🦷 Free Dental + Conway Weekend Events + Business Exec of the Year
Chamber of Commerce, community shoutouts, and exciting Conway events.
⭐ What’s Inside:
Free dental clinic at Conway Expo Center
Baptist Health and Hendrix honored
Weekend Event GuideLooking ahead
Happy Thursday, Conway! 👋
You know that feeling you get when tax season, and “how is it already almost May” hit at the same time?
Yeah. We’re right there with you.
But this week has some genuinely good stuff: a massive free community health event, some well-deserved local recognition, and a little economic development news that deserves more attention.
Let’s get into it ⬇️
🦷 Free Dental Care at Conway Expo Center
If you’ve been putting off a dentist visit because of cost, insurance, or just sheer anxiety (no judgment, we see you 👀 ), this weekend is your moment.
The Arkansas Mission of Mercy is at the Conway Expo Center this Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 for its 18th annual two-day free dental clinic.
The clinic provides free dental services to children and adults of all ages, with no insurance, income verification, or eligibility documentation required.
Services include cleanings, fillings, and extractions, and patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Here’s what you need to know before you show up, there’s an 800 patient limit so plan to be there early:
Registration opens at 3:30 a.m.
Bring food, water, and something to sit on.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
Since 2006, the Arkansas Mission of Mercy has provided more than $23 million in free dental care and served more than 28,000 Arkansans.
The event also needs volunteers, including non-dental community members.
If you want to give a few hours to something that genuinely matters, head to arkmissionofmercy.com to register.
🎉 Your Conway Weekend
Looking for something to do? Here’s everything happening this weekend in Conway (always verify times and event schedules)
🗓️ FRIDAY, APRIL 10TH
🎭 Once Upon a Mattress: Youth Edition | Red Curtain Theatre
🎨 Springtime Goose Plate Class | Good Day Pottery
🃏 Casual Fridays - Magic The Gathering | Roll And Play
👨👩👧 Parents Night Out & Art Camp! | Brush & Blossom
🎤 SINGO-80s Hits (Music Bingo) | Secret Nook Coffee & Books
📸 FREE Cap & Gown Photos (Kurt Jones Photography) | Simon Park
🥚 Adult Only Egg Hunt | Garland Springs Manor
☕ Union Chapel Community Center Fundraiser | Whole Hog Cafe
🃏 Commander Night | Game Goblins
🎲 Friday Night Modern! | Trainer J’s
🎸 Conway Coffeehouse Concert | Faulkner County Library
🎤 Friday Night Karaoke & Dance Party | The RAB
🎵 Amber Violet LIVE | TGI Friday’s
🎤 Friday Night Karaoke | Bear’s Den PIzza
🎸Joseph Logue Band LIVE | TC’s Midtown Grill
🎤 Laura Caroline LIVE | The Rogue Roundabout
🎸 Crossing Acheron/Once Erased/Scars Tell Stories/Dawn of Ascension | Full Moon Records
🎵 Tyler Kinch LIVE | Kings Live Music
📅 SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH
🛍️ Ivy Place Garage/Yard Sale! | Ivy Cove
🎬 Geese Witherspoon’s Honks Into Hope 2K FUN RUN! | Austin Park
🏃 2026 - Race For Grace 5K/10K/1 Miler | UCA Campus
🎨 Tammy Harrington Guest Artist Reception | The Studio Downtown
📚 The Bridge of Evon Book II (Launch and Signing) | Bean’s Books
👩 Women’s Health Fair | Doyne Health Sciences UCA
🎨 Fantasy Fest Painting Party | Good Day Pottery
🃏 Keyforge Weekly Play | Roll and Play
🛍️ Bloom, Booze & Buys (Night Owl Vendor Market) | The Rogue Roundabout
🎨 Travel Mug Clay Class | Glazin Pottery Studio
💼 Women Supporting Women Entrepreneur Expo | Boys and Girls Club
👩💼 Ladies Missions Tea & Luncheon | Student Building, 1073 Front St
📸 Spring Floral Swing Portraits (Mary Jones Photography)| Brush & Blossom
🔭 Ready, Set, Scope | 2200 Bruce St
🎵 Sō Percussion | Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts
💃 Dance the Night Away at Full Moon Records | Full Moon Records
🧠 Trivia & Karaoke | Bear’s Den Pizza
🎸 Rebels in Rehab LIVE | TC’s MIdtown Grill
🎤 Tumblewood Drive LIVE | Kings Live Music
📆 SUNDAY, APRIL 12TH
🏫 Informal Interest Meeting - Lambda Gamma Sigma Graduate Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity | 609 Locust Street, Conway
🎲 Summoner Skirmish | Trainer J’s
☯ Law of Cause & Effect (Breaking the Karma Myth) | 766 Harkrider St
🎴 Yu-Gi-Oh Weekly Play | Roll and Play
🎲 Magic The Gathering - Casual Sundays | Roll and Play
🃏 Age of Sigmar Learn to Play | Game Goblins
🎸Open Jam | TC’s Midtown Grill
🏆 Chamber’s Annual Meeting Recognizes Conway’s Best
The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce recently held its Annual Meeting and handed out some well-earned recognition.
