The Suffolk Peanut Festival will be initiated by the Suffolk Ruritan Club’s 36th Annual Shrimp Feast, in which the club will continue its tradition of feeding people by the thousands with the proceeds going to good local causes.

The event will take place on Thursday, Oct. 10, running from 3 to 7 p.m. Musical performances will begin from the outset, with the food being served from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

E.C. Harris, co-chairman of the Suffolk Ruritan Club with Jimmy Franks, said the shrimp preparation will start the night before. “We’ll cook at least 3,000 pounds, but could be more,” he said.

Included on the all-you-can-eat menu in addition to seasoned shrimp will be fried chicken, cooked on the spot, North Carolina barbecue, potato salad, cole slaw, rolls, iced tea and adult beverages.

One of two groups providing music will be Island Boy, which offers up a variety of styles including beach music and sounds from the ‘70s and ‘80s. Luke Willette and the Sho Me Band will bring more of a country flavor to the proceedings.

The shrimp feast functions as the Suffolk Ruritan Club’s annual fundraiser, and the group has a rich tradition of charitable giving. Harris said since its founding in 1978, the club has given $1.4 million back to the Suffolk community.

Tickets for the Shrimp Feast are currently on sale, and Harris stressed the importance of buying early.

“We only pressed 4000 tickets this year,” he said. “If we sell out, there are no tickets at the gate.”

Tickets can be purchased in a couple of different ways. They are available for $30 apiece at many local businesses, a list of which can be viewed at www.suffolkfest.org by clicking on the “Entertainment Schedule” tab.

Interested parties can also purchase tickets online at www.suffolkruritan.org for $32.50 apiece.

If tickets remain on the day of, the cost at the gate is $35 plus $10 for parking.

For more ticket information, call 514-4130.