conway. “Both of our organizations have been woven into the fabric of central Arkansas for over 40 years. And as Toad Suck Daze has grown, so has our presence in Conway. We are honored to serve local residents through comprehensive health services and community support.”
“Community is our number one priority at Chris Crain Hyundai and Genesis of Conway, and you can’t be involved in the community without being involved in Toad Suck Daze,” said Brett Berry, general manager of Chris Crain Hyundai. “We enjoy displaying our vehicles, passing out balloons to all the kids, and meeting all the locals and visitors during the festival. It is a big part of our year, and we always look forward to it.”
The festival announced planned giving to further its tradition of supporting scholarships, endowments, STEM education, preschool funding, pre-K reading initiatives, arts education, and community development.
Contributions announced today include:
- $25,000 to the Conway Downtown Partnership
- $25,000 to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library
- $18,000 in college scholarships for Faulkner County students
- $10,000 to the Toad Suck Daze Emerging Scholars
- $10,000 to the Conway Public Schools Foundation
- $5,000 to the Reynolds Performance Main Stage Series
- $4,000 to the Conway Art Walk
- $3,140 to Conway Public Schools STEAM Nights
- Funding trips to the Little Rock Zoo for Faulkner County schools
- Funding the Faulkner County Library’s Summer Lunch Program
- Funding high-demand goods at area food pantries
- Providing 120 laptops to at-need students in central Arkansas
This year’s entertainment is headlined by Travis Denning. Denning’s hit single “After a Few” went No. 1 and is certified platinum. His 2024 single, “Southern Rock,” has already surpassed 10 million streams. He has co-written tracks for Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson, and Morgan Wallen.
Opening for Denning will be Alabama-born country singer Kashus Culpepper. Culpepper has opened for well-known acts like Charley Crockett and NEEDTOBREATHE. Culpepper was recently named to Grammy.com’s 25 to watch in 2025.
“This year, the Toad Suck Daze Main Stage is all about storytelling,” said festival creative director Adam Hambrick. “Our Friday lineup features Travis Denning and Kashus Culpepper who make music that is aimed straight at the heart of what country music does best: Big, soulful, heartfelt songs and unrivaled musicianship.”
On Saturday night, Troubadours at Toad Suck, a traditional songwriter’s show, will take the stage. The show will feature Adam Hambrick, Emily Shackleton, and Josh Phillips. The trio has combined to write multiple platinum, and number one hits for dozens of country music artists.
“Troubadours at Toad Suck features some of my favorite A-list songwriters in Nashville with Josh and Emily, and the stories behind their biggest hits,” Hambrick said.
On Sunday, contemporary Christian recording artist Ryan Stevenson will headline the day’s entertainment. Stevenson’s “Eye of the Storm” was certified gold and the first single to ever hit number one on both the Billboard Hot Christian Songs and Christian Airplay charts. Sunday’s headline entertainment sponsor is Conway Cowboy Church.
Local and regional entertainment acts throughout the weekend include Tyler Kinch, Townsend, Sofie and the New Relics, and Copper Flats. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks in the leadup to the festival.
All festival entertainment is presented by Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland. The main stage sponsor is Simmons Bank. Headline entertainment is presented by Green Bay Packaging and Car-Son Construction.
Toad Suck Daze festival programming will feature traditional favorites, and as always, new programming to help continue to grow the festival’s reach. Popular and familiar programming and attractions returning this year include Acxiom Tinkerfest with programming provided by the Museum of Discovery, character meet-and-greets with Arkansas PBS characters, presented by Texas Roadhouse, and the Caldwell Toyota and Turbare Manufacturing Toadal Kids Zone.
Returning to the festival this year is Toadally Outdoors. The area will feature exhibits and activities that celebrate the fun and science of the outdoors. It will include demonstrations throughout the weekend for kids and adults, an inflatable archery range, and more.
For a full schedule of entertainment and other attractions, visit ToadSuck.org or follow Toad Suck Daze on Facebook.
About Toad Suck Daze
For more than 40 years, a central Arkansas festival with a quirky name has contributed more than $2.4 million to scholarships, scholarship endowments, preschool funding, and arts education. As Arkansas’s largest festival, Toad Suck Daze attracts more than 100,000 festivalgoers of all ages to downtown Conway the first weekend of May for national and local musical entertainment, food-on-a-stick, retail and arts-and-crafts vendors, and most notably, the World Championship Toad Races. For more information, visit ToadSuck.org.