The Taste of Suffolk is back this year with more restaurants, more contests and new features to delight the thousands of people who will come downtown to visit.

The annual event on Sept. 12 features local restaurants serving up their fare in sample-sized portions for guests to carry around as they amble down Main Street. About 16 restaurants will participate this year — but that’s not all.

This year’s event also will feature an expanded children’s area, a Lipton tea-tasting contest, and a plant sale hosted by the Suffolk Master Gardeners.

Regular features include entertainment, 35 merchant vendors, the Buffalo Wild Wings contest and the new car show presented by local dealerships.

“It should be a great way to get out and meet your neighbors on Main Street,” said Emily Upton, special events coordinator with Suffolk Parks and Recreation. “It’s a great way to try out a bunch of local Suffolk eateries all in one place.”

Restaurants from all over Suffolk will participate. They include:

• Al Forno Pizzeria
• Baron’s Pub/Amici’s
• The Catering Place
• East Coast Taco
• The Egg Bistro
• Harper’s Table
• Jeff’s Sir Cakes-A-Lot
• Mason’s
• Mosaic’s
• Plaid Turnip
• Planter’s Peanut Store
• Rajput Indian Cuisine
• Ricky & Roy’s
• Suffolk BBQ
• Tammy’s Kitchen
• UnCork’d

Children can enjoy the children’s area, with a petting zoo, rock wall, bounce houses, arts and crafts and a g-force ride, Upton said. The children’s area has been expanded to extend from Commerce Street all the way to Saratoga Street.

The Fuzz Band will perform beginning at 11 a.m., with the Michael Clark Band beginning at 2:30 p.m. The entire event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Free parking is available in the Godwin Courthouse lot, the Cherry Street lot off South Saratoga Street, the Prentis Street lot and the First Baptist Church lot.

The event is free, but most food samples are not. Those hoping to try the offerings should bring cash.

For more information on the event, call 514-7267 or visit www.suffolkva.us/TasteofSuffolk.