The Suffolk Peanut Fest got off to a deservedly auspicious start on Thursday, as the Suffolk Ruritan Club held its popular fundraising Shrimp Feast under sunny skies that held no threat of rain.

After the debacle that occurred last year, when monsoon conditions forced the cancellation of the event for the first time in its history, the Ruritans specifically and Peanut Fest generally were due a break. The Ruritans took a big hit from the cancellation, having offered a ticket exchange this year that allowed more than 450 people to use the tickets they’d bought last year to get into this year’s event. Peanut Fest suffered similar financial woes, as last year’s attendance was far below its annual average.

With a robin’s-egg sky spanning the grounds of the Suffolk Executive Airport, most folks on Thursday seemed happy to have the opportunity to enjoy shrimp, barbecue and beverages as they listened to a band and enjoyed time with friends. The previous year’s nightmare had faded from memory for most.

On Friday, thousands more turned out for the rides, the food, the music and the fun that mark the annual celebration of Suffolk’s favorite legume. The weather held for the day, and there were no reports of problems at the festival.

There’s nothing quite like Peanut Fest, and there’s nothing quite like sharing it with friends and family. Join the fun.

Peanut Fest is open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. We’ll see you there.