Toad Suck Daze has been a beloved Arkansas tradition for decades. Families attend every year to enjoy local food, music, crafts, rides, community events, the petting zoo, and the famous toad races that have become part of Conway’s identity.

A recent online petition is demanding that these traditions be eliminated entirely, portraying the festival as intentionally cruel and harmful. We disagree.

The overwhelming majority of families who attend Toad Suck Daze see exactly what it is: a small-town community festival centered around family fun, outdoor activities, and local culture. Children interacting with animals in supervised environments is not abuse. In many cases, it may be one of the few opportunities kids have today to engage directly with animals and nature instead of screens.

We support humane treatment of animals and reasonable standards for their care. If festival organizers can improve handling procedures, housing conditions, or oversight, that is a fair conversation to have. Responsible improvement is not the same thing as eliminating traditions outright.

What we oppose is the growing trend of social media outrage campaigns attempting to shut down long-standing community traditions based on emotionally charged narratives, viral posts, and assumptions made by people who often have no direct involvement with the event itself.

Toad Suck Daze is part of Arkansas culture. It reflects the humor, personality, and traditions of the region. Removing every activity that someone online finds objectionable eventually leaves communities with nothing unique at all.

We respectfully ask the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, festival organizers, and city leadership to continue the toad races and petting zoo while maintaining practical and humane animal care standards.

Preserve local traditions.
Preserve community identity.
Keep Toad Suck Daze uniquely Arkansas.