Thousands of residents and visitors from all over Hampton Roads will converge in downtown Suffolk for the 12th annual Taste of Suffolk Street Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday.

The event site will stretch down Main Street starting on Finney Avenue and cover Washington Street from Commerce Street to Saratoga Street, according to the press release. Food tents will be up and down Main Street, featuring specialty items from more than a dozen Suffolk restaurants.

“Its original purpose was to showcase Suffolk eateries, but it’s grown to a full-blown, day-long street festival,” Special Events Coordinator Emily Upton said.

Participating restaurants will include Al Forno Pizzeria, Annaliza’s Tastey Philippine Cuisine, A Taste of Jamaica, Baron’s Pub, Boogie’s Soul Food, Brighter Day Café, The Catering Place, Decent People Taphouse, Derl’z Restaurant & Pub, El Korita, Harper’s Table, Holland Produce, Mason’s Grill & Smokehouse, The Plaid Turnip, Planter’s Peanut Store, Plaza Azteca, Suffolk BBQ Co., Sushi AKA, Totoy’s Filipino Store and Uncork’d.

Merchandise vendors will offer a variety of goods and services, such as home improvement items, handmade fabric pieces and decorations. Suffolk dealerships will hold a new car show to go with all-day entertainment like contests and live music to keep people on their feet, plus a plant sale with the Master Gardeners.

Washington Street will host this year’s children area filled with bounce houses, craft activities, face painters, clowns, the Fire Safety House and other amusements.

The beer garden will be located at Oderzo Fountain area beside the Mills E. Godwin Jr. Courts Building, featuring craft brews from Brick & Mortar Brewing Company and other local and state-wide breweries.

This year’s festival will have stages located on West Washington and Market streets. The Washington Street Stage will have live performances throughout the day, with Paul Urban playing at 11 a.m., Soul Intent at 1 p.m. and Wesley Spangler at 3 p.m.

The Market Street Stage will have Buffalo Wild Wings wing-eating contests throughout the day. Those interested in participating can sign up at the nearby contest tent.

There will be free parking lots surrounding the event site within walking distance. These include the Cherry Street parking lot located off of Saratoga Street, the Saratoga Street parking lot, First Baptist parking lot, Godwin Courts Building parking lot, Market Park parking lot and the Prentis Street Parking lot.

Roads will be blocked for the festival starting at 6 a.m. These road closures will be at Finney Avenue and North Main Street down to Fayette Street, Oakdale Terrace, Freemason Street and Finney Avenue, Washington Street from Commerce Street to Saratoga Street and Bank Street at Commerce Street. The roads will reopen at 8 p.m.

Call 514-7267 or visit suffolkva.us/TasteofSuffolk for more information.