
DATE: Thursday, October 16, 1997            TAG: 9710150175

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  219 lines

SLICES OF LIFE AT SUFFOLK'S BIGGEST PARTY

Thursday, Oct. 9

6 p.m. - Shrimp Feast

The food is delectable, the music great, and the beverages just to his taste. The out-of-town visitor to Shrimp Feast has just a single suggestion, prompted by yet another spilled drink - cupholders in the Porta Potties.

Phyllis Speidell

7:30 p.m. - Shrimp Feast

One local couple, regulars who this year arrived at the Shrimp Feast somewhat later than they usually do, were surprised that the chicken and barbecue had already been depleted. ``But they stll had plenty of shrimp and this year they were delicious, so it was all right with us.''

Phyllis Speidell

Friday, Oct. 10

Noon - Concessions court

The log house - the house within a tree - was at Peanut Fest for the second year in a row. In 1996, the claim was made: ``This may be your only opportunity to see this exhibit.''

Will we have another ``only opportunity'' next year?

According to Peanut Fest gourmets, this was the first year vendors served alligator, and you had it two ways - blackened or Cajun.

Frank Roberts

After 1 p.m. - Commerical Tent

The exhibits feature many religious groups and politicians - seemingly more than in past years.

And, did you check those signs near the Fest entrance site?

Everybody and anybody running for office had something, resulting in a melange of names.

Frank Roberts

1:30 p.m. - Concessions court

Space is limited at the few picnic tables across from the food vendors.

There's not even a spot for royalty, it seems. Even the Peanut Fest Queen and her court are munching on their food while standing up, trying to find some shade on the side of a food booth.

- Susie Stoughton

1:40 p.m. - Parking lot outside the blue entrance

The parking attendants are admiring a small, antique car whose driver is preparing to leave.

``Dang the car,'' one man says, leaning down and smiling at the blond at the wheel. ``I like the girl inside.''

- Susie Stoughton

1:40 p.m. - Concessions court

Candidates are everywhere, shaking hands, greeting festival-goers, asking for votes, baking in the sunshine's glare.

Bill Dolan, Democratic candidate for attorney general, introduces himself to a trio and says he hopes they will vote for him.

One woman tells him she probably would since she likes Democrats, but he would have to move to Florida for her to vote for him.

``Would you consider moving to Virginia?'' he asks.

And how does he like the city's annual tribute to the earthy legume?

``Awesome,'' Dolan says.

- Susie Stoughton

2:15 p.m. - Blue entrance tent

The public school's exhibit is a popular spot as teachers give out samples of peanut butter cookies and peanut soup.

A Booker T. Washington Elementary School teacher notices a woman clutching a Mr. Peanut doll, without a doubt the most popular Peanut Fest keepsake.

``I've got mine, too,'' the teacher says. ``I'm taking him back to Iowa where my relatives are.''

- Susie Stoughton

3 p.m. - Arts and crafts tent

Burnt-out light bulbs have been recycled into hand-painted Christmas ornaments - Santas, bears, reindeer.

``They make good gifts for somebody who has everything,'' says the painter/vendor. ``They don't have one of these.''

People constantly ask her if they can plug them in, she says. ``I tell them, `Only if you want your house burned down.' ''

- Susie Stoughton

3:05 p.m. - Arts and crafts tent

Gilbert ``Spud'' Jackson, who retired last year after two decades as Suffolk police chief, is hammering a nail into a wooden stool in a corner booth.

Inside the tent, everyone is sweltering. Isn't he glad he's not in his dress uniform with long-sleeved, starched shirt on a hot day like this?

``Yes, but I'm working,'' he says, wiping his brow and pointing to the hand-crafted items made by his son-in-law.

``So much for retirement,'' he says.

- Susie Stoughton

3:15 p.m. - Concessions court

The women's throats are parched, and they opt for lemonade to quench their thirsts.

The first orders a small, and the vendor pulls off a ``large'' paper cup.

``Large or small?'' she asks the second woman.

``That's small?'' the customer says, comparing the paper cup to the huge, plastic container that passes for large. ``Well, I'll take small, too.''

``Made your mind up real fast, huh?'' says the woman as she hands over the drinks.

``If we can't drink it all, we can pour it on our heads,'' the first woman says to the other.

3:45 p.m. - Blue entrance tent

Police officer Kym Pinner spots a woman sitting on a folding chair and fumbling through a bag. The woman finds the pill she's been looking for, but she has no way to wash it down.

