Head out to village parties
Published 10:03 pm Thursday, October 16, 2014
If you didn’t get your fill of festivaling (yes, I’m making that a verb) during Peanut Fest, you’ve got two more opportunities, smaller but equally full of Suffolk appeal, coming up the next two weekends.
Saturday and Sunday, Driver will have its annual Driver Days shindig from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It includes a parade, food, vendors, a car show, live music, a poker run, a pet costume contest, a cornhole tournament, a wellness fair and all manner of other stuff. Alcohol and professional wrestling will also be featured, both for the first time, and it should be very interesting to see how that turns out.
I’ve been to Driver Days in the past, and it’s one of the best events in Suffolk all year. The folks in Driver are very hospitable and eager to tell you about all the things they have going on all year long. You might find yourself going back more often once you discover everything that little village has to offer, including the eateries and unique retail shops.
Likewise is the village of Chuckatuck, which will have Chuckatuck Founders Day on Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It also features a parade, food, vendors, live music, a car show and pet costume contest, as well as a Halloween costume contest, magician, children’s crafts, bounce houses and other activities and more. The Nansemond Indian Tribe will be honored, and you can find lots of nice local businesses that, like in Driver, will be willing to show you a good time so you’ll come back.
The city’s villages — also including Holland and Whaleyville, which have their own festivals at different times during the year — don’t get enough recognition, especially from folks who may not have lived here their whole lives and may not be familiar with their charm. In the next couple of weeks, make it a point to head out and see what you can find. I guarantee you’ll be surprised at what they have to offer.