A big weekend in Suffolk

Published 10:23 pm Monday, September 28, 2015

With summer’s heat now mostly a memory, the time has come for Suffolk’s busiest season. Fall marks the time for some of the city’s biggest, most popular events, and this fall promises even more fun than ever.

There are arguably more events taking place this weekend than any other one of the year. Wherever you live in Suffolk, you’re sure to find something fun to do nearby. And many of the things in store warrant a short drive anyway.

Here’s a list of some of the top picks. There’s a lot of overlap, so choose wisely.

  • Start the day with a bit of exercise during the fifth annual Peanut Fest 5K Run/Walk and 1-Mile Walk, sponsored by Suffolk on the Move. The free race is not officially timed, but it starts at 7:30 a.m., with check-in at Constant’s Wharf Park beginning at 6:15.
  • Get your pets blessed during a Blessing of the Animals service at 9 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Crittenden. Refreshments and pet treats will be available afterward. All animals are welcome, but they should be brought in a carrier or on a leash.
  • Nothing feels more like fall than a fall festival, and at least three different churches around the city will hold community festivals and picnics throughout the day. Main Street United Methodist Church will hold its festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Beech Grove United Methodist Church in Driver will hold a community picnic from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. And Nansemond River Baptist Church in North Suffolk will hold a fall festival from noon to 4 p.m. You’ll find all the fun activities your kids could want at these events, from face-painting to petting zoos to bounce houses, along with plenty of good food and entertainment.
  • The big star of Suffolk’s events on Saturday will be the Peanut Fest parade, which runs along West Washington and North Main streets. The parade kicks off at 10 a.m. It’s loud, it’s exciting and it’s the perfect appetizer for the entrée that is Peanut Fest, which will provide yet another weekend of fun next week.
  • You and your kids (or just you, if you’d prefer) can get up close and personal to some of the biggest, baddest vehicles on the road during the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society’s Touch A Truck, Train and More event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum. Tickets are $5 apiece or $15 for four for this fundraising event.
  • Ready to get your fish on? Head either to Driver or to Whaleyville for a traditional fish fry. Berea Christian Church in Driver and the Whaleyville Volunteer Fire Department will be feeding hungry Suffolkians from 4 to 7 p.m. Both events are fundraisers. The Whaleyville event will include a bake sale by the women of Whaleyville United Methodist Church.
  • If you’re already downtown, be sure to stick around for the oyster roast to be held by the Suffolk Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of Hampton Roads from 5 to 8 p.m. Island Boy will entertain the crowd, as will a few members of the Boys and Girls Club. Oysters, barbecue and more are on the menu for the event, which supports the Suffolk Unit’s programs and activities. Tickets are $30.
  • How about a spot of tea? Lipton will celebrate its 60th anniversary in Suffolk on Sunday with a public party at Constant’s Wharf from 2 to 7 p.m. There will be cornhole, food and entertainment.

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