THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510120540
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY THE SUN STAFF
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 230 lines
MONTHS OF building a bigger, better site for Peanut Fest culminated last week as the 18th annual festival opened with officials eyeing the weather.
This year's organizers - a team of seven past chairmen working together - wanted to make a good impression as they moved to a different part of the municipal airport. The city has planned improvements to the airstrip, including the site of previous festivals.
``It was quite a splash'' - literally, said Roberta Bunch, one of the organizers.
On Wednesday, the day before the festival opened, a ``wicked rain'' turned the arena area into a mud bowl. Fest officials worked through the downpour and in the dark to relocate two stages and move the site of Thursday's shrimp feast to a grassy area.
And despite clouds on Thursday, drizzle on Friday and two downpours on Saturday, festival officials believe the crowds were only slightly less than last year when there were four perfect days.
``We probably had close to 200,000,'' Bunch said.
Last year, crowds were estimated at 250,000.
There were, of course, glitches. A grassy field caught on fire at the end of Friday's fireworks display, but firefighters quickly extinguished the flames. A transformer blew out, killing nearly 200 trout at the Peanut City Bass Masters fishing booth. But organizers quickly restocked with carp.
And most of the local talent scheduled for Saturday had to be cancelled because of rain. Still, all the name acts appeared, winding up with country music veteran Steve Wariner.
``That was the perfect ending to a difficult weekend,'' said co-chairman Wayne Smith, who organized the entertainment.
Here is a day-by-day tour of Peanut Fest 1995: Thursday, Oct. 5
4:20 p.m. Shrimp Feast
Stereos blare. Ruritans dish up barbecue and spicy shrimp. And George Booth of Portsmouth dances - alone.
Friends watch Booth's body gyrate to the funky music. He doesn't care that people are watching or that the rain is coming down.
``The weather is no problem as long as we're eating and having a good time. The sun is always gonna shine,'' says Booth.
- Terri Williams
5:30 p.m. - Shrimp Feast
Portsmouth's Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Helivi Holland is enjoying Peanut Fest with her fiance, Shawn Terry, and her parents.
``People in Suffolk are so friendly. It's the way southern hospitality should be - no racial overtones,'' says Holland with a broad grin.
- Terri Williams
6:10 p.m. - Shrimp Feast
Ruritan Bob Stell doles out much-needed extra napkins.
Reaching for a handful, a man says he just washed his hands in iced tea. A young gal politely asks for just one.
``And I need a pen,'' she says, as Stell hands her one.
She writes down a seven-digit number, then returns his pen and walks away, smiling.
- Susie Stoughton
6:20 p.m. - Shrimp Feast
With beer in hand, Michael Williams is itching to dance. The band is playing ``Five O'Clock Rock'' and this staffer at Amadas Industries doesn't have a partner.
``I've already danced with everybody,'' he laments.
- Terri Williams
12:50 p.m. - Picnic Area
Head Start students finish eating. Teachers count noses, ``One, two, three asks, starting over.
On third try, they reach 12.
``I'm going to need some Lady Clairol tonight,'' one teacher says, herding the students toward the midway.
- Susie Stoughton
2:30 p.m. - Near the carnival area
Lured by cheerful music and colorful lights, the young boy darts across the muddy field.
Suddenly, he stops, holding a sock-clad foot in the air. He turns and carefully hops on one foot back toward his shoe, which the sponge-like ground had swallowed. Gingerly, he pops his foot back into his sneaker, reties the shoe and continues running as if nothing had ever stopped him.
- Allison Williams
4:15 p.m. - Arts and crafts tent
The woman wanders from booth to booth, munching on a hot funnel cake.
Three youngsters run up as she steps out of the tent. Picking up the smallest, she divides the remaining pastry between the older boys.
``Oh well, it was good while it lasted - the peace and quiet as well as the funnel cake,'' she says, as her children pull her toward the carnival rides.
- Allison Williams
4:30 p.m. - Parking lot
The woman pushes a stroller and struggles with her purchases - three bird houses.
Finally, she finds the ideal solution. She carefully hands her newborn son to a friend and places the packages in his seat as the women continue their trek to the car.
- Allison Williams
7:55 p.m. - Navy display
Bright eyes peek over the steering wheel of the Enhanced Mobility Vehicle.
The 3-year-old isn't budging.
A man in camouflage uniform tries to coax her out. ``We've got food down here for you,'' he says, reaching through the open window to unlock the door.
