The contest where the art melts
At Suffolk Peanut Fest, one of the quirkiest events is the peanut-butter sculpting contest.
Organizers set up blocks of peanut butter on tables, provide carving tools, and set a strict time limit while the crowd gathers to watch.
The October weather adds an extra challenge, since the sculptures soften and sometimes collapse in the sun.
Contestants, a mix of locals and a few invited guests, have carved tractors, animals, and versions of Mr. Peanut himself.
Winners are selected by judges walking the lineup after the buzzer, and the whole scene plays out with a local radio announcer cracking jokes.
It's billed as the world's only peanut-butter sculpting competition, which keeps it a reliable draw year after year.
Dogs fly for applause at Peanut Fest
One of the most popular attractions at Suffolk Peanut Fest is the DockDogs competition, where dogs leap from a platform into a pool, chasing toys thrown by their handlers.
The announcer calls out each jump's distance while the crowd cheers the splash.
Families line up strollers by the pool rail and watch for a few heats before moving on to carnival rides and food stalls.
Dogs range from Labradors to mixed breeds, and handlers coach them with loud commands before the run.
The pool sits near other daytime events, making it a central meeting point for groups.
The combination of barking, water spray, and cheering kids keeps the area buzzing from morning through late afternoon.
A whole city in HO scale - set in 1907
The Suffolk Seaboard Station Railroad Museum houses an HO-scale model of Suffolk as it looked in 1907, spread across two rooms.
Volunteers from the Tidewater Division of the National Model Railroad Association built the detailed layout, complete with storefronts, sidings, and street names from the era.
The museum, located at 326 North Main Street, is free to visit and occupies the restored Seaboard train depot.
Families stop in to watch the small freight trains circle the tracks while parents point out landmarks like the courthouse or old factories that no longer exist.
Count the Mr. Peanut statues around town
Suffolk encourages visitors to track down its scattered Mr. Peanut statues, almost like a scavenger hunt.
One of the most visible stands at "Character Corner" downtown, at the intersection of Main and Washington streets.
Others appear at the Visitor Center, the Planters Peanut Center on West Washington Street, and near the old Planters factory on Culloden.
Additional figures can be found inside the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts and at the Obici House by Sleepy Hole Golf Course.
The tourism office lists all of them, so families can check them off in a single afternoon.
The statues vary slightly in pose and setting, but each one wears the familiar hat and monocle that made the mascot famous.
A Mr. Peanut selfie you can actually frame
Behind the Suffolk Visitor Center, a cast-iron Mr. Peanut statue greets visitors in full dress: monocle, top hat, and cane.
The statue is set at ground level, designed for easy family photos.
Parents often line up strollers nearby and take turns snapping pictures, especially on weekends when bus groups arrive.
The Visitor Center itself occupies the historic Nansemond County Courthouse at 524 North Main Street, and inside it sells peanut-themed souvenirs and maps.
The statue's bronze-like finish shows the shine of constant use, especially on the cane where hands grip for balance.
The site is promoted as a must-stop photo op, and locals point first-time visitors straight to the plaza for a quick picture.
A LOVE sign built for the arts crowd
Outside the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, a large sculpture spells LOVE in tall white letters.
Installed in November 2019 as part of Virginia's "LOVEworks" tourism program, the piece carries the tagline "Suffolk Loves the Arts." The dedication included a ribbon cutting, music from Nansemond River High School's choir, and a short program with city partners.
Since then, the sculpture has become a popular photo backdrop during shows and summer art camps.
The Virginia tourism site lists it as part of the statewide collection of LOVE signs, which appear in cities from Richmond to Virginia Beach.
In Suffolk, it reinforces the center's role as the city's hub for cultural programming.
A demolition derby with Suffolk plates
Each year, one day at Peanut Fest is reserved for the demolition derby, a noisy contest that draws large crowds.
Local drivers prepare stripped-down cars with welded doors, then crash them into each other until only one is left moving.
The crowd cheers loudest when a car with familiar Suffolk plates takes a hit or survives another round.
Drivers wear helmets and neck braces, and a promoter runs the heats with countdowns over the loudspeaker.
Children come early to watch the smaller power-wheels derby before the main event.
The contest ends with a short awards ceremony, where the last car standing takes home a trophy and photos on the dirt track.
The peanut shop that still roasts on a 1936 machine
Planters Peanut Center at 308 West Washington Street still roasts peanuts in a 1936 machine, filling the small store with a steady smell and clattering sound.
The shop has been open since 1967 and has become a landmark in downtown Suffolk.
Customers buy bags of hot, in-the-shell peanuts measured by the pound, often served warm right off the roaster.
Shelves line the walls with tins, candies, and vintage Planters displays.
Locals describe the store as unchanged for decades, with the same glass cases and painted wood trim.
Regulars stop in for a quick snack or a small bag to carry to nearby parks, while tourists treat it as a living piece of the city's peanut history.
Mystery writers took over; now all genres show up
In 2014, Suffolk hosted its first Suffolk Mystery Authors Festival at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.
Eleven cozy mystery writers attended, signing books and leading panels.
The event grew each year until the city tourism office rebranded it as the Suffolk Virginia Authors Festival.
Now held at the Hilton Garden Inn Suffolk Riverfront, the event welcomes writers from a wide range of genres, including romance, fantasy, and historical fiction.
Admission is free, and the program includes moderated discussions and meet-and-greet sessions.
By 2025, the city described it as a "revamped" event, reflecting how a local mystery gathering had grown into a regional draw for all kinds of readers.
Peanut beers brewed a few blocks from Main
Suffolk breweries lean into the city's crop by offering peanut-themed beers.
Nansemond Brewing Station has poured BEEnut Butter Nut Brown Ale, a 7 percent ale brewed with peanut butter and Virginia wildflower honey.
Across downtown, Brick & Mortar Brewing has released Peanut City Porter, a dark beer with hints of cocoa and roasted peanuts.
The names tie directly to Suffolk's peanut identity, making them easy for visitors to remember.
Locals often order them as novelty choices when showing out-of-town friends around.