Pinner calls over bicycle officers Fred Cunningham. He pours some water from the bottle on his bike into a cup the woman is carrying.

``Thanks,'' the woman says, smiling. ``Now I can take my heart pill.''

- Susie Stoughton

Saturday

Noon - Fest grounds

McCoy is 9 and already a Peanut Fest veteran as well as an accomplished drummer and performer. He charms the crowd, threatening to steal the spotlight as he kibitzs with the act's star, Spats, the Lost Vaudevillian, who also happens to be his dad.

During a break between performances, McCoy admits that this year's fest is the most comfortable of the three he has played. ``It is usually really hot,'' McCoy said. ``Then the drums get hot, then the drum sticks get hot, then the heat comes right up through the sticks and into my hands and then I get hot too.''

Phyllis Speidell

12:15 p.m. - School Tent

The culinary arts classes of the Suffolk Public Schools are whetting fest goers' appetities with free samples of creamy peanut soup, crunchy sugar coated peanuts, and peanut butter cookies. As lines form for the goodies the theme, Recipes for Success, is a real crowd pleaser.

Phyllis Speidell

2:30 p.m.

During a break in the rodeo action, a hundred children, tots to 10-year-olds, rush to the arena for the calf scramble. Braving tumbles mud and a few skinned knees, the kids are ready to chase a frisky calf vying to snag the hankerchief tied to his tail. ``A $20 bill to the winner,'' the announcer proclaims, inspiring one mother in the stands to yell, ``Go get him Katie!''

The calf dodges and weaves leading Katie and dozens of kids on a wild chase. Finally the winner is Justin, muddied but grinning, as he trades the hankerchief for his prize.

Phyllis Speidell

3 p.m.

He is 80 years old and is attending his first Peanut Fest. He has munched on fast food, sipped peanut soup, tapped his feet through a Bill Deal, Fat Ammons, and the Original Rhondells concert, and cheered bronco busters at the rodeo.

He has cruised the arts and crafts tent, chatted with a few of the commercial vendors, watched a team of skydivers and stuffed his pockets with peanuts.

So what does he think of the festival? ``It's a shell of a program,'' he says with a smile.

Phyllis Speidell

Sunday, Oct. 12

Afternoon - School Tent near the Blue Entrance

``Each year, we try to implement nuts into Social Studies.''

Latasha Jackson was referring to the study of goobers at Booker T. Washington Elementary School.

``We study the importance of nuts to the Suffolk economy,'' she said.

This year, some of her students were at the Fest site making peanut butter.

A little oil, a little salt - into the blender - and, voila.

Frank Roberts

Afternoon - Arts and Crafts Tent

There are a variety of items available for purchase. One of the big sellers is the wooden signs noting, ``I'm a Dale Earnhardt Fan'' and/or ``I'm a Mark Martin Fan.''

Clever packaging. They're out.

Frank Roberts

Afternoon - Commercial Tent

On Friday, the Planters Peanuts folks predicted they would sell all 5,000 of their plush Mr. Peanut Dolls by the end of Peanut Fest.

It doesn't work out that way. They have quite a few left, but the exact figure is unknown.

Originally, the dolls were introduced on QVCs shopping network, selling for $29.95. They're advertised in Planter's catalog, priced at $23.95. At the Fest, they're a bargain basement $10.

Because they are in somewhat limited supply, collectors feel that, in a few years, they will be worth a lot more than what they paid for them.

Some of the purchasers said they were going to become Christmas gifts.

Frank Roberts

Closing - Main stage

A Fest highlight was the Neal McCoy concert. Like Martina McBride at last year's event, and Tracy Lawrence at the Balloon Fest, he drew a very large crowd. Estimates of all three run to between 30,000 to 35,000 - a very healthy figure.

Speaking of healthy figures, there's this number: More than 300,000 folks visited Peanut Fest during its four day run. Linda Stevens, director, proclaims it ``one of the best.''

Frank Roberts ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MICHAEL KESTNER

Fireworks explode into patterns of color and light Friday while the

rides continue to whirl and glow against in the night sky.

While the adults mill around the Shrimp Feast on Thursday, Chelsea

Fay found her place on the ground, with some paperwork, a bit more

to her taste.

Mr. Peanut, selling for $10, patiently waits to be adopted. Several

thousand of the dolls were sold during the four-day festival.

Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II

Donnie and Rana Weaver had a high-stepping time at the Fat Ammons

band concert on Thursday, the opening day of the festival.

Two-year-old Cheyenne Oliver and her new found friend catch a nap