Sure enough, pizza's waiting.
- Susie Stoughton
8:03 p.m. - Demolition Derby
``They're banging 'em left and right,'' a man tells his shorter friends in the not-even-standing-room crowd.
A young woman can't see and begs her companion to leave. But he's not about to budge.
A taller man near the back shares her misery.
``I know some of these people are hurting,'' he says. ``I'm 6-foot-6 and I can't see anything.''
Waiting for the judges' decision, the gal asks her companion, ``Well, was this worth an hour's wait? I wouldn't know. I couldn't see anything.''
- Susie Stoughton Saturday, Oct. 7
11:30 p.m. - Peanut Butter Sculpting contest
Scultping knives flash and peanut butter oozes as artists smoosh, squeeze and pat peanut butter into city seals, jack-o'-lanterns, royal crowns and monster trucks.
Herman Bunch stuns everyone with a 20-second creation.
What exactly is his flattened, lumpish mass? A peanut pizza? A cow pie? Just a mess?
``Not at all,'' Bunch explains.
He's created a landscape. ``This is just the way the site looked Wednesday night,'' he says.
Not to be outdone creatively, the judges bestow a new award - honorable mention - on Bunch, more for his originality than artistic ability.
- Phyllis Speidell
Noon - Arts and Crafts tent
A light shower becomes a downpour. Outside the tent, volunteers quickly throw a waterproof cover over stacks of Lipton Tea packages.
A stalwart volunteer continues to thrust sample packages into hands of fest goers rushing for shelter. Shaking off rain drops, the cheerful Lipton man suggests, ``All we need are a few cups and we could make tea right here.''
- Phyllis Speidell
1 p.m. - Peanut Fest grounds
The Peanut Fest Queen and court are dancing with some senior citizens. Well, the court dances. The queen watches.
``I fractured my knee playing field hockey,'' says Lisa Pearce, a Lakeland High School student and the first Queen on crutches.
- Frank Roberts
1 p.m. - Baseball throw game
His companions easily convince the former Little Leaguer to try his arm.
No warm-up needed, he says, though he hasn't thrown in years.
At 20, he can just step right up and throw. With a powerful windup, he hurls and misses - the targets and the entire tarp.
More pain registers on his shoulder than speed on the radar gun as the attendant hands him more balls. Chagrined, he doesn't want to admit he can barely move his aching arm, let alone throw.
Finally, thankfully, he's done. His laughing companions point out the first aid tent next door.
- Phyllis Speidell Sunday, Oct. 8
2:30 p.m. - Fest Stage
Lisa Brokop, one of Sunday's name entertainers, greets her fans. ``It's very nice to be back here in West Virginia,'' the Canadian singer says.
She's a hit, anyway.
- Frank Roberts
4:35 p.m. - Entrance Tent 1
Honey roasted and salty raw peanuts aren't exactly what many visitors want.
``Everybody's disappointed that they can't find peanut pie,'' says Gail Sankey, selling peanuts.
They want a taste of Suffolk culture, says Sankey, a Master Gardener. Unfortunately the woman who baked luscious pies for past festivals died recently.
Some, however, are satisfied with recipes Sankey gives out - everything from peanut pie to peanut butter beef stroganoff.
- Terri Williams
5 p.m. - Backstage at the Fest Stage
``We were hit with all that rain,'' says Wayne Smith, entertainment chairperson. ``The volunteers worked hard against the odds. I have nothing but praise for them.''
- Frank Roberts
5 p.m. - Peanut Fest parking lot
As fest goers enjoy carnival rides and the swooning sounds of country music, a parking attendant stretches out on a lounge chair in the middle of the cars. He seems oblivious to the activity around him.
``It's my bunions,'' he says, ``I've been here since Thursday. So I'm relaxing.''
- Terri Williams ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
RIDING INTO MEMORY
[Color Photo]
ON THE COVER
A monster truck demonstration was one highlight of the Peanut Fest.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II.
Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Four-year-old Joseph Atkins gets help with his shoe from his
grandfather Joe Atkins.
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Leroy Goodman walks through the Peanut Fest grounds with his
sleeping 10-month-old daughter.
Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
The lucky ones had stroller seating as a crowd enjoys a street
performer's show.
Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Leigh Morris enjoys the fest despite an injury. Her son Steven stays
close while Matthew gets bopped by balloons.
Two diehards have the Ferris wheel to themselves in the rain.
by CNB