It was a fine afternoon for festival at the Suffolk Peanut Fest on Thursday.

The first day of the festival’s 40th rendition featured fine weather, crowds of people taking advantage of the Carload Night deal and, of course, the Suffolk Ruritan Club Shrimp Feast.

Thousands of folks filled the Shrimp Feast area for shrimp, barbecue, libations, entertainment by the Gator Head Band and good times with friends.

The event was filled with first-timers who complimented the shrimp.

Rod MacDonald, a transplant from Indiana, said the shrimp were “like a hundred times better” than the steamed shrimp he used to get from Piggly Wiggly when he first moved to the South.

Lisa Jennings, another first-timer, said she decided to come to the Shrimp Feast because of its reputation.

“We heard a lot of good things about it,” she said.

Those who were in attendance last year, which featured pouring rain that soaked people and their plates, said their favorite thing about Shrimp Feast was the good weather.

“I’m most excited about the weather,” Mike Constant said.

Co-chairman Dave Walker had to agree.

“This is the best weather we could ask for,” he said under sunny skies. “The crowd’s been pretty good, and they’re all happy. We do the best we can. It’s all for a good cause.”

Proceeds from the event benefit community efforts such as other nonprofits and scholarships.

Walker said the club was hoping for about 2,000 guests to help them eat 2,500 pounds of shrimp, 650 pounds of barbecue, 400 pounds of cole slaw and 2,160 rolls.

The Peanut Fest continues Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is $10 each, and children 6 and under are free.