The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce named Hendrix College President Dr. Karen Petersen as its Business Executive of the Year.
The award recognizes leadership that drives institutional excellence while fostering economic and community growth within the region.
President Petersen has significantly deepened the bond between Hendrix College and the city of Conway.
This partnership is most visible in the ongoing growth of The Village at Hendrix, with the arrival of fresh businesses and the launch of a new entertainment district, transforming the area into a vibrant hub for both students and residents.
Baptist Health Medical Center was also recently celebrated as the 2026 "Outstanding Business" for large employers (150+ staff).
The facility is celebrating a decade of service in the community and continues its commitment as a lead sponsor for the upcoming Toad Suck Daze festival.
Congratulations to their team!
🏫 Community Shoutout
Conway’s NEW Teacher of the Year
Brick Cullum was named the 2026–2027 District Teacher of the Year for the Conway School District at a surprise celebration on Friday.
That’s the kind of school-day plot twist everyone loves.
Congrats, Mr. Cullum!🍎
💼 Now Hiring in Conway
Fresh listings this week:
City of Conway: Animal Services Officer: Posted April 2, this full-time position pays $34,755 annually.
City of Conway: Part-Time Lifeguard: Part-time lifeguards are needed at the Conway Community Center.
Baptist Health Conway: Sous Chef: Full-time kitchen position at the Baptist Conway campus
Gainwell Technologies: Hiring Call Center Representatives at their Conway location. Details at Glassdoor or Indeed.
🍴 New Restaurant Opening Soon
Waldo’s Chicken & Beer is planning a Conway location on Dave Ward Drive and targeting an early summer opening.
The team behind Big Bad Breakfast is running it, keep an eye on their socials for a soft opening date.
Location: 2205 Dave Ward Drive, Conway, AR.
Opening Update: Early Summer 2026 (announced February 2026).
Details: The location will feature a drive-thru, catering, and a 4,100-square-foot space.
Menu: Southern fried and fire-roasted chicken (on the bone, bun, basket, or bowl) with scratch-made sides and local beer.
📅 Looking Ahead
Apr. 10 & 13-17 | UCA Herron Horton Architecture Residency - Events showcasing the intersection of art, architecture, and human-centered design. Check UCA’s calendar for specifics.
Apr. 23 | U.S. Air Force Band, Airmen of Note - The U.S. Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note will perform a free concert at UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall at 7 p.m.
April 24-26 Bella Rustina | Modern Vintage Market: The Conway Expo Center will host hundreds of the region’s best independent makers, featuring everything from high-end antiques to handmade jewelry.
May 1–3 | Toad Suck Daze - We said we wouldn’t harp on it again (we know, we know), but the lineup is locked, the vendor spots are filling, and Conway is approximately three weeks from hosting 100,000 of its closest friends.
🐸 That’s a wrap for this week, Conway!
There is plenty to keep you busy this weekend in the City of College, but don’t have so much fun you forget to file your taxes!
Reminder: The last day for filing is April 15th.
In the meantime, have a great weekend.
We’ll be back next Thursday with more local news, happenings, and whatever else Conway throws at us between now and then!