It seems that the rain decided to stop just in time for Suffolk’s annual Peanut Fest. Friday’s weather made for a beautiful, warm, sunny day at the fair.

Lakeland High School senior and 2015 Suffolk Peanut Queen Stasha Waterfield, spent quite a bit of her afternoon tasting foods with her court. Part of their duties as members of the court is to taste and vote for their favorite foods.

“It was nice seeing all the families out here,” Waterfield said. She enjoyed taking pictures with families and other member of the community. The young queen looks forwarding to coming each year and watching the demolition derby and fireworks.

“Every year my dad and I take a ride on the Ferris wheel,” she added.

Throughout the day, various local school music groups, families, friends and more wandered around the transformed Suffolk Executive Airport, tasting foods ranging from corn dogs and stir fry to gyros and fried Oreos.

They rode rides, played games and checked out many of the organizations selling their products and promoting their businesses. And the fun isn’t over yet; the Peanut Fest continues through Sunday.

Suffolk residents Laura Bradshaw and her family come out “every year that the weather’s great,” Bradshaw said. She and her sister enjoy running into people they know each year and seeing how “the community comes together,” Bradshaw said. The two took their children to get their faces painted on Friday afternoon.

After Gray McMahan received a frog painted on his hand, he chimed in with his thoughts of the fest. “My favorite part is all the rides,” Gray said.

Many families make a tradition out of coming to the festival. Having grown up in the area, Sara Little now brings her family to the festival. Friday morning, they participated in some of the children’s activities, and they also spent time at the festival on Thursday night, she said.

Kristin Latta and Ronald Bryant said they enjoy coming every year for the food, particularly fried Oreos.

“That, and seeing people we know,” Latta said.

Bryant said the fried Oreos are the perfect ending “after we eat everything else we want.”

Others came for their first time this year. This is the Wigginses’ first year at Peanut Fest. Kyle and John came out from North Suffolk and fed the goats at the petting zoo with their 3-year-old twins.

“We want to watch the demolition derby,” Kyle Wiggins said. She also hoped to look around at the various crafts. They will likely come back again next year, Wiggins said.

Some visitors even came from outside the city this year to enjoy the event. One guest traveled from Powhatan, and others from Virginia Beach.

Along with the food, games, rides, and other activities, the festival was also riddled with students volunteering with the Goober Gang. Their duties involved handing out free cups of peanuts. This is to count towards the newly required 50 hours of community service.

Festival organizers said Thursday’s attendance was comparable to Thursday last year. Friday’s crowd was hopping, and they are looking forward to good attendance the rest of the weekend, with acts like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, BlackHawk and The Outlaws playing.