A heaping helping of a good time will be served up in downtown Suffolk on Saturday as the Taste of Suffolk food festival comes back for the pleasure of local foodies.

Eighteen restaurants, bakeries, ice cream shops and wine stores will participate, offering samples of their fare for small dollar amounts. Admission to the event, which also includes entertainment, children’s activities and a new car show, is free.

New to the event this year will be members of HeART and Soul, a collection of downtown venues featuring local art, who will collaborate on a community art project honoring 100 years of Planters Peanuts in Suffolk. Visitors will be encouraged to make flags celebrating the peanut, which will later be exhibited at Peanut Fest and the Suffolk Art Gallery.

Featured restaurants include Al Forno Pizzeria, Altitudes, The American Grill, Baron’s Pub, C3Vino, The Catering Place, Coldstone Creamery, The Egg Bistro, Harper’s Table, Jammin’ Jerk BBQ, Jo’s Place, Madagan’s, Mosaic, N’Dulge Eclectic Cuisine, Plaid Turnip, Ricky & Roy’s, Simply Susan’s Bakery and Café and Suffolk BBQ Company.

Contests will be offered as well.

“We are bringing back the Buffalo Wild Wings Hot Wing Eating Contest,” said Jason Pittman, recreational supervisor for special programs for Suffolk Parks and Recreation.

A hot pepper eating contest also will be featured.

Spicing up the entertainment will be a variety of acts, including the featured A Touch of Spice from 4 to 5 p.m. Other acts on the Washington Street Stage include Affirmative Groove from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Snackbar Jones on at 12:45 p.m. and USAF Heritage of America Blue Aces at 2:30 p.m.

The Finney Avenue Stage will feature the Peanut City Cloggers at 11:15 a.m., the PFCWWM Fellowship Choir at noon, Haley Oxton at 12:45 p.m., East Suffolk Steppers at 1:30 p.m., Dynamic Movements at 2:15 p.m. and F.A.M.E. (Future Actors, Musicians and Entertainers) performances at 3 p.m.

A children’s area located in the First Baptist Church parking lot on North Main Street will offer bounce houses, clowns, face painters, a rock climbing wall, a trackless train ride, bubble activities and a recycled-craft activity. Costumed characters will stroll throughout the site during the day, and a petting zoo will be located at the Oderzo Fountain beside the courthouse from noon to 3 p.m.

For more information on the event, call 514-7268.