Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Governor Conway Days Is Scheduled For Bradley March 29-31

The 11th annual Governor Conway Days Festival is set for March 29 through 31 in Bradley. The festival honors one of Lafayette County's most distinguished citizens, James S. Conway.

Conway served as the first governor of Arkansas from 1836 to 1840. Governor Conway was a Tennessee native who settled near Bradley in 1820. Governor Conway returned to Bradley following his service as governor and died in 1855 after living his final 15 years on his plantation in the Walnut Hill community.

Governor Conway is buried in an 11.5-acre cemetery just west of Bradley. The cemetery is now a state park.

This year's festival promises to once again bring thousands of visitors to Bradley. The downtown area of Bradley will be the focal point of the festival with dozens of arts and crafts booths situated within the business district throughout the course of the three-day festival.

This year's festival will open at 8 a.m. March 29 with arts and crafts. From noon to 5 p.m. the Lazy-U Bluegrass Band will perform on the gazebo in downtown Bradley. Other talent scheduled for Friday will include the Moonlighters Band Friday evening on the Gazebo from 6 to 8. The third annual Governor Conway Days beauty pageant will take place at 6 p.m. on Friday in the high school auditorium.

Saturday's activities will get underway at 5 a.m. at near-by Lake Erling. The annual Conway Days bass tournament draws anglers from throughout the area. Persons interested in participating can contact the Bradley Chamber of Commerce at 501-894-3553.

The arts and crafts booth will open at 8 a.m. Saturday. Other activities include fire truck and train rides, an antique car show and a dancing and twirling competition. From 10 a.m. till noon the Sounds of Gold Band from El Dorado will perform on the town gazebo. Abby Crow and Lauren Clen will perform from noon to 1 p.m.

At 1 p.m., the Governor Conway Days parade will fill the streets of downtown Bradley. The parade routinely draws area politicians and in the past boasted a young Bill Clinton as one of its participants. Following the parade, the band `Reaction' will perform from 2 to 5 p.m. The bass tournament weigh-in will be conducted at 3 p.m.

There will be live country music Saturday night featuring the Nighthawk Band.

Sunday will be a big day at this year's festival. A worship service will be offered on the town gazebo at 9 a.m. The arts and crafts show will be open from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday with train rides provided through the town from 1 to 5 p.m.

Music on the gazebo will begin at noon with Joyce Pentecost. The Ambassadors will perform on the gazebo from 1 p.m. till 2:30 p.m. with the Mount Zion Trio set to perfrom at 2:30 p.m. From 3 p.m. till 5 p.m. Jerome Underwood and the Lazy U Bluegrass Band will perform.

The award-winning Governor Conway Days Festival is an exciting and inexpensive experience the whole family can enjoy. Once again there will be a wide variety of foods offered from a number of concession stands at the festival.